NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — Positive surprises are dominating earnings so far for the third quarter.

Profit has topped estimates at 79 percent of the 96 Standard & Poor's 500 stock index companies posting results so far from the just-ended quarter, and if the trend holds it would be the most since at least 1993. The rate was a record 72 percent for all S&P 500 companies in the second quarter, Bloomberg data show.

Caterpillar Inc., DuPont Co. and Apple Inc. are among the companies topping predictions as the US economy pulls out of a recession that has cost about 7.2 million jobs since December 2007. More companies are starting to talk about a return of demand after long relying on firings, plant closings and other cost savings to stay profitable.

"You are starting to see some companies being able to grow out of the bottom," with sales that exceed forecasts if not yet rise, Joel Levington, director of corporate credit for Brookfield Investment Management Inc. in New York, said in an interview.

Caterpillar, the world's largest producer of backhoes and bulldozers, today predicted sales may rise as much as 25 percent next year. DuPont said demand will improve in the fourth quarter. Apple's sales of iPods, iPhones and computers jumped 25 percent from a year ago.

Caterpillar posted a 53 percent decline in profit to $404 million, or 64 cents a share, including about $129 million in tax benefits. The average estimate was five cents a share.

DuPont, the third-biggest U.S. chemical maker, said third- quarter profit rose 11 percent as job cuts and lower raw- material costs more than offset lower sales. Earnings of 45 cents a share topped/ analysts' 33-cent estimate.

Among technology companies, Apple, Intel Corp. and Google Inc. reported earnings and sales that topped analysts' estimates. Apple rose as much as 6.3 percent on the Nasdaq Stock Market yesterday, reaching levels not seen since the iPhone first emerged as a hit product two years ago.