Earnings Roundup: TJX, Hewlett-Packard

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BOSTON (AP) Off-price retailer TJX Cos. on Wednesday said improvements in inventory and cost controls helped boost its fourth-quarter profit by almost 47 percent.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) With a stellar start to its new fiscal year, Hewlett-Packard Co. has given technology investors something else to get excited about besides Microsoft Corp.'s audacious bid to buy Yahoo Inc.

CHICAGO (AP) Midwestern utility Integrys Energy Group Inc. said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled, beating Wall Street's estimates, boosted by an acquisition, rate increases and derivative gains.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Shares of health care services company Kindred Healthcare Inc. fell Wednesday morning after the company said profit fell 26 percent in the fourth quarter, as the spin-off of the company's pharmacy unit pulled down revenue.

CHICAGO (AP) Huron Consulting Group Inc. said Wednesday fourth-quarter earnings soared 43 percent due to rapid growth in health and education consulting, easily beating analyst estimates.

WASHINGTON (AP) Allied Capital Corp., an investment company that focuses on private debt and equity capital, said Wednesday fell 19 percent due to a sharp increase in net realized losses from investments.