Sara Lee’s 3rd-quarter profit falls on consumer pullback; adjusted results top Wall Street

September 25th, 2009 Unilever buys some Sara Lee businesses for $1.88BAMSTERDAM — Consumer products maker Unilever NV says it has agreed to buy the personal care products businesses of Sara Lee Corp. for euro1.28 billion ($1.88 billion).

September 22nd, 2009 ConAgra sees 1Q profit fall, raises outlookOMAHA, Neb. — ConAgra Foods Inc.

July 30th, 2009 Newell Rubbermaid 2Q profit rises 14 pctCHICAGO — Consumer products company Newell Rubbermaid's second-quarter earnings rose 14 percent on lower material costs and a decision to stop making some less-profitable products. Adjusted results for the maker of storage containers, office supplies and cookware were down 3 percent compared with last year's adjusted figures, the company said Thursday — but still managed to top Wall Street forecasts.

July 30th, 2009 Bankrate 2Q profit cut in halfNEW YORK — Bankrate Inc. on Thursday reported its second-quarter profit was cut in half as the recession eroded advertising revenue at the consumer finance Web site operator.

July 30th, 2009 LSI 2Q loss widens but beats Wall Street estimatesMILPITAS, Calif. — Chip maker LSI Corp.

July 29th, 2009 Akamai 2Q profit up, but is short of expectationsCAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Akamai Technologies Inc.

July 28th, 2009 Supervalu 1Q profit falls as sales declineMINNEAPOLIS — Grocery chain Supervalu Inc. said Tuesday that its fiscal first-quarter profit dropped 30 percent as sales and profit margins softened as it cut prices and spent more on promotions.

July 23rd, 2009 Pool Corp. 2Q profit dips but beats expectationsCOVINGTON, La. — Pool Corp.

July 22nd, 2009 Whirlpool 2Q profit falls on lower consumer demandBENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool, the world's largest maker of major home appliances, says its second-quarter profit fell 33 percent as consumer demand for its products significantly weakened.

July 15th, 2009 Abbott Laboratories 2Q profit falls 3 percentNORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — Drug developer and medical device maker Abbott Laboratories said Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell 3 percent on a mix of buyout and restructuring charges, but the results still met Wall Street forecasts.

June 24th, 2009 Nike 4Q profit declines on costs to cut jobsPORTLAND, Ore. — Athletic footwear and apparel company Nike Inc.

June 17th, 2009 FedEx posts loss, but adjusted results top viewNEW YORK — FedEx says it posted a bigger fiscal fourth-quarter loss, weighed down by hefty one-time charges, but adjusted results came in well above expectations on Wall Street. The company said Wednesday it lost $876 million, or $2.82 per share, compared with a loss of $241 million, or 78 cents per share a year ago.

May 6th, 2009 Earnings roundup: Blackstone Group, Foster WheelerAmong the earnings stories for Wednesday, May 6, from AP Financial News: NEW YORK (AP) — Private equity firm Blackstone Group says its first-quarter loss narrowed as management and advisory fees increased. ZUG, Switzerland (AP) — Foster Wheeler AG said its first-quarter profit fell 46 percent as the construction and engineering company's revenue slumped and its results were hurt by unfavorable currency comparisons.

April 23rd, 2009 AmEx 1Q profit drops 63 percent, but beats StreetNEW YORK — American Express says its earnings fell 63 percent in the first three months of the year, marking a sixth-straight quarter of profit declines at the credit card lender. But the results are better than analysts were expecting.

April 22nd, 2009 Altria Group 1Q profit drops 76 percentRICHMOND, Va. — Altria Group, the owner of the nation's biggest cigarette maker, says its first-quarter profit fell 76 percent because of acquisition charges and higher interest expenses.