Wednesday morning, banking giant Wells Fargo (WFC) announced that its fourth-quarter profit increased sharply thanks to improving customer payment habits and lower reserves to cover "souring loans."

During the quarter, Wells Fargo reported net income of 61 cents per share ($3.2 billion), matching the consensus estimate. A year earlier, the company earned 8 cents per share ($394 million) thanks to a large preferred dividend paid to the government (this payment was not necessary this year). The bank's CEO John Stumpf stated that the bank's business segments "contributed to earnings as the economy started to gain strength."

Tuesday morning, Kellogg (K) announced that its third-quarter net income dropped 6% thanks to slumping cereal sales. In addition to the weakening cereal sales, Kellogg saw competition strengthen and continuing impact from a cereal recall.

First things first, the cereal king reported earnings of 90 cents per share ($338 million), which came in lower than last year's earnings of 94 cents per share ($361 million).

Friday morning, U.S. oil refiner Sunoco (SUN) announced that it logged a third-quarter profit rather than a loss like last year's results.

Sunoco pulled in 54 cents per diluted share ($65 million) in the most recent quarter, better than the loss of 29 cents per share from a year ago. On an adjusted basis, Sunoco earned 22 cents per share. The stronger results were attributed to an improvement in earnings from the steel-making coal and logistics businesses.

Financial firm JPMorgan Chase (JPM) released its much-anticipated third-quarter earnings Wednesday morning, revealing that its profit increased 23%. JPM earned $4.42 billion, or $1.01 per share, during the quarter -- far better than the $3.59 billion, or 82 cents per share, earned a year ago. Not only did JPM destroy last year's earnings, but the company also handily topped the consensus estimate of 90 cents per share.

One reason for the stronger-than-expected results is the fact that JPM set aside $1.55 billion for retail credit losses in the quarter compared to $3.99 billion a year ago. That said, CEO Jamie Dimon warned that loan losses are still high in the mortgage and credit card portfolios, but these losses aren't continuing to rise as they did during the recession. Dimon added that JPM is expecting losses in the credit-card division during the next quarter.

Bright and early this morning, General Mills (GIS) served up a heaping bowl of earnings for investors and analysts to digest while eating their breakfast. The company announced that stronger sales in cereal as well as organic and natural product pushed its first-quarter earnings 12% higher.

For the most recent quarter, GIS raked in 70 cents per share -- better than last year's earnings of 62 cents per share. GIS's adjusted earnings came in at 64 cents per share, topping the consensus estimate by a penny. As for revenue, the $3.53 billion for the quarter was better than a year ago but just shy of the consensus estimate of $3.57 billion.

Thursday morning AT&T (T) announced that second-quarter diluted earnings totaled 68 cents per share. The results were 14 cents better than the same quarter a year ago. Taking a one-time gain of seven cents out of the equation (stemming from a stock transaction), AT&T still managed to top the consensus estimate of 57 cents per share.

The company also reported that it topped 90 million connections for the first time during the quarter, driven by a record 3.2 million iPhone accounts activated (a company record). The activations weren't solely driven by the iPhone, as 1.6 million other wireless connections were added (a second-quarter record). All in all, it was a solid quarter for AT&T.

Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT) announced that its first-quarter loss was "significantly smaller" than last year's first-quarter loss. The smaller loss was realized despite a one-time charge stemming from currency devaluation in Venezuela.

Goodyear's president and CEO Richard J. Kramer noted that the company is "very pleased with our strong first quarter [sic] performance," adding that the company believes it is "starting to see the benefits of the strategic actions [it] took last year, including [the] commitment to launch innovative new products during an economic downturn." Kramer attributes the company's gains in both sales and earnings to these strategic actions.

Copier-and-printer firm Xerox (XRX) released first-quarter results Friday morning, topping the consensus estimate despite posting a loss of four cents per share.

The results were pulled lower by one-time charges related to layoffs and the company's acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services. Excluding one-time costs, Xerox earned 18 cents per share, a nickel better than the Street expected. Revenue increased 33% compared to a year ago, coming in at $4.7 billion. The revenue increase is credited to the addition of Affiliated's business outsourcing segment.

Constellation Brands (STZ) announced Friday that it lost $51 million in the fourth quarter because of lagging sales on wine, spirits and beer. STZ lost 23 cents per share during the quarter compared to a loss of $1.88 per share last year. Excluding one-time items, STZ earned 27 cents per share, topping the consensus estimate by three cents per share.

Looking ahead, STZ forecasts 2011 earnings of $1.36 to $1.51 per share, with adjusted earnings between $1.53 per share to $1.68 per share. The problem is that the Street expects 2011 earnings of $1.78 per share. It is this news that could leave STZ bulls crying into their drinks today.

After the closing bell Wednesday, Micron Technology (MU) reported a second-quarter profit of 39 cents per share. The semiconductor firm's results topped both last year's loss of 99 cents per share and the consensus estimate of 24 cents per share.

Quarterly revenue totaled $1.96, up from $993 million a year ago, and better than the $1.82 billion expected by the Street. Sales of the company's DRAM products increased 24% sequentially, as a result of a rise in unit sales and average selling prices. MU's revenue from NAND Flash products were down a bit thanks to a "slight decrease in average selling prices."

Doughnut dean Krispy Kreme (KKD) baked up its third-quarter earnings, revealing a net loss of four cents per share. The quarterly earnings reflect provisions for the settlement of litigation and related legal costs, which totaled three cents per share. A year ago, Krispy Kreme lost nine cents per share in the third quarter.

Krispy Kreme's president and CEO noted, "Our results continued to improve year-over-year in the third quarter ... Our improved results are evidence of progress in implementing our strategic initiatives, which have us on a path toward building a growing, profitable business that is sustainable for the long term."

Declining soup sales couldn't stem the tide of Campbell Soup's (CPB) earnings. The world's largest soup maker saw first-quarter earnings increase 17%, although soup sales dropped 3%.

The sultan of soup reported first-quarter earnings of 87 cents per share, six cents better than the consensus estimate. The strong results were attributed to lower costs and expenses. Unfortunately for Campbell, revenue did not meet expectations, totaling $2.2 billion when the Street expected $2.28 billion.

Talk about stocks that have fallen far and fast. LDK Solar (LDK) was looking to add a bit of momentum with its earnings report, as the stock is battling overhead resistance from its 20-week moving average. This trendline has pushed the stock lower for a majority of 2009 and 2008, during which LDK has dropped from its late-2008 high of $52.40 to its current perch near the $8 level.

The good news is that a news event like an earnings report could lend momentum to any squandering stock, so let's see what LDK reported. The solar panel producer earned 27 cents per share in the third quarter, far worse than last year's same-quarter earnings of 77 cents per share. Quarterly revenue was nearly halved, as LDK brought in $281.9 million compared to $542 million.

Media giant Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) reported third-quarter earnings this morning and issued a stronger outlook. During the quarter, earnings dropped 38%, thanks to declines at its AOL division (parent of BloggingStocks) and publishing segments.

Excluding items, TWX's earnings checked in at 61 cents per share, topping the consensus estimate by 8 cents per share. Quarterly revenue slipped 6% to $7.1 billion, matching the consensus estimate. Looking ahead, TWX forecast adjusted earnings of at least $2.05 per share. This forecast is higher than the $1.98 per share the company issued earlier and the $2.02 per share that the Street expects.

Earnings are rolling in on this fine Tuesday morning, with many companies reporting. One of those is TD Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD), which stepped into the earnings spotlight and reported fourth-quarter earnings of 26 cents per share, topping the consensus estimate by four cents per share.

Quarterly revenue came in at $657.9 million, which is 1.3% better than a year ago. Looking ahead, the online brokerage forecast full-year 2010 earnings to come in between $1.10 and $1.40 per share. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2010 is $1.05, so the shares could see a bit of a boost on the forecast. AMTD's quarterly earnings fell 8.8% compared to a year earlier, but the company did post new highs in average client trades per day and new net assets.