Earnings Roundup: Blockbuster, Carrefour

DALLAS (AP) Blockbuster Inc., the movie rental company, said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled as it cut costs and changed its online subscription service.

PARIS (AP) Carrefour SA, the world's second-largest retailer after Wal-Mart, reported annual profits of $3.5 billion Thursday and said it would sell shares it its property unit.

LONDON (AP) Reuters Group PLC said Thursday its profit fell 26 percent in 2007, its last year as an independent company, as costs of its pending takeover by Thomson Corp. and the weak dollar offset the impact of higher revenue.

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) Gerber Scientific Inc.'s profit jumped 41 percent in the fiscal third quarter on strong sales to sign and graphics makers, the manufacturing systems maker said Thursday.

HOUSTON (AP) U.S. Physical Therapy Inc., an operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics, said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit rose 18 percent, beating analysts' estimates, on an increase in patient visits.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) CombinatoRx Inc. said Thursday its fourth-quarter loss widened on higher research and development expenses, but the results still beat analysts' estimates.

PEABODY, Mass. (AP) Medical and security imaging equipment maker Analogic Corp. said Thursday its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 32 percent on higher demand for its medical imaging products.

DOVER, Del. (AP) Chesapeake Utilities Corp. said Thursday its profit rose in the fourth quarter as the utility company added customers and boosted rates in its natural gas and propane businesses while also benefiting from colder weather.

NEW YORK (AP) CastlePoint Holdings Ltd. said Thursday fourth-quarter earnings fell 32 percent as the insurer booked losses on investments related to subprime mortgages.