After today, earnings season will be almost halfway complete, in terms of the total number of public U.S. companies reporting quarterly earnings. So far, the majority of companies reporting are beating estimates (70+%). Here are 3 more large-cap companies, one a Dow component, that reported earnings today:

MetLife (MET): Shocking Analysts with a Big Surprise

Earnings: Q2 profits of $1.84 vs. $1.00 consensus and net loss of $1.74 in Q2 last year, huge rise in profits Year-over Year.

Revenue: Increased 7% Year-over-Year at $13.5 Billion vs. $13.05 Billion consensus, breezing by expectations.

C. Robert Henrikson, Chairman, President & CEO of MetLife (MET) stated, “We achieved top line growth and increased operating earnings by 41% over the prior year period.”

Comment: Shares of MetLife (MET) are trading up following the company’s earnings release after-the-bell, trading at $41.39 per share, compared to today’s closing price of $40.20 per share.

In the chart above, MetLife (MET) shares are breaking away from the all important 50-day and 200-day moving price averages to the upside after today’s earnings report. The next test for MET shares will be $42, as it was a prior level of resistance multiple times. The life insurance company proved they are turning around the ship today with a very solid report that beat analyst profit estimates by 84%. Did Meredith Whitney catch wind of this report? MetLife’s 42,000 employees need to pat themselves on the back today for a job well-done on pulling the company out of one of the greatest black holes called the Great Recession that our financial system has seen in history. I’ve noticed some insider buying in 2010, and with a 1.9% annual dividend, support could firm up at current price levels.

Tyco (TYCO): A Turnaround Story

Earnings: Q2 profits of $.51 vs. $.64 consensus and $.60 in Q2 last year. As a result, profits were down Year-over-Year.

Revenue: Increased 0.3% Year-over-Year at $4.3 Billion vs. $4.33 Billion consensus, slightly under expectations but higher than the same period last year.

Ed Breen, Tyco Chairman and CEO said, “Our results for the quarter reflect the continued strength of our recurring and service revenue base, improving order trends and operating margin improvement across all of our business segments.” These comments are a positively stark contrast to last year’s depths of the Great Recession.

Comment: Shares of Tyco (TYC) are trading up 1% following the company’s earnings release this morning, closing the trading day $36.97. Investors see the integrations of Broadview Security as good for Tyco’s future, as well as separation and spin-off of other non-core business unrelated to security.

Based on Tyco’s technical chart above, shares closed above the 50-day and 200-day moving price averages today. Tyco’s share price is in a very tight range right now between $35-$38. As the company continues to deliver a 2.4% annual dividend and buyback company stock, it appears firm support is forming at these current price levels for a higher possibility of a gradual wave up into the second half of this year. Everyone is complaining about jobs, and Tyco is one of those companies that has the power to hire big. They already employ 106,000 people. As they receive big pay days for units they are selling to private equity shops and other companies, they can utilize the cash to re-invest back into their core business model. With a cleaner and leaner machine emerging down the road, Tyco is one company to watch pull itself out of the mud of the jobless recovery with the confidence to create jobs soon…We’ll have to stay tuned on Tyco’s developing story.

Exxon-Mobil (XOM): The Energy Goliath

Earnings: Q2 profits of $1.60 vs. $1.47 consensus and $.81 in Q2 last year. According to the AP, Exxon-Mobil (XOM) delivered its highest quarterly profit since the $7.82 billion earned in the last quarter of 2008.

Revenue: Increased 24% Year-over-Year at $92.59 Billion vs. $98.49 Billion consensus, missing a rather lofty analyst consensus expectation.

David Rosenthal, head of Exxon-Mobil Investor Relations, said “You are starting to see, I think some of the benefits of having a very diverse portfolio. We don’t have any one footprint more than the others across the world. So, slight delay in the Gulf of Mexico, but progressing full speed ahead in the rest of the world.”

Comment: Shares of Exxon-Mobil (XOM) were up at the bell, then faded the remainder of the trading day. The company’s shares closed the day at $60.34.

In the chart above, Exxon-Mobil (XOM) shares are trading above the 50-day moving price average, yet below the 200-day moving price average. On the heels of BP’s $17 Billion dollar reported loss, XOM is not wasting any time attempting to seize market share and rein the victor of energy brand image. During the quarter, Exxon completed the acquisition of natural gas producer XTO Energy. The deal, valued at $29 billion, immediately makes Exxon the largest natural gas company in the U.S. XOM was one of Business Insider’s 12 Stocks Ready to Run after BP Plugged the Leak.mpanyAs dose of confidence in the share price on June 25th, Insider Jack Williams 66,697 shares of XOM stock. With a 2.9% annual dividend and a massive natural gas integration coming into play for XOM, the conservative investor may find it prudent to start nibbling for the energy allocation of their portfolio.

Disclosure: No positions in the stocks mentioned.

Proctor & Gamble  (NYSE: PG) — The Blue Chip Heavyweight Stays Nimble

Earnings info: Earned $1.06 a share compared to $1.03 a year ago in the same period. Analysts expected $.99 cents a share.

Sales dropped 6%, missing consensus estimates by just a fraction.

P&G executives said their optimism is tempered by continued high unemployment in the recession.

Comment: Under new CEO Bob McDonald, P&G has a fresh perspective being injected into the Mothership of the corporate sea. Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoos and Gillette Fusion shavers were among the strongest selling brands within the product portfolio. The company reported weak numbers for Duracell batteries, Braun, and Pringles snacks, three brands that analysts have rumored P&G should put on the selling block. P&G upped its organic sales forecast, giving investors another reason to feel safe about the front running recession bull, not to mention the 3% dividend delivery too.

Kellogg  (NYSE: K) — Snap, Crackle, Pop goes Kellogg Stock

Earnings info: Earned $.94 cents a share, compared to $.89 cents a share in the same period a year ago. Kellogg’s earnings beat the consensus earnings estimate by .06 cents.

Sales were in-line and the same as sales from last year.

Kellogg’s CEO David Mackay said he anticipates the economy isn’t likely to improve through 2010 and consumers will likely continue to feel some pressures.

Comment: This Blue Chip company preserved brand strength with its household food products. K has shown sales consistency throughout the recession. Their cost cutting plan has proved instrumental to the success of the company. If you’re looking for steady safety, Kellogg also pays a 3% dividend.

MetLife (NYSE: MET) — More like MetDeath

Earnings info: Lost $.79 cents a share compared to a profit of $.83 cents a share in the same period a year ago. That’s a huge negative swing to stomach for investors. Excluding a $1.4 billion dollar investment loss which caused the overall net income loss for the quarter, the company met the consensus earnings estimates.

Revenues fell 1.2% year over year, beating the consensus by a hair.

With hubris in the face of a billion dollar loss for the quarter, Chief Executive Robert Henrikson said, “Our businesses are performing well as evidenced by increased sales in a number of product areas in both the U.S. and internationally.”

Comment: Anytime I hear the word “loss”, I steer clear of the investment path. The losses at Metlife were once again attributable to the complex financial instruments that caused the credit crisis: derivatives. Losses due to derivatives equal doom. I’d be looking to other sectors far away from Metlife for a better trade or investment.

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