Internet search firm Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) recently reported that its second-quarter net income rose to $143 million, or 10 cents per share, from $132.4 million, or 9 cents per share in the same period a year earlier. Net revenue in the period ended in June fell to $1.14 billion from $1.35 billion.

Wall Street analysts on average had been expecting Yahoo! (whose options value is increasing) to post second-quarter earnings of 8 cents per share, and the company beat that estimate by a few pennies.

But those earnings came on revenues that were just in line with revenue expectations of $1.14 billion.

Another Dow component, United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), beat its bottom-line forecasts, but like most of the companies we've seen, they did so as a result of cost-cutting.

Revenues of $13.2 billion were below the consensus forecast for revenue of $13.92 billion. The diversified manufacturer also cut its revenue guidance for the year, and lowered the high-end of its profit forecast range.

Although earnings for Merck (NYSE: MRK) were down in the last quarter, the stock is gaining momentum.

The pharmaceutical giant reported a 3% decrease in sales to $5.9 billion from $6.05 billion in the year-earlier period. Earnings were $1.56 billion or 74 cents per share, compared with $1.77 billion or 82 cents per share in the same quarter a year ago.

A strong dollar and lower sales for cholesterol and vaccine drugs contributed to Merck's decline this quarter. But investors were cheered by the fact that Merck reaffirmed its annual earnings forecast of $2.84 to $3.09 per share.

Fast-food behemoth McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) came in with earnings that were in line with consensus Street estimates; however, revenues for the restaurant stock fell slightly short of expectations for the quarter.

The restaurant said it earned $1.09 billion, or 98 cents per share, compared with $1.19 billion, or $1.04, in the year-earlier quarter.

Revenue, including results from franchised outlets, fell to $5.65 billion, which was below the Street's estimate of $5.7 billion.

As an all-around barometer of the tech sector, as well as a chipmaker, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is one of the cases where revenue and earnings both managed to best expectations.

Excluding the effects of a European Commission fine, Intel earned $1 billion or 18 cents per share in the second quarter.

Although the numbers handily beat analysts' estimates of 8 cents per share, they were still 36% lower than the profit of 28 cents per share the same period last year.

Ford (NYSE: F) is the most fiscally-sound U.S. automaker, and the company also managed to post better-than-expected earnings, despite a very rough economic climate for car manufacturers.

For the second quarter, Ford earned $2.3 billion, or 69 cents per share, versus a loss of $8.7 billion, or $3.89 per share, in the year-ago period. The increase was largely due to lightening its debt load, but it tells me that Ford is on the track to profitability.

Excluding a 15-cent-per-share hit from restructuring charges, chemicals giant DuPont (NYSE: DD), yet another Dow component, said it would have earned 61 cents per share. That number bested consensus estimates for a 53-cent per share profit, but once again, the top-line number is cause for concern.

DuPont said its second-quarter profit dropped 61% to $417 million, or 46 cents per share, with revenue falling 24% to $7.09 billion. Analysts had expected the company to bring in $7.14 billion in revenue.

The world's largest soft-drink maker, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), also is a Dow component. Like so many of the companies in the Dow, Coca-Cola has managed to beat its bottom-line earnings number. Profits for the recent quarter came in at 92 cents per share, topping analysts' forecast of 89 cents per share.

When it came to top-line revenues, Coca-Cola was flat. Operating revenue fell 9% to $8.27 billion, missing the consensus expectation of $8.57 billion. But the reason for the drag was due to the strong dollar.

Construction manufacturer and Dow component Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) reported earnings of 72 cents per share, well ahead of expectations of a 22-cent per share profit.

Top-line revenue came in at $7.25 billion, which is a lot of money. Unfortunately, it was nearly a billion-and-a-half dollars below expectations of $8.86 billion.

How did Caterpillar manage to achieve its earnings beat on lower-than-anticipated revenue?

Let's start with an exception.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) actually managed to beat both top-line and bottom-line estimates.

The ultra-hip tech giant reported earnings of $1.23 billion, or $1.35 per share, for its fiscal third quarter earnings (ended June 27). That easily beat estimates of $1.17 per share. Revenue estimates on the maker of the Mac, iPhone, and iPod were for $8.21 billion, but the company came in with actual revenue of $8.34 billion.

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

• Amkor Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: AMKR) easily beat estimates and raised its guidance.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) posted solid fourth-quarter results on strong overseas sales.
• DealerTrack Holdings (NASDAQ: TRAK) fourth-quarter revenue rose, but the credit crunch hurt results.
• Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) fourth-quarter earnings soared on strong holiday sales.
• Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT) posted strong quarterly and full-year results.
• HJ Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) raised its guidance productivity gains and favorable exchange rates.
• JAKKS Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) posted solid results, lifted by Hannah Montana and Disney toys.
• Marvel Entertaiment Inc. (NYSE: MVL) earnings doubled despite investment in films not yet released.
• Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) swung to a fourth-quarter loss despite rising gold prices.
• Safeway Stores Inc. (NYSE: SWY) met fourth-quarter earnings estimates, ending its best year since 2001.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted its first $100 billion quarter but lowered its forecast.

Also, Jim Cramer sees Hewlett-Packard as a market bellwether, and Ted Allrich looks at some other bellwether stocks. Sheldon Liber gets a sense of deja vu from Exxon Mobil's (NYSE: XOM) big profits and its tussle with Chavez.

Upcoming results to watch for include Nordstom Inc. (NYSE: JWN), Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M), Washington Post Co. (NYSE: WPO), Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL), Sprint-Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S), and Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.