Eastman Kodak Company today reported a GAAP earnings improvement of $877 million for the third quarter of 2006, on sales of $3.204 billion, largely as the result of the recording of a tax valuation charge in the year-ago quarter of $778 million.

Print Segment Highlights

- Graphic Communications Group sales were $880 million, compared with $886 million in the year-ago quarter. Strong sales in digital plates, commercial inkjet, NexPress color and document scanners were offset by lower sales in traditional products.

- Net sales in the U.S. were $314 million for the current quarter as compared with $331 million for the prior year quarter. Sales outside the U.S. were $566 million compared with $555 million.

- Net worldwide sales of digital prepress consumables increased 15% in the current quarter.

- Net worldwide sales for the workflow and prepress SPG decreased 15%.

- Net worldwide sales for the NexPress color SPG increased 9% primarily driven by a 25% revenue increase in NexPress color equipment and consumables, partially offset by direct image press equipment sales, which declined 73%.

- Net worldwide sales of commercial inkjet printing solutions increased 22% in the current quarter.