First Quarter Earnings | featured news

The U.S. Postal Service on Thursday reported a $3.2 billion loss for the first quarter of 2012, $1 billion more than during the same period last year.

The government-backed mortgage financier said it made a profit in the first quarter and that it does not need additional bailout money — a first since the federal government took it over in 2008.

Macy's reported higher fiscal-first-quarter earnings on solid sales gains and constraints on overhead costs.

The Wendy's Co. on Tuesday reported a first-quarter profit that missed Wall Street expectations and cut its forecast for the year, as the hamburger chain struggled in its revival efforts amid higher costs for fresh beef and weaker-than-expected sales.

Washington Post Co. reported a rise in first-quarter earnings that reflected a write-down a year earlier and that masked further weakness in the company's education centers.

GM (GM) posted a profit of $1 billion in the first quarter, beating Wall Street expectations on strong demand in its key North American market. GM also said the U.S. economy was improving and it expected its core North American results in the second and third quarters to largely match the first quarter due to scheduled downtime at its large truck plants.

Shares of online marketing services provider ValueClick are taking a beating after hours Wednesday following the company's Q1 financial report. ValueClick posted revenue of $152.9 million, up 31% from a year ago, but below the Street consensus at $157.8 million. Guidance had been for $155 million to $160 million.

Comcast Corp., the country's largest cable company, reported a 30 percent profit increase in the first quarter, beating expectations on the strength of Super Bowl advertising and its popular broadband service....

The evidence continues to mount that the mobile phone business is evolving into a two-horse race. It’s Apple, Samsung, and a host of desperate hangers on. In the first quarter, according to Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt, Apple accounted for about 80% of all profits in the mobile phone business, with Samsung accounting for the rest. The two companies combined, he figures, had 74% of mobile handset industry revenues.

Exxon Mobil Corp. earned less money in the first quarter as costs rose and the Irving oil giant produced less oil and natural gas. Net income dropped to $9.45 billion, or $2 a share, from $10.65 billion, or $2.14 a share, a year ago. Still, revenue rose to $124.05 billion from $114 billion last year.