Profit === Earnings (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/earnings.asp http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/earnings.asp) From the article: "reported net income

Profit === Earnings (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/earnings.asp http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/earnings.asp) From the article: "reported net income of $2.5 billion, or 48 cents a share, down 27 percent from $3.4 billion, or 64 cents a share, a year earlier" Which is a 27% drop in total earnings or a 25% drop in EPS. The difference due to a share buy back improving the EPS by reducing the issued share capital.