Quaker Oats Posts 4th-Quarter Gain

Quaker Oats Co.’s fourth-quarter earnings rose 79% on lower costs, even as losses from its mainstay Gatorade sports drink widened. Earnings before charges rose to $31 million, or 22 cents a diluted share, from $17.3 million, or 12 cents, a year earlier. The company was expected to earn 24 cents a share.

* Avon Products Inc. said fourth-quarter earnings rose 1% to $133.7 million, held down by results in Japan and Brazil, a strong dollar and other factors. Quarterly net income, equivalent to $1.01 per diluted share, compared with $132 million, or 99 cents a diluted share, a year ago.

* Maytag Corp.’s fourth-quarter earnings rose 47%, before a charge, to $51.9 million, or 54 cents a diluted share, from $35.3 million, or 36 cents, a year ago.

* Chiron Corp. said fourth-quarter profit rose 70% to $23.9 million, or 13 cents a diluted share after gains and charges, from $14.1 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier.

* Computer animation firm Pixar Animation Studios said fourth-quarter profit was modestly lower, with net income of $4.4 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, compared with $4.7 million, or 10 cents, a year ago.