Earnings roundup: Terra Industries, Colonial Properties

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, April 24, from AP Financial News:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) _ Terra Industries Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter earnings soared, mostly due to higher demand and prices for chemicals used in the fertilizer it produces.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) _ Apartment real estate investment trust Colonial Properties Trust said Thursday its first-quarter funds from operations dropped 25 percent on lower gains from property sales, but still beat Wall Street's estimates.

BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) _ Interactive Data Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter profit jumped 26 percent as the financial data provider's core services for institutional customers enjoyed increased growth.

PHOENIX (AP) _ US Airways Group Inc. said Thursday it swung to a loss in the first quarter, punished like other airlines by the rising cost of jet fuel.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) _ Stun-gun maker Taser International Inc. said Thursday that first-quarter earnings more than doubled, boosted by a large order from a foreign government, but the results still fell short of Wall Street expectations.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) _ Hershey's first quarter wasn't so sweet, with the nation's largest candymaker reporting that sales remained flat, profits fell by a third and results missed analyst expectations.

SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) _ Franklin Resources Inc., parent of investment manager Franklin Templeton Investments, said Thursday fiscal second-quarter earnings fell 17 percent due to a decline in underwriting and distribution fees and losses on sponsored investment products.