<div><h1>GLIMMERS OF HOPE FOR U.S. CORPORATE PROFITS </h1><p>Companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index have come a long way since reporting a collective loss at the end of 2008. Third-quarter numbers so far indicate operating profits of about $137 billion, and more companies are beating analysts' estimates. But net income is still well off peaks in most industries. </p><p>table (available online) </p><p>Standouts: A lot of big companies reported triple-digit growth. </p><p>S&P 500 COMPANIES WITH THE BIGGEST EARNINGS UPTURN* </p><p>

NET INCOME

ONE-YEAR </p><p>

IN MILLIONS

CHANGE </p><p>Johnson Controls

$300

1,775% </p><p>JPMorgan Chase

3,588

581 </p><p>Sealed Air

61

559 </p><p>LSI

53

361 </p><p>Travelers Companies

935

337 </p><p>Iron Mountain

43

282 </p><p>Goldman Sachs

3,188

277 </p><p>Aflac

363

263 </p><p>Yahoo!

186

243 </p><p>Discover Financial Services

578

221 </p><p>*Among companies reporting by Nov. 4 for the third quarter of calendar year 2009 </p><p>Data: Capital IQ </p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=63809492&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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