Oracle's quarterly earnings rise 8%, top analyst expectations June 18, 2012, 3:48 p.m. Oracle Corp.'s latest quarterly earnings climbed 8%, beating analysts' expectations. The business software maker surprised investors by releasing the results Monday. The fiscal fourth-quarter report had been scheduled to come out Thursday. Oracle didn't give a reason for the change of plans. The numbers came out after several analysts published notes reporting that Oracle's top sales executive, Keith Block, may be leaving the company as part of a reorganization. Oracle didn't respond to requests for comment about Block's status. The Redwood City, Calif., company earned $3.45 billion, or 69 cents a share, for the three months ended in May, compared with $3.2 billion, or 62 cents, a year earlier. If not for items unrelated to its ongoing business, Oracle says it would have earned 82 cents a share. On that basis, Oracle exceeded the average earnings estimate of 78 cents a share held among analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue edged up 1% from last year to $10.9 billion, slightly higher than analyst projections. If not for a stronger dollar, which hurt its results outside the U.S., Oracle said its revenue would have increased 5% from the same time last year. Monday's report delivered another piece of heartening news for investors. Oracle intends to spend an additional $10 billion buying back its own stock, a move that could help boost earnings per share in future quarters. Oracle shares rose 87 cents, or more than 3%, to $27.99 in extended trading. The stock had dropped 58 cents, or 2.1%, to $27.12 during Monday's regular session as investors reacted to the reports of a possible shake-up on Oracle's North American sales team.