Earnings Roundup: E-Trade, Pfizer

Among the earnings stories for Tuesday, April 28, from AP Financial News:

Top stories:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Online brokerage E-Trade Financial Corp. said Tuesday that its loss ballooned in the first quarter, as it nearly doubled its provision for loan losses from the previous year.

Other stories:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Pfizer Inc. reported lower first-quarter profit Tuesday as sales suffered for drugs including the blockbuster Lipitor, while rival Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. was a rare bright spot among drugmakers this quarter, posting an increase in sales.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) — Trimble Navigation Ltd. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit fell by more than half as the weak economy took a toll on its engineering and construction business.

NEW YORK (AP) — Apparel maker VF Corp. is reporting its profit fell 33 percent in the first quarter due to the stronger dollar and it has cut its full year guidance.

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — Beckman Coulter Inc. said its profit fell 50 percent in the first quarter due to restructuring and acquisition costs, but the biomedical diagnostics instrument maker's adjusted earnings were stronger than Wall Street expected.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Textron Inc., which makes Cessna planes, Bell helicopters and turf maintenance equipment, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit fell 63 percent as the recession drove down demand for its corporate jets. It also slashed its 2009 profit outlook.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) — Chip maker Zoran Corp. posted a wider first-quarter loss Tuesday as revenue declined sharply amid the global economic downturn.