Michael Fowlkes
Raleigh - http://www.bloggingstocks.com/bloggers/michael-fowlkes/

Retail giant Target Corp. (TGT) reported its fourth quarter results this morning, and a strong holiday shopping season helped boost profit by 11%.

The company reported earnings of $1.38 per share, slightly lower than the $1.40 that analysts had been expecting. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.24 per share.

Shares of women's clothing retailer Chico's FAS Inc. (CHS) traded sharply higher Wednesday morning, despite missing its earnings estimate by one penny before the market opened.

Going into this fourth-quarter earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see earnings of $0.13 per share, but the company came up a bit shy at just $0.12.

Shares of food giant Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) traded sharply lower Friday morning after it posted lower-than-expected revenues and lowered forward guidance.

Earnings for the company's second quarter were in-line with analyst estimates at $0.71 per share, but revenues came in at just $2.13 billion for the quarter. Analysts had been expecting to see Campbell report revenues of $2.15 billion.

Yesterday marked a pretty big day for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), as customers could finally walk into a Verizon store and pick up an iPhone. Some analysts had expected to see some long lines, but they did not materialize, creating the impression that the launch was less than successful, but looks can be deceiving.

It is easy to understand where the confusion comes from. In the past, whenever Apple released a new iPhone we saw long lines and often not even supply to cover the launch date demand, resulting in long waits for eager iPhone fanatics to get their hands on the new smartphone.

Shares of insurance giant The Allstate Corporation (ALL) are trading sharply lower in after hours trading after the company reported weaker than expected Q4 results this afternoon.

Going into this afternoon's earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see the company report earnings of $0.88, but actual results came in much lower than expected at just $0.55 per share.

Tomorrow is a big day for Verizon (VZ) customers who have been waiting to get their chance to join the iPhone revolution, and we now learn that Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) will also be carrying the Verizon iPhone 4 at 600 retail stores across the nation.

As of today, when you visit Apple's (AAPL) website you are given the option to order an iPhone for use on either AT&T (T) or Verizon, with the price being the same for either option.

The earnings season has been going pretty good so far, and Walt Disney (DIS) will get its chance to impress Wall Street this afternoon when it reports its fiscal first quarter results after the market closes.

Going into this afternoon's report, analysts are expecting to see the company report earnings of $0.56 per share, up from $0.47 during the same period last year.

Shares of toy maker Hasbro Inc. (HAS) rose in early morning trading after the toy maker posted better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter before the market opened.

Going into the earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see Hasbro report earnings of $0.92 per share, but actual earnings came in at $0.99. Earnings were down though from $1.09 during the same period last year.

Shares of communication equipment company JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) are trading sharply higher in after hours trading today after posting strong fiscal second quarter results after the market closed.

Analysts were expecting to see earnings of $0.19 per share, but actual adjusted earnings were much higher at $0.29.

Shares of media conglomerate Time Warner (TWX) are trading sharply higher today after the company impressed Wall Street with its fourth quarter earnings report this morning.

As we noted in our earnings preview for Time Warner, analysts had been expecting to see the company report earnings of $0.62 per share. Actual earnings came in above estimates at $0.68.

Oil giant Exxon Mobil (XOM) is trading up nicely today after the company reported better than expected fourth quarter earnings this morning.

Before the market opened this morning, Exxon reported that it earned $1.85 for its fourth quarter, shattering analyst estimates for $1.63 per share.

Conglomerate General Electric Company (GE) will be reporting its fourth quarter results before the market opens on Friday, with analysts expecting to see the company report $0.32 per share.

During the same period last year, GE had earnings of $0.28 per share.