U.S. Stocks Gain as Earnings Optimism Overshadows Alcoa Sales
By Joanna Ossinger
Intel Corp. climbed 1 percent before reporting earnings following the close of exchanges. Fastenal Co., the largest U.S. retailer of nuts, bolts and other fasteners, jumped 2.1 percent to lead industrial shares higher after profit topped analysts’ estimates. Home Depot Inc. rallied 2.6 percent to help the Dow Jones Industrial Average extend its rally above 11,000. Alcoa slipped 1.6 percent after sales trailed estimates.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.1 percent to 1,197.3 at 4 p.m. in New York after slumping as much as 0.6 percent in morning trading. The Dow gained 13.45 points, or 0.1 percent, to 11,019.42. The Russell 2000 Index of smaller U.S. companies increased 0.3 percent. All three gauges closed at their highest levels since September 2008.
“Maybe investors’ reaction to Alcoa’s earnings report was too harsh,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Chicago-based Harris Private Bank, who oversees $55 billion. “We’re going to see very good first-quarter results. Historically analysts have underestimated the ability of companies to deliver profits.”
As earnings season begins, U.S. stocks have the most momentum since 1986. The 14-day relative strength index for the S&P 500 has exceeded 65 since March 5, the longest stretch since 1995, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Today marks the 27th consecutive day, the most in 24 years.
Return to Growth
Combined profit for S&P 500 companies increased 30 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The S&P 500 has jumped 77 percent from a 12-year low in March 2009 as the economy returned to growth and the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate near zero to safeguard the recovery.
Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, climbed 1 percent to $22.77. The shares extended gains in after-hours trading after the company’s first-quarter earnings and second-quarter sales forecast topped analyst estimates.
Home Depot, the largest home-improvement retailer, rallied 2.6 percent to $34.34 for the Dow’s biggest advance. Fastenal reported first-quarter profit excluding some items of 38 cents a share, topping the average analyst estimate of 33 cents. Its shares jumped 2.1 percent to $53.
Alcoa Earnings
Alcoa dropped 1.6 percent, the most in the Dow, to $14.34. The metal producer reported quarterly sales of $4.89 billion, missing the $5.23 billion average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. UBS downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “buy.”
DeVry Inc. gained 10 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $71.73 after the for-profit education company was raised to “outperform” from “neutral” at Credit Suisse, which suggested the government might loosen proposed rules that would restrict education companies’ eligibility for federal student aid.
Crocs Inc. rose 10 percent to $9.79. The maker of plastic clogs was upgraded to “overweight” from “market weight” at Thomas Weisel Partners, which set a 12-month share price estimate of $12.
Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc. surged 129 percent to $3.43, the biggest gain since the shares began trading in February 2007. The biopharmaceutical company said clinical data showed its Onalta improved symptoms associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors.
Tennant Co. gained 15 percent to $33.14. The cleaning solutions manufacturer raised its estimates for 2010 earnings and sales and forecast first-quarter profit and revenue higher than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.
Banks Slump
The S&P 500 Regional Banks Index slumped 2 percent for the biggest drop since Feb. 23. UBS AG said valuations are unsustainable and earnings are likely to fall short of expectations. The shares may be poised for a “meaningful pullback” in the second half of 2010 as the pace of earnings recovery disappoints investors, according to UBS.
Huntington Bancshares Inc. fell 5.6 percent to $5.69 and KeyCorp retreated 2.4 percent to $8.14.
The S&P 500 Banks Index fell the most out of 24 industry groups, losing 1.1 percent. It still has the best one-month performance, rising 8.7 percent, bolstered by last week’s rally after Credit Suisse Group AG said SunTrust Banks Inc. could be a takeover target and Wells Fargo & Co. raised U.S. large-cap bank shares to “market weight” from “underweight.”
Avon Tumbles
Avon Products Inc., the world’s largest door-to-door cosmetics seller, tumbled 8 percent to $31.99 for the biggest loss in the S&P 500. The largest door-to-door cosmetics seller suspended four executives as part of an internal investigation into practices at its China unit. Avon generated 3.2 percent of its sales in China during the quarter that ended Dec. 31.
Earlier declines in equities came after the U.S. trade deficit widened 7.4 percent in February, more than expected, to $39.7 billion from a revised $37 billion the prior month, the Commerce Department said in Washington.
The Dow’s close over 11,000 yesterday was its first above that level since September 2008. The S&P 500 is just below a milestone of its own -- 1,200. Resistance can be expected at both levels, said Ryan Detrick, senior technical analyst at Schaeffer’s Investment Research in Cincinnati.
“You’ve got 1,200 and 11,000 -- two big, round numbers,” Detrick said. “That’s an area people look at” when watching for resistance or a possible pullback.
Energy producers in the S&P 500 slipped 0.5 percent for the biggest drop among 10 groups. Occidental Petroleum Corp. and Devon Energy Corp. lost more than 1 percent.
Oil fell for a fifth day, losing 0.3 percent to $84.05 a barrel in New York on concern the market is oversupplied. The International Energy Agency boosted its forecast for non-OPEC supplies and U.S. inventories were forecast to climb. Schlumberger Ltd. declined 1.2 percent to $65.51, while Denbury Resources Inc. retreated 3.1 percent to $17.67.
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