Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN: chart), a women’s apparel retailer based in New York, said earnings in the fiscal second quarter were 45 cents a share, up from 39 cents in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed 14 percent to $390 million due to new stores and discounting.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF: chart), a New York-based jewellery company, said earnings in the second quarter rose to 28 cents a share from 22 cents in the same period last year. Revenue jumped 18 percent to $442.5 million due to U.S. sales growth and improved international business.

Discount retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT: chart) posted second-quarter net income of 52 cents a share, up from 45 cents in the year-ago quarter. Revenue surged 11 percent to $62.6 billion helped by higher international sales.

Media

News Corp. (NWS: chart), a global media company based in Sydney, Australia, reported profit of 28 cents a share in the fourth quarter, compared with a net loss of $1.40 a share in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed 20 percent to $4.6 billion, helped by the Fox network and the Fox News Channel.

Fox Entertainment Group Inc. (FOX: chart), a TV broadcaster based in New York, beat analyst estimates with its fourth-quarter net income of 29 cents a share, up from five cents in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose 15 percent to $2.8 billion due to the film, TV station and cable businesses.

Technology

InterDigital Communications Corp. (IDCC: chart), a provider of wireless technology products based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, said second-quarter profit surged to five cents a share from four cents in the year-earlier quarter, due to its patent licensing program. Revenue climbed three percent to $25.8 million.

EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH: chart), a provider of satellite-delivered digital TV services, said its second-quarter net income jumped to 27 cents a share from eight cents in the same quarter last year, including benefits from a litigation settlement. Revenue at the Littleton, Colorado company rose 21 percent to $1.41 billion due to free cash flows and new subscriptions.

Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD: chart), a provider of data storage networking products based in San Jose, California, posted third-quarter earnings of one cent a share, down from eight cents in the year-ago period. Revenue was down 13.3 percent to $133.5 million amid weaker corporate investment in information technology.

WMS Industries Inc. (WMS: chart), a slot-machine maker based in Waukegan, Illinois, posted net loss of 17 cents a share in its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with year-ago earnings of two cents. Revenue increased 18 percent due to better sales of gaming machines outside of North America.

Healthcare

ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL: chart), an oncology research company based in New York, narrowed its second-quarter net loss to 47 cents a share, from 63 cents in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed 54 percent to $17.9 million as the company lowered its administrative and marketing expenses.

Dendrite International Inc. (DRTE: chart), a pharmaceutical company based in Morristown, New Jersey, reported second-quarter net income of 14 cents a share, up from 11 cents a year earlier. Revenue climbed 20.7 percent due to the acquisition of Synavant. Shares hit a 52-week high of $15.29 on Wednesday.

PolyMedica Corp. (PLMD: chart), a medical supplies maker based in Woburn, Massachusetts, reported first-quarter earnings of 88 cents a share, up from 73 cents in the prior year. Using the method sought by the SEC, under which advertising costs are expensed, the profit was 70 cents a share, up from 58 cents. Revenue jumped 21 percent to $98.9 million.