Earnings roundup: AutoNation, Pool

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

NEW YORK (AP) _ AutoNation Inc. said Thursday its second-quarter profit tumbled 33 percent as continued economic woes and soaring gas prices continued to steer drivers away from new vehicle purchases.

COVINGTON, La. (AP) _ Swimming pool supplier Pool Corp. said Thursday its second-quarter earnings fell a bit because of reduced construction of new pools, but the results still exceeded analysts' forecasts.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Kennametal Inc., which makes metal-cutting tools and highway construction equipment, dropped 12 percent Thursday after the company issued a disappointing fiscal first-quarter forecast amid weaker market conditions in North America and higher raw material costs.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. (AP)_ Applied Biosystems Inc. said Thursday its fiscal 2008 fourth-quarter profit fell 1.5 percent, but the maker of life sciences research equipment still topped Wall Street forecasts as it prepares to be bought by rival Invitrogen Corp.

HOUSTON (AP) _ Enterprise Products Partners LP, which transports natural gas and oil through its pipeline network, said Thursday that its second-quarter profit climbed 85 percent, citing strong services demand from producers and consumers of natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil.