Summary Box: Online brokerage TD Ameritrade 2Q profit jump 23 percent, but 2010 outlook cut

Summary Box: TD Ameritrade profit up, outlook down

THE NUMBERS: TD Ameritrade earned $162.6 million, or 27 cents per share, in its second quarter. That’s 23 percent higher than a year ago when it earned $132 million, or 23 cents per share.

THE OUTLOOK: Ameritrade officials say profits aren’t likely to improve significantly unless interest rates grow or trading activity increases, so the Omaha company lowered its profit outlook for fiscal 2010 to between 90 cents and $1.10 per share from an earlier forecast of $1.10 to $1.40 per share.

THE PLAN: CEO Fred Tomczyk says Ameritrade is trying to improve results over the long run, not maximize short-term profits.