Amphenol Corp. (APH: chart), maker of electronic and fiber optic connectors and cable, said that its fourth-quarter earnings increased to $78.4 million, or 85 cents per share, compared with a year-ago profit of $55.8 million, or 61 cents per share. The latest results reflect a benefit of 2 cents per share related to a reduction in the company''s effective tax rate as well as stock option expense of 2 cents per share. Sales climbed to $659.4 million versus $508.1 million in the same period a year earlier.

State Street Corp. (STT: chart), financial services firm, said that its fourth-quarter net income increased 17% to $291 million, or 86 cents per share, compared with $249 million, or 74 cents per share in the year-ago period. Revenue jumped 15% to $1.62 billion.

J.P. Morgan Chase& Co. (JPM: chart), financial services provider, said that its fourth-quarter net income increased 68% to $4.5 billion, or $1.26 per share compared with $2.7 billion, or 76 cents per share a year ago. Yearly results include a $622 million after-tax gain related to exiting the corporate trust business in the fourth quarter. Income from continuing operation in the quarter was $3.9 billion, or $1.09 per share compared with $2.6 billion, or 74 cents per share a year ago. Revenue climbed to $16.9 billion in the quarter, compared to $14.7 billion a year ago.

Southwest Airlines (LUV: chart), passenger airline services provider, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings fell to $57 million, or 7 cents per share, compared with $70 million, or 9 cents per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding special items, earnings were 12 cents against 10 cents. Revenue climbed to $2.28 billion versus $1.99 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

AMR Corp. (AMR: chart), scheduled passenger airline operator, said that it recorded a fourth-quarter net income gain of $17 million, or 7 cents per share, compared with a loss of $600 million, or $3.46 per share in the year-ago quarter. Revenue climbed 4.4% to $5.4 billion from $5.17 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW: chart), provides securities brokerage, banking, and related financial services, said that its fourth-quarter earnings increased 150% to $467 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $187 million, or 14 cents per share in the year-ago period. The latest quarter included a $205 million non-cash tax benefit relating to company’s pending sale of U.S. Trust. Revenue rose to $1.1 billion versus $964 million in the year-ago quarter.

Stewart Enterprises Inc. (STEI: chart), funeral and cemetery provider, said that its fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations increased to $10.7 million, or 10 cents per share, compared with a year-ago loss of $2 million, or 2 cents per share. Excluding items, the company posted a profit from continuing operations of $9.2 million, or 9 cents per share in the latest quarter. Revenue rose to $131.2 million versus $114.1 million in the fourth quarter last year.

Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS: chart), banking and trust services provider, said that its fourth-quarter net income increased to $170.8 million, or 77 cents per share, compared with $147.6 million, or 67 cents per share a year earlier. Total revenue jumped 12% to $776 million with trust, investment and other servicing fees rising 14% to $458.2 million. Total fee-related income represented 73% of revenue during the period..