Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMSC: chart) posted before market open Monday a 69% increase in its quarterly profits, driven by strong demand for its input/output (I/O) chips and networking products. The Hauppauge, New York-based chipmaker turned in net income of $2.9 million, or 15 cents per share, for its fiscal 2005 first quarter, compared with net income of $1.7 million, or 10 cents per share, a year earlier. Earnings were 2 cents a share ahead of the average analysts’ estimate. Operating income for the first quarter of 2005 rose to $3.6 million from $3.1 million, in fiscal 2004. The company recorded revenue of $53.1 million in the quarter ended May 31, up 24% from $42.7 million, in the same quarter a year ago. Sales of networking and connectivity products soared more than 50% from last year. Standard Microsystems added that total non-PC I/O revenues represented 40% of total first-quarter product sales.

Looking ahead, the company projected second-quarter earnings between 17 cents and 21 cents per share, on revenue of $56 million to $60 million.

Company shares closed Monday down 34 cents, or 1.45%, at $23.10. The stock gained 11 cents to $23.21 in after-market trade.

Royal Ahold N.V. (AHO: chart) said Monday that it swung to a quarterly loss from a year-earlier profit, hurt by one-time charges on supermarket chains it sold in Brazil and Thailand. The Netherlands-based food retailer posted a net loss €405 million ($490 million) in its fiscal first quarter, in contrast to a profit of €84 million in the year-ago period. Excluding the extraordinary items of €450 million ($540 million), Ahold reported an operating loss of €145 million ($175 million) in the quarter, compared with an operating profit of €402 million, last year. Quarterly sales slipped 11.3% to €15.4 billion ($18.7 billion).

Ahold shares gained 10 cents to close Monday at $7.41.

Quiksilver, Inc. (ZQK: chart) of Huntington Beach, California, reported after the bell Monday that its second-quarter net earnings jumped 23% to $27.8 million, or 47 cents per share, from net earnings of $22.6 million, or 40 cents per share, in the 2003 comparable quarter. The apparel and footwear maker beat the mean estimate of analysts by a penny a share. Quiksilver attributed the results to rising sales in Europe and America. Total sales for the quarter advanced 23% to $322.6 million.

The stock dipped 3.04% on Monday to $22.36. Company shares recovered 43 cents to $22.79 in after-hours trading.

URS Corporation (URS: chart) announced Monday net income of $19.7 million, or 54 cents a share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004, up 27% from net income of $15.6 million, or 48 cents a share, generated in the 2003 equivalent. The San Francisco, California-based world’s top construction design company cited increased operations and maintenance work for the U.S. Department of Defense as main factor for the profit rise. Quarterly revenue climbed 6% to $864.7 million.

URS shares edged up 16 cents to $26.16 at market close Monday.

Vail Resorts, Inc. (MTN: chart) reported Monday quarterly earnings that surged 86% from the prior-year period, boosted by strong mountain and lodging revenue growth. The Vail, Colorado-based ski resort operator said that it earned $62.5 million, or $1.77 per share, in its third quarter, against net income of $33.5 million, or 95 cents per share, in the 2003 corresponding period. Total revenue for the quarter rose 7% to $287.9 million. Mountain revenue climbed 11% from last year, while lodging revenue improved 7.5%.

The stock soared 7.90% to close Monday at $16.80.

Optical Cable Corporation (OCCF: chart) of Roanoke, Virginia, on Monday posted a net profit of $57,000, or a penny a share, for its second quarter, compared with a net profit of $133,000, or 2 cents a share, in the second quarter of 2003. The maker of tight-buffered high-bandwidth fiber optic cables blamed higher expenses for the results. Second-quarter net sales were up 9.2% to $10.7 million from $9.8 million, a year ago.

Company shares plummeted 12.00% to $5.28 at market close Monday.

Navtech, Inc. (NAVH: chart) said Monday that its second-quarter net earnings dropped to C$48,000, or 1 Canadian cent a share, from net earnings of $203,000, or 5 Canadian cents a share, in the prior-year period when results included a $159,000 recovery of a bad debt from a related party. The Waterloo, Canada-based provider of aviation services and software solutions delivered revenue of $2 million in the second quarter, up from $1.7 million a year ago.

The stock closed Monday unchanged at $1.05.

General Motors Corporation (GM: chart) announced Monday that it will meet its financial forecasts for the fiscal second quarter of 2004, aided by strong global automotive sales. The Detroit, Michigan-based automaker said that it is on track to achieve its goal of earnings in the range of $2 to $2.25 a share in the second quarter. For all of 2004, GM confirmed its prior earnings target of $7 a share. Analysts expect the company to earn $2.21 a share in the second quarter and $7.16 for the year.

GM shares slipped 2.02% on Monday to $47.09.

Foot Locker, Inc. (FL: chart), the New York-based athletic shoe retailer, repeated Monday that it expects second-quarter earnings in the range of 27 cents to 30 cents per share, which would represent an increase of 10% to 20% year-over-year. Currently, analysts project a second-quarter profit of 29 cents per share, on average.

The stock closed Monday at $23.16, down 25 cents, or 1.07%.

Parker Hannifin Corporation (PH: chart) of Cleveland, Ohio, lifted Monday its profit outlook for the fourth quarter, citing stronger-than-expected orders and lower operating costs. The manufacturer of motion-control products said that it now sees fourth-quarter earnings of 85 cents to 95 cents a share. The company had previously forecast earnings of 70 cents to 80 cents a share for the fourth quarter.