Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT: chart) announced after the bell Tuesday that it reversed course to a quarterly profit from a year-earlier loss, bolstered by robust revenue growth. The world’s largest maker of semiconductor production equipment rolled out earnings of $440.1 million, or 26 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 third quarter ended August 1. The earnings topped by a penny a share Wall Street’s average forecast. For the 2003 corresponding quarter, the company had a net loss of $36.8 million, or 2 cents a share, which included restructuring charges. Excluding those and other items, Applied Materials had posted a profit of $78.5 million, or 5 cents a share, for the prior-year period. Quarterly revenue swelled to $2.24 billion from $1.09 billion, a year ago, as companies increased their spending on new semiconductor factories. Analysts had expected the Santa Clara, California-based company to report sales of $2.14 billion in the quarter. For the first nine months of the year, income was $896.3 million, or 52 cents a share, compared with a loss of $164.6 million, or 10 cents a share, last year.

The stock rose 2.75% to $16.07 at market close Tuesday. Company shares inched up 8 cents to $16.15 in the extended session.

Borders Group, Inc. (BGP: chart) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted after market close Tuesday a second-quarter profit of $8.5 million, or 11 cents a share, up 89% from a profit of $4.5 million, or 6 cents a share, a year ago. The U.S. No.2 bookstore operator beat by 4 cents a share the average analysts’ estimate. The company attributed the results to higher sales, which climbed 2.4% from last year to $847.1 million, helped by strong demand for political books.

Borders shares closed Tuesday up 42 cents, or 1.92%, at $22.32. The stock added 15 cents to $22.47 in after-market trade.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ: chart) said Tuesday that its second-quarter net income jumped 25% to $28 million, or 40 cents per share, from $22 million, or 32 cents per share, generated in the year-earlier equivalent. The earnings of the warehouse club operator surpassed the mean analysts’ estimate of 37 cents per share. Sales in the quarter improved 12.5% to $1.8 billion, with same-store sales rising 8.5%. Natick, Massachusetts-based BJ's said higher gasoline prices and strong food sales helped boost its profits.

The stock surged 7.57% on Tuesday to $25.16. BJ’s shares dropped 4 cents to $25.12 in extended-hours trading.

Staples, Inc. (SPLS: chart) of Framingham, Massachusetts, reported Tuesday that its quarterly earnings surged 39% from last year, driven by an increase in sales. The leading office products retailer turned in net income of $122.5 million, or 24 cents per share, for its fiscal second quarter, in contrast to net income of $88 million, or 18 cents per share, a year ago. The results were 2 cents a share ahead of the consensus analysts’ forecast. Quarterly sales advanced to $3.09 billion from $2.83 billion, in 2003.

Staples shares gained 99 cents to close Tuesday at $28.87.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP: chart) said Tuesday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-ago loss, aided by inventory controls and higher sales. The Plano, Texas-based retail giant announced earnings from continuing operations of $72 million, or 23 cents per share, for its fiscal second quarter, against a loss of $3 million, or 3 cents per share, for the prior-year equivalent. Sales in the quarter climbed 5.8% to $3.86 billion from $3.65 billion. Comparable-store sales were up 7.1%. Including losses from the Eckerd drugstore business, which the company sold in the quarter, it posted a net profit of $1 million, or a loss of 2 cents per share.

The stock closed Tuesday at $38.48, down 27 cents, or 0.70%.

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS: chart) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, posted Tuesday second-quarter income of $17.9 million, or 34 cents per share, up from year-earlier income of $15.5 million, or 31 cents per share. Excluding items, the sporting goods retailer had a profit of 35 cents a share, outpacing analysts’ expectations of 33 cents a share. The company cited strong sales and inventory controls as main factors for the improvement.

Dick's shares rocketed up 13.60% to $32.00 at market close Tuesday.

Deere & Company (DE: chart) announced Tuesday a 62% rise in its quarterly earnings, boosted by improving sales. The Moline, Illinois-based maker of farm and construction equipment said that it had net income of $401.4 million, or $1.58 per share, in its third quarter, which compares to net income of $247.5 million, or $1.02 per share, for the 2003 comparable period. The earnings powered past the average analysts’ estimate of $1.51 per share. Quarterly revenue jumped 23% to $5.4 billion, due to increased shipments and favorable currency exchange rates.

The stock slipped 1.43% on Tuesday to $60.15. Company shares gained 35 cents to $60.50 in after-market trade.

Network Appliance, Inc. (NTAP: chart) of Sunnyvale, California, reported Tuesday that its first-quarter net profit soared 73% to $46.9 million, or 13 cents per share, from a net profit of $27.1 million, or 8 cents per share, in the 2004 corresponding period. The developer of data storage equipment said stronger demand from bigger customers helped boost its earnings. Revenue in the quarter leapt 38% to $358.4 million from $260.5 million, a year ago.

Company shares edged up 17 cents to close Tuesday at $17.39. The stock surged 8.57% to $18.88 in after-hours trading.

The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX: chart) posted Tuesday a 4% decrease in its quarterly profits, hurt by tepid sales and higher reductions. The Framingham, Massachusetts-based off-price clothing retailer announced second-quarter income of $118.2 million, or 24 cents per share, against income of $123.3 million, or 24 cents per share, last year. Quarterly sales climbed 12% to $3.41 billion.

The stock closed Tuesday down 35 cents, or 1.59%, at $21.70.