Genentech, Inc. (DNA: chart) rolled out after the bell Wednesday net income of $230.9 million, or 21 cents per share, for its fiscal 2004 third quarter, which represents a 50% jump compared with prior-year net income of $152 million, or 14 cents per share. The biotechnology titan cited strong drug sales across its product line as main factor for the improvement. Excluding special items, earnings came in at $259.6 million, or 24 cents per share, for the quarter ended September 30, outpacing Wall Street’s consensus estimate of 21 cents per share. South San Francisco, California-based Genentech said third-quarter revenue surged 47% from a year earlier to $1.2 billion. Sales of Rituxan, the company’s drug for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, increased 18% in the quarter to $437.7 million. Sales of Avastin, Genentech’s new colon cancer treatment, were up to $183 million from $133 million in the previous quarter. Sales of breast cancer drug Herceptin advanced to $126 million, up 17% from last year.

Looking ahead, Genentech lifted its full-year profit outlook to a range of 80 cents to 83 cents a share, from a previous forecast of 75 cents to 80 cents a share.

Company shares slipped 1.72% on Wednesday to $50.25. The stock recovered 75 cents to $51.00 in extended-hours trading.

Monsanto Company (MON: chart) announced Wednesday a smaller quarterly loss, due to fewer after-tax charges. The St. Louis, Missouri-based maker of agricultural chemicals posted a net loss of $42 million, or 16 cents per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, in contrast to a loss of $188 million, or 72 cents per share, for the 2003 equivalent. Excluding items, the company reported a loss of a penny a share for the quarter ended August 31. Analysts were looking for a profit of 3 cents per share, on average. Total net sales dipped 3% from a year ago to $1.26 billion, hurt by weaker sales of the company’s herbicide Roundup.

The stock closed Wednesday at $36.84, up 10 cents, or 0.27%. Company shares dropped 11 cents to $36.73 in after-market trade.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (SCHN: chart) of Portland, Oregon, reported Wednesday that its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled to $37.9 million, or $1.22 per share, from $16.9 million, or 56 cents per share, generated in the 2003 comparable period. The metal processing company delivered revenue of $204.5 million in the quarter, compared with year-ago revenue of $153.6 million. The company attributed the results to improvement in both the steel and recycled metal markets.

Company shares surged 5.77% to $34.65 at market close Wednesday. The stock inched down 5 cents to $34.60 in the extended session.

Spartan Stores, Inc. (SPTN: chart) posted Wednesday a huge rise in its quarterly profits, aided by higher same-store sales and better cost controls. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocery retailer announced net income of $7 million, or 34 cents per share, for its second quarter, against net income of $1.8 million, or 9 cents per share, a year ago. Quarterly net sales eased to $486.7 million from $491.4 million, last year, due to lower sales in the company's distribution division. Comparable-store sales rose 1.4% from a year earlier, aided by strong performance in the supermarket division.

The stock gained 10 cents to close Wednesday at $4.39. Company shares were catapulted up 26.42% to $5.55 in after-hours trading.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW: chart) of Rockford, Michigan, said Wednesday that its third-quarter earnings rose to $21.9 million, or 55 cents a share, from earnings of $16.4 million, or 40 cents a share, for the 2003 corresponding period. Analysts expected the shoemaker to earn 47 cents a share in the quarter. Sales for the quarter increased 13.2% to $260.9 million. Wolverine said strong demand for its outdoor brands helped boost its earnings.

Wolverine shares closed Wednesday up $2.53, or 9.59%, at $28.90.

YUM! Brands, Inc. (YUM: chart) posted after market close Tuesday quarterly earnings that increased 13% from a year earlier, helped by strong international sales and improved performance at its KFC restaurants. The Louisville, Kentucky-based fast-food giant turned in net income of $185 million, or 61 cents a share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2004, up from net income of $164 million, or 53 cents a share, last year. The earnings topped by a penny a share the consensus analysts’ estimate. For the quarter ended September 4, total revenue climbed 9.5% to $2.18 billion from $1.99 billion, for the 2003 comparable period. Analysts had been expecting revenue of $2.13 billion in the third quarter. Yum said international operating profits jumped 25% in the quarter to $143 million, driven by sales growth in China and the United Kingdom, the company’s key overseas markets. System same-store sales were up 4% in the United States. KFC reported a 2% rise in same-store sales, snapping a decline streak.

Apollo Group, Inc. (APOL: chart) of Phoenix, Arizona, said after the bell Tuesday that it swung to a net loss of $104.7 million, or 59 cents per share, in its fiscal fourth quarter, from a prior-year net profit of $65.5 million, or 37 cents per share. The for-profit education company said the 2004 fourth-quarter results included expenses associated with the conversion of outstanding shares of University of Phoenix Online common stock to Apollo Education Group Class A common stock and a non-cash stock-based compensation charge of $123.5 million related to the conversion of University of Phoenix Online stock options into Apollo Education Group Class A stock options. Excluding those, the company reported a profit of $93.1 million, or 52 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, beating the average analysts’ estimate of 48 cents per share. Quarterly revenue surged 32.7% to $492.8 million, driven by a 28% rise in enrollment.

Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI: chart) announced Tuesday a big rise in its quarterly profits, boosted by strong demand and a lower tax rate. The Atlanta, Georgia-based manufacturer of lighting products and specialty chemicals posted fourth-quarter net earnings of $26.8 million, or 62 cents a share, compared with $14.3 million, or 34 cents a share, for the 2003 corresponding quarter. Sales for the quarter ended August 31 rose 5.6% to $563.4 million. The company said lower operating expenses also helped lift its profits.

Delphi Corporation (DPH: chart) of Troy, Michigan, reduced Tuesday its quarterly financial guidance, hurt by lower vehicle production and higher material costs. The world’s top maker of auto parts said that it now sees a net loss of $113 million to $120 million for its third quarter, in contrast to an earlier outlook for a net loss of $10 million to $40 million. Excluding charges, loss is expected to come between $65 million and $72 million.