earnings growth

General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt says he expects the company to deliver substantially higher profits in 2011 as industrial growth returns.

Shares of Hanesbrands Inc. rose Tuesday as an analyst starting to cover the maker of pantyhose, underwear, casual clothes and active wear gave it and initial "Buy" rating, saying the company will likely see earnings growth as consumer spending picks up.

Last post of the year from me and I've decided to ask five questions that could have some bearing on the areas I cover in this space in the next year.

If you read me regularly, you know I write a lot about Google, Apple and Microsoft. I'm also fond of eBooks and cell phones (and assorted other technologies).

So I decided to ask five questions, and if I remember a year from now, perhaps I'll revisit my questions and see if there were clear answers.

Can Apple sustain white hot earnings growth?

Jinpan International Ltd., which makes cast resin transformers for power distribution, said on Friday that its second-quarter profit jumped 44 percent as raw material prices fell and it benefited from an influx of high-end orders.

But its shares fell sharply as it predicted that earnings growth would slow.

Shares of CRA International Inc. jumped Monday after a William Blair analyst boosted his rating on the management and financial consulting company, saying it's poised for big earnings growth as the economy recovers.

Yum Brands' top executive tells shareholders that the restaurant operator remains confident of reaching a target for earnings growth this year.

The bank attributed much of its strong earnings growth to its acquisition of Wachovia, the troubled North Carolina bank, last year.