Before the bell Tuesday, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP: chart) announced that its fiscal 2004 third-quarter profit slipped 35%, hurt by weak results from its Eckerd drugstore division. The company, which is one of the largest U.S. department store, drugstore, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, reported net earnings of $80 million, or 27 cents per share, for the quarter ended October 25, down from $123 million, or 42 cents per share, in the same period a year ago, but, still, above the average analysts’ estimate for profit of 25 cents a share. Plano, Texas-based J. C. Penney said revenue rose 1.4% to $7.99 billion from $7.87 billion last year. Analysts were looking for revenue of $8.08 billion for the third quarter. Same-store sales were up 1.7% at department stores but dropped 1% at Eckerd drug stores.

For the fourth quarter, the company views earnings at 80 cents per share, which would be in line with Wall Street’s expectations.

JCP shares gained 37 cents to close Tuesday at $23.65. The stock shed 2 cents to $23.63 in after-market trade.

The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX: chart) posted Tuesday third-quarter net income of $182.8 million, or 36 cents a share, up 24% from $147.4 million, or 28 cents a share, last year. The Framingham, Massachusetts-based retailer credited the results to the growth at its T.J. Maxx and Marshalls clothing chains. Sales were up 11.5% to $3.39 billion from $3.04 billion. Results were in line with analysts’ projections.

TJX shares dipped 1.46% on Tuesday to $22.94. The stock edged up 2 cents to $22.96 in after-hours trading.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG: chart) of New York announced Tuesday that its quarterly loss grew wider on restructuring and other charges. The world's second-largest advertising conglomerate posted a third-quarter net loss of $327 million, or 85 cents per share, compared with a loss of $89.6 million, or 24 cents per share, in the prior year. For the quarter ended September 30, revenue climbed up 2.3% to $1.42 billion from $1.39 billion a year earlier.

Company shares closed Tuesday at $15.65, up 1.69%. The stock shed 3 cents to $15.62 in after-market trade.

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC: chart), the El Segundo, California-based technology consulting and outsourcing concern, said after the bell Tuesday its second-quarter profit jumped 16% to $108.1 million, or 57 cents a share, from $92.9 million, or 54 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue surged 32% to $3.59 billion from $2.72 billion a year ago. The company said continued growth in its government business boosted the results.

The stock dropped 16 cents on Tuesday to $40.79. Company shares were up 3.21% to $42.10 in after-hours trading.

CMS Energy Corp. (CMS: chart) of Dearborn, Michigan, posted Tuesday a third-quarter loss of $77 million, or 51 cents a share, compared with net income of $37 million, or 26 cents per share, in the 2002 comparable period. CMS, which is one of the largest U.S. combination gas and electric utilities, cited restructuring costs as main factor for the loss. Revenue slumped to $1.02 billion from $2.53 billion a year ago.

CMS shares added 3 cents to $8.03 at market close Tuesday.

Boosted by strong sales, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF: chart) said Tuesday its third-quarter earnings increased 5.9% to $50.5 million, or 51 cents a share, from $47.7 million, or 48 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier. The New Albany, Ohio-based clothing retailer matched analysts’ expectations.

The stock closed Tuesday up 97 cents, or 3.48%, at $28.83. Company shares slid 2.01% to $28.25 in after-hours trading.

Energizer, Inc. (ENR: chart), the world's No. 2 razor and battery company, reported Tuesday a smaller profit of $33 million, or 38 cents a share, compared with $56.2 million, or 61 cents a share, a year ago, on costs to refinance debt. St. Louis, Missouri-based Energizer said the write-up of inventory purchased with Schick-Wilkinson Sword also weighed down the results. For the quarter ended September 30, sales leapt 59% to $703.5 million.

Energizer shares slipped 0.13% on Tuesday to $37.60.

Western Gas Resources, Inc. (WGR: chart) posted Tuesday a 56% profit increase for its fiscal third quarter, helped by higher natural gas prices and production. The Denver, Colorado-based natural gas producer said it earned $20.9 million, or 56 cents per share, up from $13.4 million, or 34 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 8.6% to $666.8 million.

The stock closed Tuesday at $42.41, up 66 cents, or 1.58%.

Sycamore Networks, Inc. (SCMR: chart) of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, said Tuesday it narrowed its first-quarter loss to $12.2 million, or 5 cents a share, from a year-ago loss of $ 17.4 million, or 7 cents a share. The developer of optical networking products said results were due to higher revenue and reduced costs. Excluding costs, the loss was 4 cents a share, in line with the average analysts’ estimate.

Company shares plunged 3.07% on Tuesday to $5.36. The stock plummeted 6.90% to $4.99 in after-market trade.

Bayer AG (BAY: chart), the Leverkusen, Germany-based drug and chemicals maker, said Tuesday it swung to a loss of ˆ123 million ($138 million) in its third quarter, from a year-earlier profit of ˆ656 million, due primarily to weak sales at some of its divisions. Sales for the quarter dropped 8.4% to ˆ6.83 billion ($7.85 billion) from ˆ7.46 billion last year.