Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (FLE: chart) announced before market open Thursday that it narrowed its quarterly loss, aided by strong sales of recreational vehicles. The Riverside, California-based maker of RVs and manufactured housing reported a net loss of $17.8 million, or 42 cents a share, for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2004, in contrast to a net loss of $55.4 million, or $1.54 a share, in the 2003 corresponding period. Analysts were looking for a fourth-quarter profit of 5 cents per share, on average. For the quarter ended April 25, Fleetwood posted an operating profit of $11.3 million, compared with an operating loss of $33.1 million in the year-earlier quarter. Revenue in the quarter jumped 20% to $689.4 million from $572.7 million. RV sales increased 19% to $482.7 million from $405.4 million, last year. Fleetwood said the recovering manufactured housing industry also helped boost the results, with a 21% jump in revenues to $191.6 million. For all of 2004, the company posted a net loss of $22.3 million, or 58 cents a share, compared with a loss of $70.7 million, or $1.97 a share, in fiscal 2003.

Fleetwood shares dropped 13 cents to close Thursday at $13.53.

The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG: chart) reported before the bell Thursday higher quarterly earnings, due to strong sales in the United States and Europe. The Somers, New York-based No.1 bottler of Pepsi-Cola beverages posted a profit of $142 million, or 53 cents a share, for its fiscal second quarter, up from a prior-year profit of $131 million, or 47 cents a share. The earnings were 2 cents a share ahead of the consensus analysts’ estimate. Quarterly revenue climbed to $2.67 billion from $2.53 billion, a year ago.

The stock gained 25 cents on Thursday to $30.50.

A. Schulman, Inc. (SHLM: chart) of Akron, Ohio, said Thursday that its third-quarter net income soared to $12.9 million, or 42 cents per share, from net income of $2.4 million, or 8 cents per share, in the 2003 comparable period. Analysts had expected the maker of plastic additives to earn 32 cents per share in the quarter. Sales in the quarter advanced 11% to $331.3 million. The company attributed the results to strong demand and the weak dollar.

Company shares closed Thursday down 3 cents, or 0.14%, at $20.70.

FSI International, Inc. (FSII: chart) announced Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-earlier loss, driven by rising demand for its equipment. The Chaska, Minnesota-based provider of capital equipment for the microelectronics industry turned in net income of $4.0 million, or 13 cents per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2004, bouncing back from a net loss of $15.6 million, or 53 cents per share, last year. Quarterly sales surged to $36.3 million from $19.4 million, a year ago.

The stock slipped 2.66% to $6.95 at market close Thursday.

Metron Technology N.V. (MTCH: chart) of San Jose, California, posted Thursday a narrower fourth-quarter net loss of $89,000, or a penny a share, compared with a net loss of $6.3 million, or 49 cents a share, in the 2003 equivalent. The supplier of semiconductor production equipment and materials said the results were due to higher revenue, which rose to $62.2 million from $52.7 million, last year. Excluding items, Metron reported a profit of $700,000, or 5 cents per share, for the fourth quarter. Analysts had called for a loss of 8 cents per share.

Metron shares dropped 2 cents on Thursday to $2.37. The stock was catapulted up 47.68% to $3.50 in after-hours trading.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP: chart) on Thursday revised upward its quarterly earnings guidance, citing strong performance at its department stores open at least a year. The Plano, Texas-based retailer lifted its second-quarter profit target to a range of 9 cents to 13 cents per share. The company had earlier projected a second-quarter profit of 6 cents per share.

The stock surged 5.27% to close Thursday at $38.12.

Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA: chart) of Islandia, New York, reduced Thursday its first-quarter revenue estimates to a range of $830 million to $850 million, from a prior outlook of $865 million to $885 million, due to weakness in its services business. Analysts expect the software company to report revenues of $877 million in the quarter. Computer Associates said that it still sees earnings of 5 cents to 7 cents per share in the first quarter, citing cost controls.

Company shares plunged 5.62% to $24.54 at market close Thursday. The stock recovered 31 cents to $24.85 in after-market trade.

Collins & Aikman Corporation (CKC: chart) on Thursday forecast a second-quarter operating profit, including restructuring expenses, of $21 million to $27 million, on sales of $1.02 billion to $1.04 billion. The Troy, Michigan-based manufacturer of automotive interiors had a net profit of $10.7 million, or 13 cents a share, on sales of $1.03 billion, in the second quarter of 2003.

The stock closed Thursday at $5.52, up 7 cents, or 1.28%.

Big Lots, Inc. (BLI: chart), the Columbus, Ohio-based closeout retailer, projected Thursday losses for its fiscal second and third quarters, hurt by a slump in sales. The company said that it sees a loss from continuing operations of 6 cents to 8 cents a share in its second quarter, and a loss of 4 cents to 8 cents a share, in the third quarter. Analysts were looking for a profit of 2 cents a share in the second quarter, and break-even for the third quarter.

Company shares plummeted 10.19% on Thursday to $12.52.

Kohl's Corporation (KSS: chart) on Thursday reiterated its quarterly profit forecast, despite weaker-than-expected same-store sales. The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based department store operator said that it still expects earnings of 42 cents to 45 cents per share in its second quarter. The average analysts’ forecast is for a profit of 43 cents per share.

The stock was up 5.28% to $43.65 at market close Thursday. Company shares inched down 3 cents to $43.62 in extended trade.