Apollo Group, Inc. (APOL: chart) reported before market open Friday a 50% increase in its quarterly profit, boosted by strong growth in enrollment. The company, which provides higher-education programs for working adults, turned in consolidated net income of $68.5 million, on revenue of $396.9 million, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004. Phoenix, Arizona-based Apollo said degree enrollments jumped 29% to 227,800, in the quarter ended February 29. For the same period a year ago, Apollo posted net income of $45.7 million, on revenue of $295.2 million. Net income attributed to Apollo Education Group came to $63 million, or 35 cents a share, in the 2004 second quarter, up 48% from $42.6 million, or 24 cents a share, last year. Net income attributable to University of Phoenix Inc., which is traded separately, soared 77% to $5.5 million, or 32 cents a share, from $3.1 million, or 19 cents a share, a year ago. On average, analysts had expected earnings of 32 cents a share for Apollo, and 29 cents a share for University of Phoenix.

Company shares closed Friday up $3.02, or 3.88%, at $80.77.

AEGON N.V. (AEG: chart) announced Friday that its 2003 net profit rose 16% from a year ago, on the back of improving stock and bond markets. The Dutch insurance giant said it earned €1.79 billion ($2.2 billion), or €1.15 per share, in 2003, compared with net earnings of €1.54 billion, or €1.04 per share, in 2002. AEGON reported net income of €470 million for its fourth quarter, up 32% from €355 million, generated in the prior-year period.

The stock rose 1.56% to $13.64 at market close Friday.

Movado Group, Inc. (MOV: chart) of Paramus, New Jersey, posted Friday fourth-quarter earnings of $6.2 million, or 49 cents per share, in contrast to earnings of $5.5 million, or 46 cents per share, in the comparable period a year earlier. The earnings of the watch maker were 2 cents a share ahead of the consensus estimate of analysts. Movado said results were driven by stronger sales, which advanced 16.6% to $92.7 million, in the fourth quarter, from $79.5 million a year earlier.

Movado shares gained 37 cents on Friday to $29.75.

FARO Technologies, Inc. (FARO: chart) said before the bell Friday that its quarterly earnings surged 81.3%, boosted by stronger-than-expected sales. The Lake Mary, Florida-based provider of portable, software-driven, 3-D measurement systems announced a net profit of $2.9 million, or 22 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, compared with a prior-year net profit of $1.6 million, or 13 cents per share. Analysts were looking for earnings of 20 cents a share, on average.

The stock plummeted 17.44% to close Friday at $23.15. Faro shares recovered 30 cents to $23.45 in after-hours trading.

Alteon Inc. (ALT: chart) of Parsippany, New Jersey, posted Friday a smaller fourth-quarter net loss of $3.4 million, or 9 cents a share, in contrast to a net loss of $3.9 million, or 12 cents a share, in the corresponding period of fiscal 2002. The biopharmaceutical company attributed the results to decreased research and development expenses. Analysts had expected the company to lose 11 cents a share, on average.

Alteon shares inched up 2 cents to $2.00 at market close Friday.

Aetna Inc. (AET: chart) lifted Friday its earnings guidance for the fiscal 2004 first quarter and full year, citing membership growth and lower medical costs. The Hartford, Connecticut-based health insurer said it now sees first-quarter operating earnings of $1.68 to $1.73 per share, compared with an earlier forecast of $1.50 to $1.55 per share. For the year, Aetna expects a profit of $6.60 to $6.75 a share, up from its previous range of $6.25 to $6.35 a share.

The stock soared 5.99% on Friday to $84.42. Aetna shares dropped 2 cents to $84.40 in after-market trade.

Biomet, Inc. (BMET: chart) of Warsaw, Indiana, said Friday that it expects its third-quarter results to be above analysts’ projections. The orthopedics device maker forecast earnings of 34 cents per share, on revenue of about $410 million, in the third quarter. The mean estimate of analysts is for a profit of 32 cents a share, on revenue of $402 million.

Biomet shares closed Friday at $38.25, up 90 cents, or 2.41%.

UGI Corporation (UGI: chart) raised Friday its 2004 profit outlook to between $2.10 and $2.20 per share, a 10 cents to 20 cents increase from its previous range. The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based natural gas utility said the expected completion of its purchase of AGZ Holding in April boosted the forecast.

The stock edged up $1.00 to close Friday at $33.39.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. (CHRS: chart) of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, on Friday projected earnings of 11 cents to 12 cents per share in the first quarter, in line with Wall Street estimates. For fiscal year 2005, the clothing retailer said it expects a profit of 44 cents to 46 cents per share. Analysts currently forecast a profit of 38 cents a share, on average, for the year.

Company shares surged 7.80% on Friday to $7.60.

Ameritrade Holding Corporation (AMTD: chart), the Omaha, Nebraska-based online brokerage company, said Friday that it expects to earn between 16 cents and 19 cents a share in its fiscal second quarter. For the year, the company projected earnings of 56 cents to 79 cents a share. Currently, Wall Street’s mean estimate is for a profit of 18 cents a share, for the quarter, and 73 cents, for the year.

The stock rose 2.11% to close Friday at $15.00. Company shares shed 13 cents to $14.87 in after-market trade.