Industrials

United Technologies beat the Street with a 55% leap in fourth-quarter profits and reaffirmed its 2013 guidance, but the blue-chip conglomerate’s revenue trailed forecasts.

Multinational companies tapping natural resources in far-flung regions need to safeguard against security risks from terrorists, drug cartels and cash-hungry kidnappers.

DuPont disclosed a 70% plunge in fourth-quarter profits amid stalling revenue, but the chemical giant managed to surpass expectations and issued an upbeat guidance.

Agribusiness giant Cargill saw a quadrupling of its quarterly earnings, led by profits from trading operations amid the effects of the devastating drought that hit the U.S. last summer. 

Fueled by robust corn seed sales growth, seed giant Monsanto revealed surging fiscal first-quarter profits that blew away Wall Street’s expectations.

Commercial Metals posted disappointing first-quarter earnings amid slow segment profit growth.

Commercial Metals posted disappointing first-quarter earnings amid slow segment profit growth.

Eli Lilly reaffirmed its in-line fiscal 2012 guidance on Friday and unveiled an upbeat outlook for the following year.

Mosaic surpassed Wall Street’s estimates by logging a 0.8% increase in fiscal second-quarter profits despite slumping revenue.

The maker of Spam will acquire the peanut butter business from Unilever for about $700 million.

After being left out of recent consolidation in the industry, car rental company Avis Budget unveiled a $500 million deal to drive away with up-and-coming car-sharing firm Zipcar.

PPG Industries reported fourth-quarter earnings on pace with Wall Street expectations on Monday and said the spin-off of its chemicals business is on track to close within the next two weeks.

The deal sets the stage for an eventual IPO of the newly-acquired businesses. 

Allegheny Technologies sold its tungsten materials unit to Kennametal for $605 million as it looks to focus on its high-performance metals business.

The dividend hike represents the third such increase in the past two years at the global tobacco giant.

ConAgra estimated 1Q profit below analysts' expectations due to weak sales at its consumer foods business.

Ammunition giant Alliant Techsystems agreed to scoop up sports optics maker Bushnell Group for $985 million in cash. 

By Ben Blanchard

Johnson Controls, a maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, said on Monday it would merge with Ireland-based fire protection and security systems maker Tyco International.

General Electric said on Friday it has agreed to sell its appliances business to Qingdao Haier for $5.4 billion.