Earnings Roundup: Newell Rubbermaid, Kellogg

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, April 30, from AP Financial News:

CHICAGO (AP) — Consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid Inc. said Thursday that its first-quarter profit fell 41 percent, but efforts to cut costs partially compensated for a loss of sales from retailers that are slashing inventory and consumers who are reining their spending.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Kellogg Co., maker of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries and All-Bran cereal, said Thursday that cutting costs helped its profit climb 2 percent in the first quarter even as sales declined. Shares climbed more than 9 percent in early trading.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Helmerich & Payne Inc., which drills wells for energy companies, said Thursday its profit increased less than 2 percent in the March quarter but more of its rigs were idle as oil prices remained far below year-ago levels.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The First American Corporation, a business information and insurance provider, on Thursday beat Wall Street expectations and posted a 23 percent jump in first-quarter profit by slashing personnel costs.