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

• Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) reported lower Q1 earnings that still beat analysts' expectations.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) reported unimpressive Q3 results but shares rose anyway.
• Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) warned of lower Q4 earnings due to lower oil prices and narrow margins.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) Q3 earnings tumbled on on restructuring costs and weaker sales.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) topped Q1 earnings expectations as consumers seek bargains.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) lowered its Q4 revenue guidance once more due to lower demand.
• LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK) cut its Q4 revenue outlook as clients asked for delayed shipments.
• Manitowoc Co. (NYSE: MTW) said profit will likely come in at the low end of its previous guidance range.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) reported strong Q1 numbers and raised its full-year guidance.
• Neogen Corp. (NASDAQ: NEOG) posted its 63rd-consecutive profitable quarter, helped by an acquisition.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (NASDAQ: RMCF) posted dismal Q3 numbers on economic downturn.
• Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) higher-than-expected December sales prompted raised guidance.
• Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU) reported a Q3 loss because of hefty one-time charges, but topped estimates.
• Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) cut its Q4 forecast after lower-than-expected December sales.
• Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) forecast lower-than-expected Q4 earnings on weak December sales.

For more earnings highlights, see Time Warner, Satyam, Google, KB Home, Mosaic and others

Upcoming earnings releases include Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA), Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY), Linear Technologies (NASDAQ: LLTC) , Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX), Genentech (NYSE: DNA), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI), Sealy (NYSE: ZZ), Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

On Tuesday, lighting equipment maker Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) reported that its fiscal first-quarter profit dropped 38% due to lower demand for its products. On the other hand, food and animal safety company Neogen Corp. (NASDAQ: NEOG) said that its second-quarter profit rose 20%, boosted by acquisitions.

For the quarter that ended Nov. 30, Acuity Brands earned $19.4 million, or 48 cents per share, which was 33.3% lower than in the same quarter of the previous year. Excluding a pretax charge related to the consolidation of facilities, the company posted an adjusted operating profit of $55.8 million, or 82 cents per share. Sales fell 11% to $452.0 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a profit of 76 cents per share on $461.3 million in revenue.

Acuity said the rapid decline in demand for lighting products and a dramatic jump in material and component costs during the quarter were unprecedented. The Atlanta-based company said it expects the second quarter to be challenging due to the turbulent economic environment, and for demand from its core markets to be lower for fiscal 2009.

Acuity's share price fell 26 cents, or 0.7% Tuesday, and are 16.5% lower than a year ago.

After the turn of the calendar page, quarterly reporting resumes this week. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are expecting to see strong earnings growth from fertilizer producer Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS), biotech giant Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), and Neogen Corp. (NASDAQ: NEOG), which produces food safety and animal health products. Mosaic's estimated earnings per share of $1.43 for the fiscal second quarter would be 41.9% higher than a year ago, and its revenue estimate of $3.0 billion is 36.7% higher. Monsanto's $0.59 per share projection for the fiscal first quarter is 22.0% higher and sales of $2.4 billion are up 14.9%. And Neogen's second-quarter $0.25 per share would be 12.0% higher, while its sales of $32.3 million are up 18.6%. All three have tended to beat expectations in recent quarters, and all three have buy recommendations from a consensus of analysts. Mosaic and Monsanto have recently announced dividends, and their share prices have fallen 62.3% and 39.0%, respectively, from a year ago. The share price of Neogen, which recently announced share buybacks, is only 0.8% lower.

Other companies expected to post modest earnings gains when they report this week include education company Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL), WD-40 Co. (NASDAQ: WDFC), and wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ).

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

• Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) beat second-quarter estimates on increased productivity and new products.
• Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) cut its outlook and announced job cuts.
• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) missed first-quarter earnings estimates but beat revenue expectations.
• Circuit City Stores Inc. (NYSE: CC) surprised Wall Street by posting a second-quarter profit.
• Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ: DELL) rosy 2008 forecast is based on cost cuts, overseas growth, share buybacks.
• DuPont & Co. (NYSE: DD) raised its first-quarter outlook on strength in agriculture and emerging markets.
• Eastman Chemical Co. (NYSE: EMN) raised its first-quarter guidance on strong sales and higher prices.
• EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (NASDAQ: EXFO) beat estimates and announced an acquisition.
• Foundry Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: FDRY) slashed its first-quarter outlook, blaming the weak economy.
• Genentech Inc. (NYSE: DNA) beat first-quarter earnings estimates, but not revenue expectations.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) missed earnings expectations and lowered its guidance.
• Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) trimmed its first-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts.
• Progressive Corp. (NYSE: PGR) beat estimates though first-quarter profits fell due to lower premiums.
• Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) swung to a loss in the fourth quarter on acquisition costs and a tax charge.

Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) designs and produces indoor and outdoor lighting equipment for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications. Products are sold under such brand names as Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Gotham, Carandini and American Electric Lighting to retail home improvement centers, electric utilities, municipalities, lighting showrooms and contractors. The firm employs approximately 7,000 associates and has operations in North America, Europe and Asia.

The company pleased investors last week, when it reported Q2 EPS of 82 cents and revenues of $482.6 million. Analysts had been expecting 68 cents and $470.2 million. Management attributed success to new products, more favorable pricing and improved productivity.

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) missed estimates due to restructuring after the spin-off of Zep Inc.
• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) easily beat earnings estimates, due to the impeding sale of some businesses.
• American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) warned that it would take a charge against fourth quarter earnings.
• Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) posted a solid quarter on student enrollment and retention.
• AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ) beat earnings expectations and offered revised guidance.
• Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) lowered its fourth quarter and full year earnings forecast.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) third quarter profit rose on growth in the domestic wine business.
• EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) lifted its outlook on strength in agriculture and nutrition business.
• Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) earnings were in line with estimates, despite lower same-store sales.
• Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (NYSE: GAP) posted a strong quarter, helped by the sale of Metro Inc.

Other companies reporting quarterly results on Tuesday included the following:

Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ): Third-quarter profit rose 11 percent, lifted by strong liquor sales, a growth in North American wine business, and acquisition of Svedka vodka. Profit for the quarter ended November 30 rose to $119.6 million, or 55 cents a share, from $107.8 million, or 45 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected 55 cents per share on revenue of $1.04 billion. However, Constellation lowered its full-year profit outlook, in part due to costs from its recent acquisition of Fortune Brands Inc.

Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI): Fiscal 2008 first-quarter earnings fell 7 percent, as a restructuring charge offset higher pricing and increased sales. The company earned $31.1 million, or 72 cents per share, compared with $33.6 million, or 77 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago. Analysts had expected profit of 82 cents per share on revenue of $500.6 million, according to analysts polled by Thomson Financial. Revenue increased 7% to $508.9 million, from $477.6 million a year ago. The special charge was related to planned actions to streamline operations as a result of the spin-off of Zep Inc.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: BAE Systems, VASCO Data Security, Salesforce.com, Tempur Pedic and Fidelity National were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Goldman added BAE Systems (OTC: BAESY) to its Conviction Buy List, as they believe the company's defensive growth characteristics will lead to outperformance.
• Jefferies upgraded shares of VASCO Data Security International Inc (NASDAQ: VDSI) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent sell-off in the stock.
• Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE: CRM) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Piper to reflect the company's strong cash flow generation and the firm's belief that CRM is a core holding in the enterprise application market.
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Tempur Pedic International Inc (NYSE: TPX) to Buy from Hold, as they believe double-digit sales growth and margin expansion will drive 25% EPS growth over the next few years.
• SunTrust raised its rating on Fidelity National Information Services Inc (NYSE: FIS) to Buy from Neutral on valuation.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• JP Morgan raised its rating on Mattel Inc (NYSE: MAT) to Overweight from Neutral.
• Broadpoint upgraded Pacific Ethanol Inc (NASDAQ: PEIX) to Underperform from Sell.
• Merrill upgraded Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) to Buy from Neutral.
• CIBC upgraded Acuity Brands Inc (NYSE: AYI) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer.

It's been said that if the U.S. state of Georgia were an independent nation, it would have the 18th largest economy in world. The "Empire State of the South" ranked tenth in U.S. in per capita personal income in 2005, and has one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. -- about a million additional people between 2000 and 2005. Its diverse industrial output ranges from peaches and peanuts, to textiles, food processing, and aircraft manufacturing, to publishing and tourism. Georgia is home to such corporate giants as Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO); Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL); Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD); UPS (NYSE: UPS); Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL), and Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX).

It's also home to Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) and Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), both of which represented Georgia on the Forbes 2007 list of 100 best mid cap stocks. I examine two other Peach State companies -- RPC Inc. (NYSE: RES) and Radiant Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: RADS) -- in a separate Investing in Georgia post.