Outlook roundup: Amphenol, Jarden

Among the earnings projection stories for Thursday, April 16, from AP Financial News:

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Amphenol Corp., which makes electronic and fiber optic connectors, said Thursday it expects second-quarter earnings per share that meet Wall Street expectations and revenue that's slightly lower than expected.

RYE, N.Y. (AP) _ Jarden Corp., an appliance and consumer products company, said Thursday that its first-quarter adjusted profit will easily top Wall Street's expectations.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Regions Financial Corp. surprised investors with good news Thursday, saying it expects to report a profit for the first quarter when most analysts had predicted a significant loss.

HOUSTON (AP) _ The nation's biggest oil companies certainly won't need a bailout from the federal government, but they won't have to defend staggering profits anytime soon either.

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Engine and power equipment maker Briggs & Stratton Corp. on Thursday said it expects profit to be equal to or above last year's results, but the forecast fell short of analyst expectations.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) _ Strong retail sales pushed March quarter revenue and profit above Activision Blizzard's expectations, the video game maker said Thursday, but it didn't update the numbers in its guidance.

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ Packaging maker Sonoco Products Co. on Thursday cited further weakness in its industrial markets as it forecast second-quarter results below Wall Street expectations and lowered the top end of its projected 2009 earnings range.

CINCINNATI (AP) _ Meridian Biosciences Inc., which makes and markets diagnostic test kits, on Thursday cut its full-year outlook as it faces a weak market.

CLEVELAND (AP) _ Paintmaker Sherwin-Williams Co. said it expects its second-quarter profit to dip along with sales.