KeySpan Corporation (KSE: chart) said before the bell Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a prior-year loss, boosted by gains from asset sales and strong performance across all of its business segments. The Brooklyn, New York-based energy company announced net earnings of $129 million, or 81 cents a share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004, bouncing back from a loss of $7.4 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were $44.3 million, or 28 cents a share, for the quarter ended June 30, compared with $26.7 million, or 17 cents a share, in 2003. Analysts had predicted a second-quarter profit before items of 19 cents a share. KeySpan reported that operating income at its gas distribution unit rose 11% from last year to $35 million, due to a rate increase in the New England service territory. The company’s electric services business delivered operating income of $67.9 million in the quarter, a 30% jump from prior-year quarter, on higher net energy margins. Quarterly revenue slipped 3% to $1.37 billion. For the first half of the year, net income was $375.5 million, or $2.33 a share, against net income of $234 million, or $1.48 a share, for the first half in 2003.

KeySpan shares dipped 1.19% on Thursday to $36.61. The stock dropped a penny to $36.60 in after-market trade.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA: chart) reported Thursday a steep decline in its quarterly profits, citing price pressure, higher costs and a product delay at Intel as main factors for the drop. The Santa Clara, California-based maker of graphics chips and boards posted net income of $5.1 million, or 3 cents per share, for its fiscal second quarter, down from net income of $24.2 million, or 14 cents per share, last year. Analysts had expected a profit of 15 cents per share, on average. Quarterly revenue eased to $456.1 million from $459.8 million.

The stock closed Thursday down 41 cents, or 2.74%, at $14.56. Company shares plummeted 22.18% to $11.33 in after-hours trading.

Allegheny Energy, Inc. (AYE: chart) of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, said Thursday that it narrowed its second-quarter net loss to $39.5 million, or 31 cents a share, from a year-ago loss of $231.5 million, or $1.82 a share, aided by higher revenues and smaller losses. Analysts had expected the utility holding company to post a loss of 34 cents a share. Revenues in the quarter surged to $657.1 million from $359.2 million, a year ago.

Company shares closed Thursday unchanged at $14.76.

CMS Energy Corporation (CMS: chart) on Thursday turned in a second-quarter profit of $16 million, or 10 cents a share, reversing a loss of $65 million, or 45 cents a share, in the 2003 corresponding quarter, when results were hurt by charges. The earnings of the Jackson, Michigan-based energy company beat by 5 cents a share the mean analysts’ estimate. Quarterly revenue inched down 3% to $1.09 billion.

The stock shed 22 cents to close Thursday at $8.83.

The Clorox Company (CLX: chart) of Oakland, California, announced Thursday that its quarterly profits advanced 24% from last year, driven by increased prices and stronger sales of higher margin products. The maker of household products posted earnings of $185 million, or 86 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, in contrast to $149 million, or 68 cents per share, generated in the 2003 equivalent. Results were 3 cents a share ahead of Wall Street’s average forecast. Sales in the quarter climbed 8% to $1.24 billion.

Clorox shares gained 67 cents to $50.37 at market close Thursday.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (GT: chart) reported Thursday a second-quarter net profit of $25.1 million, or 14 cents a share, a turnaround from a loss of $53.0 million, or 30 cents a share, in the 2003 comparable period. The earnings glided past the consensus analysts’ estimate of 8 cents a share. The Akron, Ohio-based tire maker said higher prices and sales of new products contributed for the improvement.

The stock closed Thursday at $10.90, up 5 cents, or 0.46%.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB: chart) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, posted Thursday a net loss for its fiscal second quarter, weighed down by one-time costs. The natural gas company said that it had a loss of $18.2 million, or 3 cents per share, in the second quarter, in contrast to a profit of $269.7 million, or 46 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding items, Williams reported a profit of 12 cents per share, surpassing the average analysts’ view by 5 cents.

Company shares edged up 20 cents on Thursday to $11.98.

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KG: chart) said Thursday that its quarterly loss widened, hurt by charges and weaker sales. The Bristol, Tennessee-based drug maker posted a second-quarter net loss of $63.5 million, or 26 cents a share, in contrast to a loss of $35 million, or 15 cents a share, for the same period in 2003. Quarterly revenue plunged 25% to $275.1 million.

The stock rose 3.64% to close Thursday at $11.97.

Pixar Animation Studios (PIXR: chart) of Emeryville, California, on Thursday rolled out net income of $37.4 million, or 63 cents per share, for its second quarter, a 92% surge from year-earlier net income of $19.5 million, or 34 cents per share. The digital animation studio attributed the profit rise to strong international home video sales of 'Finding Nemo'. Analysts had called for a profit of 37 cents per share, on average. Revenue in the quarter climbed to $66.3 million from $48.9 million, last year.

Pixar shares dipped 3.59% to $66.00 at market close Thursday. The stock gained $2.18 to $68.18 in the extended session.

Sara Lee Corporation (SLE: chart) announced Thursday that its fourth-quarter earnings jumped 20% to $354 million, or 44 cents a share, from $296 million, or 37 cents a share, for the fourth quarter in fiscal 2003. The Chicago, Illinois-based consumer products company said strong sales of bakery goods and meat, and favorable currency exchange rates helped boost its profits. Total sales rose 11% in the quarter to $5.1 billion.

The stock closed Thursday down 17 cents, or 0.79%, at $21.23.