1.   Analysts attributed the earnings boost to higher traffic.

2.   As U.S. economic growth dwindles, companies may continue to seek merger partners to provide an earnings boost where sales fail to grow.

3.   A declining share price reduces the earnings boost as Republic is forced to issue more shares for an acquisition, thus diluting its per-share earnings.

4.   Company executives said this will provide an important earnings boost.

5.   Even as U.S. economic growth dwindles, companies may continue to seek merger partners to provide an earnings boost where sales fail to grow.

6.   If Westinghouse succeeds in buying CBS, the network could provide a huge earnings boost to the company, whose nuclear energy and power generation units are slumping.

7.   In addition, the company expects to get an earnings boost next year when Seattle-based Boeing Co. increases production.

8.   PennCorp expects to get an earnings boost from Washington National next year, said PennCorp spokeswoman Elizabeth Malone.

9.   PLDT, which derives more than half its income from overseas calls billed in dollars, could get an earnings boost from the depreciation of the peso.

10.   Some companies may also get an earnings boost from recent acquisitions.