Frontier Airlines, Inc. (FRNT: chart) announced Friday that it narrowed its quarterly loss, on the back of higher revenue and improved cost controls. The Denver, Colorado-based airline said that it lost $5.75 million, or 16 cents per share, in its fiscal 2004 fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $12.9 million, or 44 cents per share, in the same quarter of the previous year. Excluding items, the company reported a loss of $1.3 million, or 8 cents per share, for the quarter ended March 31. Analysts were looking for a loss before items of 4 cents a share. Quarterly revenue rose to $172 million, from $118.5 million a year earlier. For fiscal year 2004, Frontier posted net earnings of $12.6 million, or 36 cents per share, bouncing back from a net loss of $22.8 million, or 77 cents per share, in fiscal 2003. Revenue in 2004 came up to $643.6 million, in contrast to $469 million a year ago.

Frontier shares dropped 6 cents on Friday to $9.30.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited (RDY: chart) said Friday that its quarterly profits slumped 74% from a year ago, hurt by one-time items and an increase in costs. The India-based drug maker announced net income of 162 million rupees ($3.5 million) for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2004, down from net income of 623 million rupees, last year. Analysts had forecast a fourth-quarter profit of 593 million rupees. Sales in the quarter climbed 12% to 4.76 billion rupees from 4.26 billion, in 2003.

The stock plunged 5.07% to close Friday at $18.52.

GlycoGenesys, Inc. (GLGS: chart) of Boston, Massachusetts, posted after the bell Friday a first-quarter net loss of $2.8 million, or 6 cents per share, in contrast to a net loss of $1.9 million, or 5 cents per share, in the 2003 corresponding period. The biotechnology company attributed the loss increase to higher research and development expenses. The mean analysts’ estimate was for a loss of 4 cents a share.

Company shares gained a penny to $0.50 at market close Friday. The stock surged 10.00% to $0.55 in after-hours trading.

Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies on Friday reported restated results for its fiscal year 2003, due to problems with its oil and gas reserves. The Netherlands-based world’s No.3 oil and gas group said its revised net profit was $12.50 billion in 2003, a 27% increase from the restated net profit of $9.72 billion, generated in fiscal 2002. Restated sales for 2003 were up to $268.9 billion, from $222.8 billion a year earlier.

Bridgford Foods Corporation (BRID: chart) of Anaheim, California, announced after market close Friday that it swung to a quarterly loss from a prior-year profit, citing exceptionally high costs for meat commodities. The provider of frozen foods reported a net loss of $209,000, or 2 cents a share, for its fiscal second quarter, compared with a year-earlier profit of $108,000, or a penny a share. Quarterly sales advanced to $30.5 million, up from $20.1 million, last year.

Bridgford shares dipped 3.85% on Friday to $7.50.

REX Stores Corporation (RSC: chart) on Friday rolled out fiscal first-quarter net income of $4.1 million, or 32 cents a share, a 30% jump from net income of $3.1 million, or 25 cents a share, in the comparable period a year ago. The Dayton, Ohio-based retailer of consumer electronic products and appliances said results were boosted by a 71% rise in investment income from synthetic fuel investments. Net sales in the quarter eased 7.6% to $88.2 million from $95.4 million, last year.

The stock closed Friday up 5 cents, or 0.41%, at $12.30.

Frontline Ltd. (FRO: chart), the Hamilton, Bermuda-based tanker group, said Friday that its quarterly earnings rose 19% from last year, due to strong demand for oil and high chartering prices. The company announced a first-quarter net profit of $214 million, or $2.91 per share, up from a net profit of $180 million, or $2.35 per share, in the 2003 equivalent. On average, analysts had been expecting first-quarter earnings of $236 million, or $3.02 per share.

Frontline shares rose 2.74% to close Friday at $35.22.

AFC Enterprises, Inc. (AFCE: chart) posted after the bell Friday net earnings of $7.8 million, or 27 cents per share, for its fiscal first quarter of 2004, in contrast to net earnings of $5.7 million, or 20 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter. The Atlanta, Georgia-based operator of fast-food restaurants said profit rise was aided by higher revenues, which climbed 5.7% to $147.4 million in the first quarter of 2004, from $139.4 million a year ago. AFC said it also benefited from fewer charges.

The stock closed Friday unchanged at $20.51.

Beaumont Select Corporations Inc. reported Friday that its quarterly profits more than doubled due to gains and income from the marketable securities portfolio. The Calgary, Canada-based management and investment firm delivered earnings of C$379,000, in its third quarter, against earnings of C$153,000, in the year-ago quarter. Sales rose to C$9.4 million from C$8.3 million, last year.