Earnings roundup: Brinker Int'l, First Cash Financial

Among the earnings stories for Tuesday, April 22, from AP Financial News:

DALLAS (AP) _ Brinker International Inc., which operates the Chili's Grill & Bar chain, said Tuesday it swung to a loss in its fiscal third quarter, but results beat Wall Street estimates, once discontinued operations and charges were excluded.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ First Cash Financial Services Inc. said Tuesday its profit shrank 35 percent in the first quarter, as the pawnshop operator's car dealership business continued to struggle with bad credit.

MALVERN, Pa. (AP) _ Liberty Property Trust's first-quarter results were flat from the year-ago period, but still narrowly beat Wall Street's expectations on solid leasing activity.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Canadian oil and gas company EnCana Corp. said Tuesday that first-quarter earnings sank 81 percent, as losses from hedging and a weak U.S. dollar offset higher oil and gas prices and expanding production.

ZEELAND, Mich. (AP) _ Gentex Corp., which makes rearview mirrors for cars, said Tuesday first quarter profit rose 3 percent on higher sales.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. (AP) _ Corn Products International Inc., which processes corn and other materials for food, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit jumped 29 percent, helped by strong sales in South America.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) _ Astec Industries Inc., which makes specialized building equipment, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose 14 percent as the back of higher international sales.

HOUSTON (AP) _ Oil field services provider Baker Hughes Inc. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit grew 5 percent, boosted by the sale of a product line and better-than-expected North American revenue.