Burger King (BKC) is turning up the heat in its war with McDonalds (MCD) for early morning sales. In selected markets, Burger King is advertising the availability of a "Burger King brunch" in a quest to cash in on lucrative morning sales. This is only a few months after announcing Burger King will carry coffee made by Starbucks to provide a more flavorful alternative to its BK Joe coffee.

This is what the fast-food breakfast wars have become: Mimosas at the drive-thru window.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Accenture Ltd. (NYSE: ACN) beat earnings expectations but revenue was hurt by currency effects.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) strong Q1 results beat estimates but same-store sales fell.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) lower Q1 earnings and strong sales both topped expectations.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) higher Q4 earnings were in line with expectations, and shares slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) Q4 results were higher, but it warned of continuing challenges.
• Hennes & Mauritz (OTC: HMRZF) reported strong Q2 numbers, though same-stores sales slipped.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) Q1 earnings plunged well below expectations due to costs.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) solid Q3 earnings were in line with analysts expectations.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) beat Q1 expectations and same-stores sales increased.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) lowered its guidance and announced layoffs and factory closings.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) withdrew its guidance due in part to weak consumer spending.
• Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) lowered its outlook due to weaker-than-expected holiday sales.
• Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) offered a full-year profit forecast that missed analysts' expectations.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) lowered its earnings guidance and announced price increases.
• FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) reported a deeper-than-expected loss but topped sales estimates.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) Q2 net loss was in line with expectations but revenue fell short.
• Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG) raised its full-year forecast, doubling the share price.
• Hooker Furniture Corp. (NASDAQ: HOFT) shares sold off following disappointing Q3 results and outlook.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) reported a deeper-than-expected Q3 loss on increased costs.

CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR), owner of the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands, reported earnings for the third quarter on Wednesday. The top line fell a little over 4%, coming in at $336.6 million. On a diluted basis, the bottom line cooked up $0.10 per share. That was a penny less than what was earned last year, but the company did manage to meet Wall Street's expectations.

Moving away from total sales and net income, let's look at the all-important same-store sales results. For the third quarter, comps for both CKE brands on a blended basis rose 0.9% according to the earnings release. An earlier press release focusing on same-store sales in November, had comps increasing by 0.3% on a blended basis. Year-to-date, blended comps moved 1.9% higher. When you compare these changes to their respective year-ago periods, you'll see that CKE isn't really doing gangbuster business.

I find neither the earnings numbers nor the sales figures particularly compelling. Management seems to think that the dreadful economic crisis we're facing is mostly responsible. Hey, it certainly isn't helping, and I sympathize with CKE's challenges during the credit crisis. Yet, I'd have to respectfully suggest that management get out there and get some hardcore marketing efforts going. When sales are down, you need to up the ante when it comes to branding and convincing patrons to come through your door. These comps are pretty weak and unattractive. They can be pushed higher with some innovative, creative campaigns.

• DineEquity (NYSE: DIN), parent company of IHOP and Applbee's: closed on Friday at $11.13, 83% off its 52-week high.
• The Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE): closed Friday at $10.96, 56% off its 52-week high.
• CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR), parent company of Carl Jr.'s and Hardee's: closed Friday at $8.88, 47% off its 52-week high.
• Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX): closed Friday at $11.08, 59% off its 52-week high.

This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.

In 2005, CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) outraged both social conservatives and lovers of music at the same time when its Carl's Jr. chain hired Paris Hilton to shill its new Spicy Burger. It set a new standard of tastelessness that will be difficult to equal.

Conservatives -- most Americans actually -- find the fact that Paris Hilton is famous at all to be a offensive. Her main claim to fame comes from her appearance in a now-infamous sex tape. The appeal of her one-time hit show The Simple Life eluded me, but hey, I was not the target demographic. I am a 40-year-old married guy so I can't speak to her numerous other enterprises, such as the perfume Heiress. Her single "Stars Are Blind" was not as awful as I thought it would be, but maybe I have gone tone deaf listening to too many Elmo songs. Parents of toddlers will understand.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) Q1 earnings tumbled while revenues rose.
• Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) posted a narrower-than-expected Q4 loss.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) Q1 earnings increased but its revenue slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) swung to a Q4 profit on strong sales at Olive Garden.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) said it might not see Q2 profit growth on lower demand and shipping delays.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) Q4 earnings declined but were in line with expectations.
• Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) reported solid Q4 and full-year results that pleased investors.
• IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) beat Q2 expectations and posted record quarterly cash flow from operations.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) stronger-than-expected Q3 results led to an analyst's upgrade.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) widened its Q2 loss due to weak sales and falling prices.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) beat Q1 expectations as consumers sought discounts on food and gas.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) beat Q3 earnings estimates but fell short of revenue estimates.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 results boosted by international strength.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) posted strong Q4 results that topped analysts' expectations (see transcript).

Here's a quick recap of some additional earnings reports on Wednesday.

Beaverton, Ore.-based Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) said strong growth overseas helped boost its fourth-quarter profit by 12% to $490.5 million, or 98 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected the company to earn 96 cents per share for the quarter. Shares fell more than 5% in after-hours trading to $62.15.

CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) said its first-quarter profit climbed 8% to $16.6 million, or 31 cents per share, helped by a small increase in same-store sales at Carl's Jr. restaurants. Revenue fell 3% to $466.2 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profit of 27 cents per share on revenue of $465.5 million. Shares fell 5 cents to $12.25 in after-hours trading.

Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) said its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 6.6% to $17.3 million, or 8 cents per share. Adjusted earnings were 18 cents per share. Revenue rose 32% to $156.6 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial on average predicted a profit of 18 cents per share on revenue of $153 million. Shares fell 19 cents in after-hours trading to $22.11.

General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) said its fourth-quarter profit dropped 17% to $185.2 million, or 53 cents per share. Adjusted earnings were 73 cents per share, which met Wall Street expectations. Sales increased 13% to $3.47 billion beating expectations. The company reaffirmed its guidance for the full year. Shares fell almost 2% to $61.19.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) posted record third-quarter earnings and revenue.
• Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) posted better-than-estimated first-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) posted third-quarter results that missed estimates.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) third-quarter profit surged as strong sales offset commodity prices.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) beat third-quarter expectations and offered guidance.
• FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS) second-quarter results beat estimates and it raised its outlook.
• Fortress Investment Group (NYSE: FIG) remained upbeat despite a fourth-quarter loss.
• Guess Inc. (NYSE: GES) record fourth-quarter results beat Wall Street expectations.
• Inter Parfums Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAR) posted better-than-estimated fourth-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) beat second-quarter expectations but lowered its guidance.
• JC Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) lowered its first-quarter outlook on weaker-than-expected sales.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) swung to a larger-than-expected first-quarter loss on write-downs.
• Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) raised its second-quarter and full-year guidance.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) merely met earnings expectations, sending shares lower.
• Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) posted better-than-estimated fourth-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• Usana Health Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: USNA) posted lower-than-expected first-quarter results.
• Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) posted solid second-quarter results, including same-store sales growth.

Also, auction-rate securities issues may hurt some tech company results. Analysts keep cutting earings estimates for the big banks, but some are eyeing Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) earnings prospects as it expands in China, as well as Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) on soaring demand for commodities.

Upcoming results to watch for include Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Monsanto (NYSE: MON), and Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) reported earnings for the fourth quarter yesterday after the bell. Total revenue decreased 3% for the quarter, and net income from continuing operations was $0.00 per diluted share, which wasn't too good in comparison to last year's number, which was $0.17 per diluted share. Total revenue was flat for the year, and net income from continuing operations was $0.57 per diluted share versus $0.77 per diluted share in the previous fiscal year.

CKE Restaurants, which operates the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands, did not impress analysts, as earnings expectations for the quarter were missed by two pennies. I myself wasn't too impressed with the entire report. Same-store sales increased 0.9% at Carl's Jr. and 2% at Hardee's for 2007 -- I'm not going to jump up and down over that bit of news. In addition, costs are up because of inflationary pressures, and revenues have obviously been challenged. There's not a lot that I like about this story.

CKE's stock is certainly on the lower end of its 52-week range, but I can't say it is necessarily cheap; it closed yesterday at $12.45 -- the high for the year on the stock is $23.24. This is a situation that calls for an old standby: "There are better opportunities out there in this space." For me personally, if I'm looking at the burger business, I'm way more likely to consider a McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), a Burger King (NYSE: BKC), or a Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) before I entertain CKE as an investment idea. Although they don't do burgers (so far as I know), I'd even look at a Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) before CKE. These companies have better brand equities in my estimation. CKE may turn itself around, but I just wasn't impressed by my look at its data.

Disclosure: I own none of the companies mentioned here; positions can change at any time.