Corporate earnings

Bank of America.

The second-largest U.S. lender said third-quarter profit rebounded as the firm curbed legal expenses and more borrowers paid on time.

Net income advanced to $2.5 billion, or 20 cents a diluted share, from $340 million a year earlier when pershare results were breakeven, the Charlotte, N.C.based bank said Wednesday in a statement. The average estimate of 24 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was 21 cents.

PepsiCo.

Americans are gobbling up more Frito-Lay snacks. As for the company’s sodas, customers are apparently less enthusiastic.

PepsiCo earned $1.91 billion, or $1.23 per share, for the three months ending Sept. 7. That compares with $1.9 billion, or $1.21 per share, a year ago when there were more shares outstanding.

Not including one-time items, the company said it earned $1.24 per share, above the $1.17 per share analysts expected.

Revenue rose 2 percent to $16.91 billion,

Mattel.

Strength of doll brands such as Barbie and Monster High around the world helped the largestU.S. toy maker’s net income rise 16 percent in the third quarter.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, Mattel earned $422.8 million, or $1.21 per share. That’s up from $365.9 million, or $1.04 per share, in the prior-year period.

Removing a tax benefit of 5 cents per share, earnings were $1.16 per share. Analysts predicted earnings of $1.11 per share.

Revenue rose 6 percent to $2.21 billion.

Kinder Morgan Partners.

Energy

The second-biggest U.S. pipeline company by market value said thirdquarter earnings rose as higher crude prices boosted demand.

Net income increased to $689 million from $405 million a year earlier, Houstonbased KinderMorgan said in a statementWednesday. After paymentsmade to Kinder Morgan Inc., its parent company, KinderMorgan earned 59 cents per unit, compared with a 6-cent loss a year ago.

U.S. Bancorp.

The regional bank, with more than 3,000 branches across the Midwest andWest, said third-quarter profit was nearly flat from a year earlier as the lender offset a large drop in mortgage banking revenue with lower expenses and provisions for credit losses.

U.S. Bancorp reported a profit of $1.47 billion, roughly flat from a year earlier. Per-share earnings were up at 76 cents from74 cents, due to fewer shares outstanding. Revenue was down 5.6 percent, to $4.89 billion.