MetLife, Inc. (MET: chart) announced after market close Monday a 75% increase in its quarterly profit due to one-time gains and narrowed investment losses in improved credit and equity markets. The New York-based largest U.S. life insurer reported earnings of $574 million, or 75 cents a share, for its fiscal 2003 third quarter, up from $328 million, or 45 cents, generated in the year-ago period, and ahead of analysts’ expectations for profit of 73 cents a share. For the quarter ended September 30, the company said it narrowed its investment losses to $42 million, from $169 million, a year earlier. Excluding investment losses and a year-ago accounting charge, earnings came in at $616 million, or 81 cents a share, compared with $502 million, or 69 cents a share, in the prior year. The company said revenue in the third quarter rose 9% to $8.82 billion from $8.11 billion a year earlier.

MetLife shares closed Monday at $31.51, up 0.35%. The stock gained 48 cents to $31.99 in after-market trade.

Kellogg Company (K: chart) of Battle Creek, Michigan, said before market open Monday its third-quarter earnings surged to $231.3 million, or 56 cents a share, from $203.5 million, or 49 cents, in the same period a year ago. Analysts had expected profit of 52 cents a share on average. The largest U.S. cereal maker attributed the results to higher cereal sales and a weaker dollar. Sales were up 6.8% to $2.28 billion.

Kellogg shares soared 5.34% on Monday to $34.90. The stock shed 5 cents to $34.85 in after-hours trading.

Boosted by stronger-than-expected sales, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA: chart), the Jerusalem, Israel-based generic-drug company, reported Monday third-quarter net income of $157 million, or 53 cents a share, up 63% from $96.3 million, or 36 cents a share, a year earlier. The company topped analysts’ forecasts for profit of 49 cents a share.

Teva's American shares closed Monday up $1.48, or 2.60%, at $58.40. The stock inched down 0.03% to $58.38 in after-hours trading.

Protein Design Labs, Inc. (PDLI: chart) said Monday its third-quarter loss widened on rising costs. The Fremont, California-based biotechnology company posted a net loss of $18.9 million, or 20 cents a share, on revenue of $9.3 million in contrast to the year-ago loss of $8 million, or 9 cents a share, on revenue of $6.5 million.

The stock dropped 19 cents to close Monday at $13.29. Company shares recovered 0.15% to $13.31 in after-hours trading.

Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR: chart) of St. Louis, Missouri, reported before market open Monday a net profit of $36 million, or 7 cents per share, for its third quarter, reversing a year-ago loss of $167 million, or 57 cents per share. The No.3 U.S. cable television company said the better-than-expected subscriber numbers boosted the results. Revenue for the third quarter climbed 4% to $1.2 billion from $1.16 billion a year earlier.

Company shares plunged 5.15% on Monday to $4.05. The stock edged up 5 cents to $4.10 in after-hours trading.

Atari, Inc. (ATAR: chart), the New York-based developer of interactive games, said Monday it swung to a second quarter net loss of $68.1 million, or 90 cents per share, as it released fewer titles. For the 2003 equivalent, the company posted a net profit of $731,000, or 1 cent a share. Revenue slumped 45% to $60.6 million from $109.4 million a year earlier.

The stock gained 11 cents to close Monday at $3.97. Company shares added 1.51% to $4.03 in after-hours trading.

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW: chart) said Monday its fiscal 2003 third-quarter earnings tumbled 38% to $7.2 million, or 27 cents a share, including restructuring charges, from the year-ago income from continuing operations of $ 14.7 million, or 57 cents a share. The Manitowoc, Wisconsin-based lifting-equipment company cited the downturn in the domestic crawler market as main factor for the drop in profit.

Company shares closed Monday up $1.85, or 8.53%, at $23.55.

TransAct Technologies Inc. (TACT: chart) of Wallingford, Connecticut, reported before market open Monday a third-quarter net profit of $1.1 million or 17 cents per diluted share, reversing a year-ago net loss of $709,000 or 14 cents per share. The maker of transaction-based printers said results were due to higher revenues and continued reduction in the company’s cost base. Revenue increased 70% to $15.1 million, from $8.9 million in the same quarter a year ago.

The stock sank 5.19% to $22.27 at market close Monday.

Max Re Capital Ltd. (MXRE: chart), the Hamilton, Bermuda-based insurer, said Monday it swung to a third-quarter profit of $38.8 million, or 89 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $14.3 million, or 37 cents a share, on strength in its property and casualty underwriting and an improved investment performance. Excluding gains, the company earned 64 cents a share, well above the average analysts’ estimate of 29 cents a share.

Company shares jumped 5.19% to close Monday at $19.45.

Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. (ELBO: chart) lowered Monday its third-quarter earnings guidance, citing weak software and hardware sales. The West Chester, Pennsylvania-based video game and PC accessories retailer now expects to earn 5 cents to 6 cents a share, down from its previous outlook of 14 cents to 18 cents a share.

The stock plummeted 18.19% on Monday to $23.25. Company shares dipped 5 cents to $23.20 in after-hours trading.