Earnings roundup: AutoNation, KBR

Earnings roundup: AutoNation posts profit in 3Q on lower costs, KBR earnings slide 14 percent

• On 6:08 pm EDT, Thursday October 29, 2009

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, Oct. 29, from AP Financial News:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- AutoNation Inc., the nation's largest automotive retailer, said it made money in the third quarter as lower costs and a boost from the Cash for Clunkers program helped it recover from a loss in the year-ago period.

HOUSTON (AP) -- Engineering and construction company KBR Inc. said its third-quarter profit fell 14 percent as revenue declined in its biggest business, government and infrastructure, and in its military work in Iraq as the U.S. has fewer projects there.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Revlon Inc. posted a lower third-quarter profit as sales slowed, but Chief Executive Alan T. Ennis said that the cosmetics company continues to save from cost-cutting.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Williams Partners LP, which processes and stores natural gas, said its third-quarter profit declined 8 percent on sharply lower natural gas liquid prices.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Hair care company Regis Corp. said its fiscal first-quarter profit fell 46 percent, hurt by costs related to closing U.K. stores.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Navigant Consulting Inc. said third-quarter net income rose by 6 percent, but that's mainly from cost cuts including layoffs instead of revenue growth.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Coupon clipping by consumers and lower costs propelled Valassis Communications Inc. to a profit in the third quarter, the company said.

PHOENIX (AP) -- Electricity provider Pinnacle West Capital Corp. said its third-quarter profit rose on higher sales, lower commodity prices and warmer weather in the three-month period that included July, the hottest month ever recorded in Arizona.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Business slowed at Burger King Corp. for the second straight quarter as the recession hit even fast-food restaurants and their cheap menus.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- EQT Corp. said that its profit tumbled 97 percent in the third quarter, plagued by lower commodity prices and higher operating expenses.

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