AP - As The Home Depot Inc. reported a 28 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, its chief executive told analysts something they've heard before: The company plans to focus more on its retail stores and improve customer service.

AP - Hewlett-Packard Co.'s first-quarter profit jumped 26 percent as the company benefited from higher sales of laptop computers, printers and printing supplies during a robust holiday spending season.

AP - Alltel Corp. reported Tuesday that profits from its wireless business rose as it built sales and added customers in its fourth quarter, but overall earnings slid 12 percent, showing the effect of Alltel's spinoff of its traditional phone business.

Reuters - Medtronic Inc. reported higher quarterly profit on Tuesday as demand for its spine, vascular and neurology products offset weak sales of its implantable devices to control dangerously fast heartbeats.

AFP - Global retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recorded flat growth in its annual earnings, with overseas acquisitions offsetting a sluggish US performance, but said the future looked brighter.