Google Inc.'s third-quarter profit soared 46 percent, hurdling the expectations that have elevated the Internet search leader's stock price by more $100 during the past month.

The Mountain View, Calif.- based company said Thursday that it earned $1.07 billion, or $3.38 a share, for the three months ended in September, up from $733.4 million, or $2.36 per share, at the same time last year.

If not for the cost of awarding stock to its work force, Google said it would have earned $3.91 a share.

That topped analysts estimate of $3.78 a share.

Revenue totaled $4.23 billion, up 57 percent from $2.67 billion last year.

After subtracting commissions paid to its thousands of advertising partners, Google's revenue stood at $3.01 billion - about $70 million above the average analyst estimate.

The performance represented a return to form for Google after its second-quarter earnings disappointed Wall Street.

The company has surpassed analyst estimates in all but two of the 13 quarters since its August 2004 initial public offering.

"It's obvious our model works very well," Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said.

"It's all very exciting from the Google perspective."

Google's stock has increased 19 percent the past month as the shares smashed through $600 for the first time.

Google shares added $6.14 Thursday to close at $639.62, leaving the nine-year-old company with a market value of just below $200 billion.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO., the nation's biggest discount carrier, said third-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago.

• Profit: $162 million, or 22 cents a share, vs. $48 million, or 6 cents, a year earlier. Analysts expected 21 cents a share.

Revenue: $2.59 billion, up 11 percent, as Southwest filled 76.6 percent of the seats on the average flight, a record.

BANK OF AMERICA CORP., the nation's second-largest bank, said its profit fell 32 percent in the third quarter as trading losses and write-downs on a wide variety of loans offset solid revenue growth in most businesses.

• Profit: $3.7 billion, or 82 cents a share, vs. $5.42 billion, or $1.18, a year ago.

• Revenue: $16.3 billion, down 12 percent from $18.49 billion last year.

Analysts expected $1.06 a share on revenue of $18.3 billion.

COBIZ FINANCIAL, parent of Colorado Business Bank and other financial companies, said third-quarter earnings fell slightly after an increase in loan loss provisions.

Net income: $6.01 million, or 25 cents per share, versus $6.26 million, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier.

UNION PACIFIC CORP., the largest U.S. railroad, said third-quarter earnings rose 27 percent on strong agricultural and chemicals revenue.

• Profit: $532 million, or $2 a share, compared with $420 million, or $1.54, a year earlier.

• Revenue: $4.19 billion, up 5 percent from $3.98 billion a year earlier.

Analysts expected $1.77 a share on revenue of $4.2 billion.

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