Earnings roundup: Boeing, Freeport-McMoRan

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, April 23, from AP Financial News:

CHICAGO (AP) _ Boeing Co., the world's second biggest commercial airplane manufacturer, said Wednesday that it earned a better-than-expected $1.2 billion in the first quarter, a 38 percent increase from a year ago as its backlog of orders grew to a record high.

PHOENIX (AP) _ Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. said Wednesday its first-quarter profit more than doubled as prices for those two metals surged.

WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) _ New York Community Bancorp's profit climbed 12 percent in the first quarter as the bank grew its loan portfolio by lending more and buying other banks, the company said Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ AmerisourceBergen Corp., one of the nation's largest drug distributors, on Wednesday said second-quarter earnings rose by 3 percent on higher drug sales, but reduced its profit expectations for the year due to a unit's weaker performance and a slower pharmaceutical market.

ATLANTA (AP) _ Delta Air Lines Inc., the nation's third-largest carrier, said Wednesday its loss widened in the first quarter to a whopping $6.39 billion because of soaring fuel prices and the steep decline in the company's market value.

NEEDHAM, Mass. (AP) _ Product design company Parametric Technology Corp. said Wednesday its second-quarter profit rose on strong European license revenue and the weak dollar.