The company, the developer of the world's second-most-popular cell-phone technology, said earnings and revenues surged in its latest quarter.

Philip Morris's quarterly earnings surged 27.2 percent, and revenues rose 12 percent.

Corporate earnings, meanwhile surged 22.7 and 21.4 percent.

Disney said the division's earnings surged in part because last year's quarter included write-downs for less successful theatrical releases.

And Merrill's earnings, along with its share price, have surged as a result.

Operating earnings surged because of higher margins on semiconductors, whose sales climbed 15 percent.

Median earnings surged by a third, to $205 million last year, from $153 million in 2004.

Operating earnings surged 36 percent, to $449.3 million.

Procter & Gamble said its fourth-quarter earnings surged 66.1 percent, to $284 million, or 78 cents a share.

With the economy cooking along at its best rate in decades, corporate earnings are surging, seemingly giving investors plenty of reason to buy stocks.