Earnings roundup: Wendy's, Occidental Petroleum

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

Top stories:

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) _ Wendy's International Inc. says its first quarter earnings fell 72 percent in part because of expenses tied to a board committee studying alternatives for the nation's third-largest hamburger chain.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Occidental Petroleum said Thursday that rising production and prices for oil and natural gas boosted its first-quarter earnings 52 percent.

Other stories:

CARLE PLACE, N.Y. (AP) _ 1-800-Flowers.com, an online floral and gift delivery service, said Thursday its fiscal third-quarter profit tripled on strong Valentine's Day and Easter-related sales as well as BloomNet wire service business growth.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Railroad operator Kansas City Southern said Thursday its first-quarter earnings nearly doubled on strong pricing, higher shipment volumes and operational improvements.

NEW YORK (AP) _ KBW Inc. posted a loss for the first quarter on Thursday as turmoil in the bond market saddled the investment bank with certain investments the company was unable to sell.

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.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) _ Investment bank Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. said Thursday it swung to a profit during the first quarter as it reduced expenses and avoided investment losses in its mortgage banking unit.

ORANGE, Conn. (AP) _ Lighting and wiring products maker Hubbell Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 16 percent, but missed analyst estimates as weakness in residential markets hurt sales growth.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) _ Ball Corp. said first quarter earnings rose 3 percent in the first quarter, helped by a turnaround for its food and household product packaging business in the Americas.