Earnings At A Glance

Delta Airlines's third-quarter profits soared 10 percent past expectations, helped by lower fuel costs, higher ticket prices and more crowded flights.

In the latest quarter, the No. 3 U.S. airline said Thursday it earned $216 million, or $1.42 a share, up from $195 million, or $1.23, a year earlier. Delta was expected to earn $1.29, according to the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by First Call Corp.

Revenue climbed 3 percent to $3.5 billion from $3.39 billion a year ago.

The airline flew a record 25 million customers. Load factor, an indicator of how full flights are, also rose to a record 69.9 percent, up 1.2 points.

Shares of Delta jumped 2 11/16 to 71 3/16 Wednesday ahead of the report.

GILETTE

Gillette's first-quarter profit was essentially flat, saved by robust sales of its Mach3 shaver.

The company also announced it has raised its quarterly dividend 16 percent to 14.75 cents from 12.75 cents.

In the latest three-month period, the company said it earned $269 million, or 24 cents a share, compared with $268 million, or 23 cents, a year earlier.

Per-share results matched the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by First Call.

Gillette said its earnings were reduced in part by higher interest costs related to its share-buyback program.

Revenue fell to $1.94 billion from $2.2 million a year ago. Excluding the divestiture of its Jafra Cosmetics International and rechargeable battery business, sales rose 3 percent, Gillette said.

Though domestic Mach3 sales surged 33 percent in the first quarter, Gillette's businesses were hampered by weaker results at its Braun unit and by sales in some overseas markets.

Gillette said its sees in improvement in foreign economies, however, which should put the company back on faster growth track.