Over the years, Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD)'s sophisticated software has managed more than 10,000 clinical trials with companies like Merck and Co. (NYSE: MRK), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). And investors are taking notice, as the stock price is up about 50% this year.

In Q3, Phase Forward reported a 24% increase in revenues to $34.9 million and net income was $5.7 million, or 13 cents per share, up from $2.9 million or 8 cents per share in the same period a year ago. The company's cash balance increased by $7.6 million to $187 million.

Phase Forward scored several key customer wins in Q3, such as with Novartis (NYSE: NVS) and Eisai, which is one of the largest pharma companies in Japan. No doubt, it helps that the company's software platform is highly scalable for complex, global organizations. This is critical in combating rivals like Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL), ArisGlobal, and etrials Worldwide (NASDAQ: ETWC).

The earnings season crunch is upon us once again, and among those companies reporting next week are Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE).

In its second quarter report in July, Atria reported earnings per share of $1.15, beating Wall Street's expectations by a couple of pennies. However, Altria has had five-year earnings per share growth of only 1.9 percent, well below the tobacco industry average and the S&P 500. For the third quarter, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect Intel to report EPS of $1.14, about the same as last quarter, and less than the $1.39 actual EPS from the same period last year.

Yet, the handful of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial recommend buying Altria: two rate it a strong buy, six a buy, and four a hold. Altria's share price is up from a 52-week low of $63.13 in July, but well off of its 52-week high of $90.50 in January [before the Kraft Foods spin off]. It closed Friday at $70.06.

For more on Supreme Court decisions, cigarette taxes, and other news that might affect Altria's quarterly report, check out BloggingStocks' Altria coverage.

The earnings season crunch is upon us once more, and among those reporting next week are Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).

In its second quarter report in July, Intel reported earnings per share of 22 cents, beating Wall Street's expectation by three cents. In fact, Intel has beat analysts' expectations in the past four quarters, and also has had one-year earnings per share growth of 32 percent, which was better than the S&P 500 and the semiconductor industry average. For the third quarter, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect Intel to report EPS of 30 cents -- profit growth of 35 percent and revenue growth of 10 percent -- which is in line with Intel's updated guidance.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial recommend buying INTC: 15 rate it a strong buy, 16 a buy, and only 7 a hold. The share price is trading near its 52-week high of $26.58, up from a 52-week low of $18.75 in March. The share price closed Friday at $25.55.

For more on what's been going on with Intel, check out BloggingStocks' Intel coverage.

Good thing that Zoloft is no longer covered by patent protection. Now it will be a lot cheaper for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) investors to stock up on the anti-depressant so they can better cope with the drug maker's lousy earnings.

Net income in the second quarter plunged 48% to $1.27 billion, or $0.18 per share, on revenue of $10.11 billion. Excluding unpleasant stuff like restructuring charges, profit was $0.42. On that basis, Wall Street analysts expected profit of $0.50 on revenue of $11.4 billion, according to Thomson Financial.

Investors could take some solace knowing that the company doesn't think things will get much worse. It reaffirmed EPS and revenue guidance for 2007 and 2008. Good thing, too, since the company just cut its 2007 outlook in April.

Still, there wasn't much to cheer about in today's results. Sales of Lipitor, the company's most prescribed product, plunged 13% in the quarter, failing to meet Pfizer's own expectations. Zoloft sales plunged 82% while NORVASC fell 45% and Viagra fell 3%.

Investors expected sales of these drugs to plunge since they lost patent protection. Chief Executive Jeffrey Kindler has cut jobs and closed factories to cut costs. But what the company needs more than anything are new best selling drugs.

Like the minor league system in baseball, drug companies count on their pipelines to replace aging players. Whether investors will give Pfizer enough time to develop its prospects is far from certain.