(By Salman - iStockAnalyst Writer)Late on Wednesday, Allstate Corp. (NYSE: ALL) announced that it swung to a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.13 billion, or $2.11 a share compared to net income of $760 million, or $1.36 a share, in the same quarter a year ago. Operating income, which excludes investment gains and losses, plunged to $518 million or 97 cents a share from $701 million or $1.24 a share in the prior year quarter. Analyst on an average on average expected the company to earn $1.35 a share. The insurer also said it would cut about 1,000 jobs in its financial services unit over the next two years. Shares of the company tumbled over 10% in evening trade.

Citrix Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) registered a fourth-quarter net income of $60 million, or 33 cents a share, compared to $63 million, or 33 cents a share in the comparable quarter, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $416 million from $399.6 million. Excluding one-time items the company earned $87 million, or 48 cents a share. Analysts on average were looking for earnings of 47 cents a share on revenue of $431.5 million. "I’m pleased with our Q4 results and performance for 2008 – especially in the face of an extraordinary worldwide environment," said Mark Templeton, Citrix president and chief executive officer. "While being fiscally cautious, we are more confident than ever in our vision and business strategy. Citrix products have a long track record of reducing IT costs, while simplifying enterprise computing – exactly what customers need.” Citrix slipped over 6% in late trading.

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (NYSE: DNB) reported that fourth quarter profit fell 2% to $100.1 million or $1.85 a share from $101.7 million or $1.74 a share in the corresponding quarter a year ago. Core and total revenue for the fourth quarter grew 2% to $474.7 million from $464.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.For the full fiscal year 2008, D&B said net income rose to $310.6 million or $5.60 a share from $298.1 million or $4.99 a share in the 2007.For fiscal year 2009, the company expects earnings, before non-core gains and charges, to increase in the range of 9% to 12%, and core revenue, before the effect of foreign exchange, to grow in the range of 2% to 5%. Steve Alesio, D&B's chairman and CEO, said in a statement "As we ended the year, however, the economic headwinds started to have a significant impact on our US marketing-related businesses, which is continuing into 2009, and is reflected in our guidance."

Flextronics International (NASDAQ: FLEX) said that its third-quarter loss widened to $6 billion, or $7.43 a share, compared to a loss of $96.8 million, or 94 cents a share. Sales fell to $8.2 billion from $9.07 billion. The results for the third quarter included a non cash charge of $5.9 billion, "to write-off the entire carrying value of its goodwill. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 16 cents a share.