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Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) Q1 earnings tumbled while revenues rose.
• Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) posted a narrower-than-expected Q4 loss.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) Q1 earnings increased but its revenue slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) swung to a Q4 profit on strong sales at Olive Garden.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) said it might not see Q2 profit growth on lower demand and shipping delays.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) Q4 earnings declined but were in line with expectations.
• Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) reported solid Q4 and full-year results that pleased investors.
• IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) beat Q2 expectations and posted record quarterly cash flow from operations.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) stronger-than-expected Q3 results led to an analyst's upgrade.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) widened its Q2 loss due to weak sales and falling prices.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) beat Q1 expectations as consumers sought discounts on food and gas.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) beat Q3 earnings estimates but fell short of revenue estimates.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 results boosted by international strength.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) posted strong Q4 results that topped analysts' expectations (see transcript).

• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) posted dismal results as revenue fell despite higher sales volume.
• Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) Q1 revenues soared as results beat Wall Street expectations.
• Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) posted disappointing results and lackluster guidance (transcript).
• Rite-Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) swung ot a larger-than-expected Q1 loss on integration difficulties.
• Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC) earnings warning took shares to a new 52-week low.
• Symmetry Medical Inc. (NYSE: SMA) beat Q1 estimates on increased demand and acquisitions.
• United Parcel Serivce (NYSE: UPS) cut its earnings forecast due to rising fuel prices and less demand.
• Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) posted sluggish Q3 results despite cost-cutting measures.

Also, do the results from Oracle, Research in Motion, and Red Hat point to a bottom for tech stocks? Will Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) new CFO be more likely to provide the guidance that analysts crave?

Upcoming results to watch for include H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL), Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO), WD-40 (NASDAQ: WDFC), and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

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If you were looking for help from the economic front or from the oil patch today to help out the market, that wasn't in the cards. Home prices plunged by a record 15.3% from may 2007 to May 2008. Consumer confidence also came in at a 16-year low. From bottom to top to bottom we had more than a 150 point trading range in the DJIA today. These are the unofficial closing levels:

• DJIA 11810.04 (-32.89)
• S&P 500 1314.54 (-3.46)
• NASDAQ 2368.28 (-17.46)
• 10YR T-Note 4.105% (-0.063%)
• 52-week lows
• Top 10 Analyst Calls

Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) saw a sharp rise with shares up 15% at $4.20 late in the day after the company announced a large IRS refund and a $1 billion buyback to retire close to half of its stock.

Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) hit the 52-week low list and a multi-year low earlier today before recovering list after the FDA delayed a decision on its anti-clot blood thinning drug, with shares down some 1.5% at $46.87 in the final minutes today.

Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) saw shares rise a sharp 7% with shares at $27.88 in the final minutes today after the company raised guidance.

Reliance Steel (NYSE: RS) saw shares up after the company raised its own guidance again. Its shares were only up 0.5% at $73.85 in the final minutes of the trading day. Shares were up over 5% at the start.

United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) saw a drop after the company came clean and fessed up that high fuel prices and low demand for premium delivery services were hurting business domestically and abroad. Shares were down 6% at $62.26 late in the day.

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MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup downgraded shares of BJ's Wholesale (NYSE: BJ) to Hold from Buy on valuation and views a takeout as less likely given the current credit market conditions.
  
• Wachovia downgraded shares of Affiliated Managers (NYSE: AMG) to Market Perform from Outperform as they believe credit quality concerns and record commodity prices will hinder the company's recovery in equity flows.
  
• Thomas Weisel downgraded Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Underweight from Market Weight based on visibility into fundamentals and another potential reorganization that will likely be met with skepticism.

• Third Wave (NASDAQ: TWTI) was cut to Neutral from Outperform at Baird.
  
• Charles Rivers Labs (NYSE: CRL) was lowered at Goldman to Neutral from Buy.
  
• United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) was downgraded at Baird to Neutral from Outperform.
  
• SAIC, Inc (NYSE: SAI) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.

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United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) lowered its earnings outlook because of rising fuel costs and a slowing U.S. economy.

Morgan Keegan says "the current economic environment and unprecedented fuel prices, there is little opportunity for multiple expansion, and it is likely multiples will contract in the near term."

UPS July option implied volatility of 27 is above its 26-week average of 24 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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UPS (NYSE:UPS) is down about 5% after reporting a cut in earnings forecasts.

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) is up 4% on an upgrade from Goldman.

Cooper Tire (NASDAQ:CTB) is off almost 4% after it cut North American production on lower demand.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) is off 3% after it filed for the sale of over 800 million shares.

Stocks may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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When UPS (NYSE: UPS) warned on earnings, no one should have been surprised, but it was something of a death of hope. Rival Fedex (NYSE: FDX) has already said it would be a bad year. UPS waited a week. Then, it admitted higher fuel prices and slowing customer orders were doing it substantial harm.

According to MarketWatch, "The package-delivery giant cut its second-quarter profit forecast to a range of 83 cents to 88 cents a share. In late April, UPS had expected to earn between 97 cents and $1.04 a share." At least the company will make money.

Perhaps that is the key. At least it will make money.

Even with skyrocketing oil prices, many large US companies have done such a good job driving up productivity over the last year that they can do relatively well as inflation undermines their gross margins. It is that productivity which may save some large American firms from disaster and keep stronger companies in a relatively good position.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised Q1 productivity upwards to 2.4%. This makes it less necessary for business to raise worker compensation. That, in turn, keeps costs down.

And, companies like UPS can still make money.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is recently trading at $65.12 in pre-open trading, below its close of $67.34.

Fedex (NYSE: FDX) is recently down 4.6% in pre-market trading after lowering 2009 EPS guidance.

UPS July option implied volatility of 27 is above its 26-week average of 24 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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MOST NOTEWORTHY: Alaska Communications, Royal Bank of Scotland and Frontier Oil were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Banc of America upgraded shares of Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) to Buy from Neutral as they believe the company will return to a dividend growth focus after completing its strategic initiatives.
  
• Credit Suisse raised Royal Bank of Scotland (NYSE: RBS) to Neutral from Underperform as they believe the company has already taken "prudent" write-downs.
  
• Bear upgraded Frontier Oil (NYSE: FTO) to Peer Perform from Underperform as they believe the company is better positioned to withstand this period of margin weakness.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Jefferies upgraded Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) to Hold from Underperform.
  
• RBC Capital lifted Medarex Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDX) to Sector Perform from Underperform.
  
• United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) was upgraded at Merrill to Buy from Neutral.

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This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

When you need to ship a package, which company first comes to mind? According to last year's Battle of the Brands non-scientific poll, an overwhelming majority said they favored United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) over FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX). Higher fuel surcharges, a weak economy, reduced domestic package volume, and a recent push from the U.S. Postal Service have impacted both of these international shipping companies in the past year, but Americans still want the same quality service at a discount price.

Let's take a look at a few changes since last year:

The US Postal Service Tries To Gain Ground

The largest player in the U.S. overnight package delivery business is attempting to increase its market share in the fast-delivery business next month. USPS is barely holding on to its 32% market share in the business, as FedEx and UPS continue to push the envelope at 31% and 25% market share, respectively. For the first time, shippers using Express Mail, Priority Mail, and several other parcel services will be able to get lower rates for large- and medium-volume contracts, according to the agency. Will UPS and FedEx need to cut their prices further to compete with the USPS?

Large Rate Increases For 2008

This year, FedEx and UPS announced that rates for ground packages would increase an average of 4.9% on the ground and 6.9% in the air (minus a 2% cut in fuel surcharges, creating a 4.9% increase in the air as well). So what does this mean for you? The key term we need to acknowledge is averages. Rates for certain packages will increase more than 4.9%, while other shipments will increase less than 4.9%, all depending on the characteristics of the package, the distance traveling as well as the service you use (ground or air).

Fuel Surcharges

If you've studied the fine print of the pricing that both FedEx and UPS use, the key is in the fuel surcharges. Don't let the 2% cut in air fuel surcharges trick you into thinking you're saving, because you're not. In a nutshell, carriers tack on a 0.5% surcharge for every four cents of an increase in jet fuel prices -- starting at the base price of $1.14 a gallon. With jet fuel prices up nearly 70% since April of last year, you're going to be paying more to for air delivery regardless of which company you use. For every eight cent increase in standard fuel prices, there is a 0.25% jump in the fuel surcharge -- starting at the base price of $1.50 a gallon. The price of gas has jumped nearly 50 cents over the past year, so going ground will also hurt your wallet.

The Cost

Don't believe me? Here's a quick look at what sending a package could cost you. I priced another 20 lb. medium-sized company box shipped to a residence in Huntington Beach, California 92605, from Bayside, New York 11361, and compared it to last year's data.

Result estimates calculated on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, and Tuesday, April 22, 2008, using UPS.com and Fedex.com.

The data clearly shows a significant increase from last year's rates. But what really grinds my gears is that both FedEx and UPS have exactly the same rates for four out of six delivery services. So where can you find a cheaper overnight service?

A Possible Alternative

The fourth-largest overnight service is DHL, owned by Deutsche Post World Net AG, and holds a 9% market share in the United States. In the same 2008 study, DHL's prices to Huntington Beach were slightly cheaper than UPS and FedEx. Earlier this year, however, there were reports that DHL might leave the US shipping market due to considerable losses since 2004. One industry expert believes the U.S. shipping industry needs DHL to stay; fearing competitor prices would rise with DHL out of the picture. Gerry Hempstead, an ex-DHL Executive, told Supply Chain Digest in an interview that "DHL sets the benchmark for the bottom thresholds of pricing. There are deals out there that Fed [Ex] and UPS just would not handle at the price DHL offers." DHL plans to announce their restructuring plans in May. Let's hope they plan to stay in the states a little longer.

The Bottom Line

With pricing so similar, choosing a delivery service really depends on who you can trust getting your product where it needs to be on time. Last year, hundreds of people responded to this article claiming one service was better than the other, listing a myriad of reasons. If the cost to ship a package is nearly identical, then reliability, in my opinion, is the key to choosing your provider. Now the only question is, who can I rely on?

Which company do you rely on, and why?

Vote in our poll for FedEx or UPS as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

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