Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (LEH: chart) announced Tuesday that its quarterly earnings rose 5% from last year, aided by strength in bond-trading and investment banking growth. The New York-based financial services company reported a net profit of $487 million, or $1.71 a share, for its fiscal 2004 third quarter, up from a net profit of $469 million, or $1.81 a share, for the prior-year period. The per-share earnings slipped from a year ago, as the company had fewer shares outstanding in 2004. The average analysts’ forecast was for third-quarter earnings of $1.55 a share. Net revenues for the quarter ended August 31 climbed 12% to $2.62 billion from $2.35 billion, for the third quarter of fiscal 2004. Revenues from capital markets inched up 2%, with a 16% rise in fixed-income revenue, driven by growth in mortgage and asset-backed bonds businesses. Investment banking revenues advanced 16% in the quarter to $526 million.

Lehman shares rose 4.91% on Tuesday to $79.75. The stock dropped 5 cents to $79.70 in extended-hours trading.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS: chart) reported Tuesday a 30% increase in its quarterly profits, helped by improved results from nearly every business segment. The New York-based investment bank posted net income of $879 million, or $1.74 a share, for the fiscal 2004 third quarter, compared with net income of $677 million, or $1.32 a share, for the same period a year earlier. The earnings were well above Wall Street’s average forecast of $1.43 a share. For the quarter ended August 27, total revenue advanced 20% to $4.53 billion, while analysts had called for $4.15 billion. The company’s investment banking business recorded net revenue of $890 million in the quarter, a 30% jump from prior-year revenue of $687 million. Net revenue in principal investments climbed 15% to $2.7 billion, as revenue from fixed income, currencies and commodities more than doubled to $1.87 billion from $879 million, a year ago. Goldman Sachs said revenue from its equities business declined 17% in the third quarter to $910 million, hurt by weak summer trading activity.

Company shares gained $3.22 to $94.90 at market close Tuesday. The stock lost 5 cents to $94.85 in after-hours trading.

AutoZone, Inc. (AZO: chart) posted Tuesday higher quarterly profits, as sales improved slightly from a year ago. The Memphis, Tennessee-based U.S. No.1 auto parts retailer said that it earned $209.4 million, or $2.53 a share, in its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with earnings of $207.4 million, or $2.27 a share, for the 2003 corresponding quarter. The earnings were 2 cents a share below the mean analysts’ estimate. Sales in the quarter totaled $1.84 billion, up slightly from $1.83 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales dipped 3% in the quarter.

The stock edged up 9 cents to close Tuesday at $75.60. AutoZone shares slipped 1.46% to $74.50 in after-market trade.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL: chart) of St. Petersburg, Florida, said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income more than doubled to $44.3 million, or 22 cents per share, from year-ago net income of $20.1 million, or 10 cents per share. The contract electronics manufacturer had earnings, excluding items, of $54.7 million, or 27 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2004, beating by a penny a share Wall Street’s consensus forecast. Quarterly revenue advanced to $1.63 billion from $1.30 billion, last year. Jabil attributed the results to strong demand for electronic products.

Jabil shares gained 29 cents to $22.18 at market close Tuesday. The stock surged 6.63% to $23.65 in the extended session.

Syms Corp (SYM: chart) reported Tuesday a narrower quarterly loss despite weaker sales. The Secaucus, New Jersey-based apparel retailer announced a second-quarter net loss of $3.7 million, or 25 cents per share, in contrast to a net loss of $4.7 million, or 30 cents per share, for the year-ago equivalent. Sales in the quarter eased 1.4% to $61.3 million. Comparable-store sales were up 0.2% from last year.

The stock closed Tuesday at $10.74, up a penny, or 0.09%.

Christopher & Banks Corporation (CBK: chart) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, announced Tuesday that its second-quarter profits dropped 34% to $5.6 million, or 15 cents per share, from $8.5 million, or 22 cents per share, generated for the same period a year earlier. Results of the women's apparel retailer were in line with analysts’ projections. The company blamed the profit decline on a 6% decrease in same-store sales.

Company shares rose 3.60% on Tuesday to close at $19.27.

General Mills, Inc. (GIS: chart) posted Tuesday a 19% drop in its quarterly income, citing increased food ingredient costs and restructuring charges as main factors for the results. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based cereal maker reported net earnings of $183 million, or 47 cents per share, for its first quarter, compared with net earnings of $227 million, or 59 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Excluding items, profit came to 55 cents per share in the quarter, falling a nickel short of the average analysts’ forecast. Quarterly sales edged up 3% to $2.59 billion.

The stock dipped 2.12% to $45.35 at market close Tuesday.