Apple reported that in the period, it had revenue of $15.7 billion, compared to revenue of $9.73 billion in the year ago second quarter period. Profit came in at $3.25 billion or $3.51 on a per share basis, compared to quarterly profit of $1.83 billion or $2.01 per share in Q2 2009. Analysts had been forecasting revenue of $14.7 billion and earnings per share of $3.11.

For the current quarter, the company is forecasting revenue of $18 billion, against analysts’ forecasts of $17 billion and earnings of $3.44 per share, against analysts’ forecasts of $3.83.

In the period, Apple sold 8.4 million iPhones, up 61 percent from last year, 3.3 million iPads, 1.7 milion of the company’s latest iPhone, which just went on the market towards the end of the quarter and 3.47 million Macs, a 33% increase and 9.41 million iPods, which was an eight percent decline in unit sales.

Apple shares are up $9.37 or 3.72% on the news in pre-market trading this morning.

Operating income rose from a loss of $12 million in Q2 2009, to $3.98 billion, while net income rose to $2.88 billion, from a loss of $398 million Q2 2009. Results from the second quarter of 2009, were affected by a $1.06 billion fine that was levied on the company by the European Union.

The company’s gross margin, which is closely followed by analysts, rose to 67%, from 51% a year ago. Intel had previously announced that it expects to realize margins of 64%, plus or minus 2%.

On a per share basis, the company earned $0.51, compared to the $0.43 analysts had been forecasting, on revenues of $10.25 billion. The company had also provided its own revenue guidance of $10.2 billion, plus or minus $400 million.

Intel’s stock rose as much as $1.72 or 8.1% in after hours trading on the news.

Sales for the period rose twenty-two percent to $5.18 billion, compared to sales of $4.24 billion in the second quarter period last year, as a result of a four percent increase in aluminum shipments as well as a one percent rise in third-party prices for alumina.

The company’s improved financial picture is also partly due to a restructuring the company undertook last year, that saw it cut 13,500 jobs.

In after hours on Monday, Alcoa shares rose to $11.30, from a close of $10.87.

The stock dropped $8.71 to close at $42.30, a loss of 17.06% in regular session trading.

Yesterday after the bell, the company reported that for the first quarter of 2010, it earned $10.8 million or $0.58 per share, which was a penny ahead of the consensus estimate of $0.57.

Revenue for the period was $152.3 million against forecasts of $154.4 million.

The Dow finished the session up 0.75 points to close at 11,205.03; the NASDAQ lost 7.20 points to close at 2,522.95, while the S&P 500 was off by 5.23 points, finishing the session at 1,212.05.

Caterpillar (CAT) was the stand out and kept the Dow in positive territory for the day. The stock rallied $2.87 to $71.65, a 4.17% gain on the company’s 2010 Q1 results, which was released before the markets opened.

For the period, Caterpillar reported a profit of $0.36 per share, a dramatic improvement over the $0.19 loss reported in the year ago first quarter period. Excluding special items, the company reported adjusted profits of $0.50 per share, from $0.39 per share in Q1 2009. Revenue came in at $8.24 billion from $9.23 billion in Q1 2009. Analysts had been looking for the company to report earnings per share of $0.39 on revenue of $8.84 billion.

Among other Dow stocks, 3M (MMM) was up $0.86 to $87.44, IBM (IBM) added $0.74 to $130.73 and Dupont (DD) was up $0.73 to $40.95.

In Broader trading, online movie rental company Netflix (NFLX), rallied $8.44 or 8.46% to close at $108.17 on no news. Last Wednesday, the company reported earnings that sent its stock soaring from $86.98 to $100.25 on Thursday.

Whirlpool (WHR) was another big gainer, climbing $10.20 or 9.98%, to close at $112.42. The company before the bell, reported 2010 Q1 earnings of $2.13 per share, better than the $1.33 per share analysts had been looking for. Revenue came in at $4.27 billion, against forecasts of $3.79 billion.

Tempering the better than expected earnings news, the company reported that it expects operating profits for the 2010 Q2 period of $220 million to $320 million on revenue of $6.1 billion to $6.7 billion against forecasts of $6.43 billion in revenue and $327.8 million in operating profit.

On those forecasts, the company’s stock was sold off in after-hours trading, tradiing as low as $139.50 overnight. Fifteen minutes before the opening bell, the stock has recovered somewhat and is now only down $4.92 to $145.17.

Traders might want to watch the stock and if it continues to improve, go long the shares. That the stock is not down substantially could be a bullish sign and we may actually see it close higher today if the overall market is in bullish mode. If buying the stock, do so only if it is moving off the current lows of $145 and make this a one day trade, exiting the position today.

For the first quarter of 2010, the company reported revenue $1.04 billion and income from operations of $68.7 million, which works out to $0.29 per share. The company’s earnings actually declined 71% from the same period last year, while revenue declined 29%.

Analysts had been looking for revenue of $1.02 billion and earnings per share of $0.22.

The Labor Department reported this morning that for the week ending April 10, Initial Jobless Claims, which tracks newly unemployed workers filing for benefits for the first time, rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 484,000. Economists had been expecting to see a drop to 440,000 from last week’s 460,000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 21.46 points or 0.2%, to close at 11,144.57, the S&P 500 tacked on 1.02 points or 0.1% to finished at 1,211.67, NASDAQ was up 10.83 points or 0.4%, ending the session at 2,515.69 and the Russell 2000 added 1.81 points or 0.25%, to close at 724.21.

17 out of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished higher, with Chevron (CVX) the biggest point gainer, up $1.01 to $81.59, for 1.25%. Chevron was also the only stock to gain more than a dollar among the Dow stocks. Caterpillar (CAT) was the next best performer, adding $0.94 to $68.22, a 1.40% gain.

Intel (INTC) was the biggest percentage gainer, rising 2.98%, on a $0.70 move to $24.22 in the shares. The stock extended yesterday’s positive earnings-fueled gains in Intel’s shares. The move today, sent Intel to a twenty-month closing high.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO), was the biggest point loser, dropping $0.69 to $54.26, a 1.26% decline.

In the broader markets, positive earnings from trucking companies Landstar (LSTR) and JB Hunt (JBHT) sent transportation stocks higher. JB Hunt rose $0.64 to $37.69, while Landstar was up $2.26 to $45.48. FedEx (FDX) and UPS (UPS) were also big winners, with FedEx up $1.61 to $95.62, while UPS gained $3.44 to $68.89.

For the first quarter period, Google is reporting revenues of $6.775 billion, from $5.509 billion in the same period a year ago. Net income was $1.955 billion from $1.423 in the Q1 period a year ago. Earnings on a per share basis, was $6.06 on a diluted basis, compared to $4.49 per share a year ago.

Traffic Acquisition Costs or TAC, which refers mostly to the fees Google pays to outside sites that display Google ads, came in at $1.71 billion. TAC totaled 26% of advertising revenues. On a non-GAAP basis, Google is reporting earnings of $6.76 per share.

Analysts had been looking for the company to report revenues of $4.954 billion and earnings of $6.60 per share. As can be seen, the company beat handily on both the top and bottom line. However, the stock is reportedly being sold off because there was an earnings whisper number of $6.76 per share.

For the period, Alcoa reported revenues of $4.9 billion and loss from continuing operations of $194 million, or $0.19 on a per share basis. Total net loss for the period was $201 million, or $0.20 per share.

Restructuring and special charges of $295 million, or $0.29 per share, was a major factor in the reported loss.

Excluding the special charges, Alcoa would have reported a profit of $0.10 per share, which was right in line with Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.10 per share, on $5.23 billion in revenues.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), was $596 million, the company’s highest since the third quarter of 2008.

For the period, the company also announced that it was able to realize an 8% increase in the prices it received for aluminum, and a 13% increase in the price of alumina.

In the Q1 period of 2009, Alcoa reported revenues of $4.14 billion and a loss of $497 million, which translated into a loss of $0.61 on a per share basis.