Shaer has reported a sharp profit increase for the quarter ended April 30.

Analysts said that the margin improvement was a big contributor to the overall profit increase.

And the company expects to announce within three weeks a profit increase of at least 5 percent for the fiscal year that ended March 31.

Even companies with healthy profit increases do not credit the domestic economy.

The discounters are taking market share and posting profit increases.

The possibility of such profit increases is a powerful lure for both companies.

But the profit increase stemmed from a change in accounting methods.

So don't get too excited about the return to double-digit profit increases.

Exxon, the nation's biggest oil company, is one of only a few large oil companies to report a profit increase for the quarter.

Under his leadership, the businesses experienced a 13% sales increase and a 15% profit increase.