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

• Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) better-than-expected Q4 numbers due to strong holiday sales of media products.
• BlackRock Inc. (BLK) reported strong Q4 results and doubled assets under management due to an acquisition.
• Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) shares fell despite better-than-expected Q4 earnings as guidance fell short of the Street view.
• DeVry Inc. (DV) reported better-than-expected Q2 numbers due to increasing enrollments, which lifted shares.
• EMC Corp. (EMC) reported strong Q4 results that beat the Street view and offered full-year guidance.
• General Dynamics Corp. (GD) Q4 results fell short of expectations and its guidance was less than estimates.

General Electric Company (GE) is not a stock beloved by its shareholders. I'm one of them, and I can tell you that I sometimes find myself still unable to process the fall the once mighty icon of Wall Street has taken because of too much financial exposure. I look to every earnings report for signs of a true recovery in the conglomerate, a restoration to its former glory. The latest Q4 report doesn't necessarily do anything to point me in such direction, but I keep trying to tell myself it's going to be a while, and to hang in there.

According to the company press release, GE, whose colleagues include Citigroup, Inc. (C) and United Technologies (UTX), experienced a 10% drop in total sales and a 22% decline in per-share profit, the latter coming in at 28 cents from continuing operations. Thankfully, 28 cents was a couple pennies above the estimate given at Earnings.com.

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IBM (IBM) closed at $128.39. IBM December option implied volatility is at 19, August is at 21; below its 26-week average of 27 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

United Technologies (UTX) closed at $67.41. United Technologies is scheduled to host and investor meeting in New York after the market close on December 10. December option implied volatility is at 26; January is at 25; below its 26-week average of 30, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

While General Electric's (GE) fire alarm and security business is solid, it's simply not big enough to keep the company's interest. In such an industry, it's critical to be the industry leader.

So this week, GE agreed to sell the unit to United Technologies (UTX) for $1.82 billion. Rumors of the deal have been buzzing since the summer.

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

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) shares rose after it reaffirmed its full-year earnings and sales outlook.
• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (NASDAQ: ADP) will have low double-digit EPS growth, predicts one analyst.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) posted a decline in earnings but a small rise in sales, sending shares lower.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings and higher revenue.
• CarMax Inc. (NYSE: KMX) rallied to a new 52-week high after topping analysts' Q2 earnings expectations.
• Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) reported better-than-expected Q3 results and raised its full-year guidance.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries.

Its stock has built a strong base that began in October 2008. In early July, UTX flashed a bullish gold cross. Then, in mid-August, it broke out from a quadruple-top.

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