Earnings Roundup: McDonald's, Kimberly-Clark

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, April 22, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's Corp. said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit climbed nearly 4 percent as more customers worldwide came to the Golden Arches for a cheap meal.

DALLAS (AP) — Kimberly-Clark Corp., the maker of Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues, said Wednesday that its profit dropped 8 percent in the first quarter because of the effect of the stronger dollar. The results still met Wall Street's expectations.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — WellPoint Inc. said Wednesday its profit fell 1 percent in the first quarter due mainly to investment losses, and the health insurer narrowed its outlook for the year.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc., a contract drug research company, said Wednesday its profit grew 11 percent in the first quarter, but said demand in all of its segments decreased.

MIAMI (AP) — Trucking and logistics management company Ryder System Inc. said Wednesday its first-quarter earnings plunged 88 percent as its fleet management business was hit by slowing commercial rental and used vehicle sales.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — St. Jude Medical Inc. said Wednesday its profit grew 14 percent in the first quarter, led by greater sales of its heart devices and improved demand for other products.

ROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) — Wolverine World Wide Inc. said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit tumbled 56 percent on restructuring charges and a stronger dollar, but adjusted results easily beat analysts' estimates.