Hertz, Whirlpool, Caterpillar Rise; DeVry Falls

Mayank Mehta
26 Apr, 2010
New York City

DeVry Inc. led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 6.0%. Whirlpool shares surge 14% on improved outlook. Humana first quarter earnings increase and ahead of expectations. Caterpillar swings to a first quarter profit. Hertz agrees to acquire Dollar Thrifty for $1.2 billion.

[R]11:45 AM New York - DeVry Inc. led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 6.0%. Whirlpool shares surge 14% on improved outlook. Humana''s first quarter earnings increase and ahead of expectations. Caterpillar swings to a first quarter profit. Hertz agrees to acquire Dollar Thrifty for $1.2 billion.[/R]

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 266 increased, 224 declined and 10 were unchanged.

DeVry Inc. led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 6.0% followed by losses in Citigroup Inc of 3.7% and in Roper Industries, Inc of 2.9%, in SLM Corporation of 2.9% and in Quanta Services, Inc of 2.7%.

Whirlpool Corporation led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 14.2% followed by gains in Office Depot, Inc 8.2%, in Caterpillar Inc of 5.2% and in Eastman Kodak Company 4.6%.

Other Movers

Alberto-Culver Company ((ACV)) rose 0.4% or 10 cents to $28.10 after the beauty care products maker reported second quarter sales rose 12% to $384.8 million from $344.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 7% to $30.1 million or 30 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $28.1 million or 28 cents per share a year ago.

AVX Corporation ((AVX)) added 1.8% or 27 cents to $15.31 after the supplier of a line of passive electronic components and related products reported fourth quarter sales rose 35% to $367.4 million from $271.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $46.5 million or 27 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $1.8 million or 1 cent per share a year ago.

BlackRock, Inc ((BLK)) declined 3.9% or $8.37 to $202.65 an investment management firm reported first quarter sales rose 102% to $2.0 billion from $987 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 404% to $423 million or $2.17 per diluted share compared to net income of $84 million or 62 cents per share a year ago.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP ((BWP)) rose 0.5% or 15 cents to $30.26 after the natural gas pipeline operator reported first quarter revenues rose 34.5% to $300.5 million from $223.4 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 73.7% to $90.3 million or 46 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $52.0 million or 29 cents per share a year ago.

Caterpillar Inc ((CAT)) gained 5.3% or $3.58 to $72.36 after the big equipment maker reported first quarter sales fell 11% to $8.24 billion from $9.23 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $233 million or 36 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $112 million or 19 cents per share a year ago.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd ((CHKP)) fell 1.6% or 60 cents to $35.42 after the Internet and network security provider reported first quarter sales rose 25.7% to $245.1 million from $195.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 21% to $98.0 million or 46 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $81.0 million or 38 cents per share a year ago.

CKE Restaurants, Inc ((CKE)) decreased 3.7% or 48 cents to $12.37 after the operator of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s fast-food chains announced today that, as a result of the takeover proposal submitted to the Company on April 19, by Columbia Lake Acquisition Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Apollo Management VII, L.P. the company has terminated the merger agreement previously entered into with affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and entered into a new merger agreement with Apollo, pursuant to which Apollo has agreed to acquire the Company for $12.55 per share in cash.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc ((DTG)) gained 6.4% or $2.54 to $41.39 after the car-rental company agreed to a cash-and-stock buyout by Hertz Global Holdings, valuing the company at $41 a share or $1.2 billion.

Fiserv, Inc ((FISV)) rose 2.9% or $1.61 to $55.70 on media speculation that the company sales may rise as the demand for cash machines pick up.

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc ((HTZ)) surged 15.3% or $1.97 to $14.86 after the car rental company reported first quarter sales rose 6.4% to $1.66 billion from $1.56 billion a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $150.4 million or 37 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $163.5 million or 51 cents per share a year ago.

Humana Inc ((HUM)) rose 0.8% or 39 cents to $45.92 after the health insurer reported first quarter sales rose 9.5% to $8.44 billion from $7.71 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 26% to $258.8 million or $1.52 per diluted share compared to net income of $205.7 million or $1.22 per share a year ago.

Lorillard, Inc ((LO)) rose 1.2% or 97 cents to $80.54 after the cigarette maker reported first quarter sales rose 48% to $1.36 billion from $917 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 26% to $232 million or $1.50 per diluted share compared to net income of $184 million or $1.09 per share a year ago.

The PMI Group, Inc ((PMI)) slipped 9.0% or 60 cents to $6.03 after the provider of residential mortgage insurance reported first quarter sales fell 36% to $156.6 million from $245.1 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $157 million or $1.90 per diluted share compared to net loss of $115.3 million or $1.41 per share a year ago.

Sohu.com Inc ((SOHU)) fell 1.3% or 71 cents to $52.27 an Internet company reported first quarter sales rose 12% to $129.5 million from $115.7 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 32% to $30.2 million or 73 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $44.6 million or $1.15 per share a year ago.

Travelzoo Inc ((TZOO)) surged 16.1% or $2.66 to $19.24, the Internet based travel portal and ticket seller reported first quarter sales rose 24% to $28.5 million from $23.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 640% to $2.5 million or 15 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $338,000 or 2 cents per share a year ago.

Tuesday Morning Corporation ((TUES)) plunged 12.2% or $1.06 to $7.53 after the discount homegoods retailer reported third quarter revenues rose 3% to $172 million from $167 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $4.3 million or 10 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $6.8 million or 16 cents per share a year ago.

Whirlpool Corporation ((WHR)) surged 11.5% or $11.78 to $114.00 after the appliance maker reported first quarter sales rose 19.6% to $4.27 billion from $3.57 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 141% to $164 million or $2.13 per diluted share compared to net income of $68 million or 91 cents per share a year ago.

WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc ((WX)) surged 21.7% or $3.58 to $20.15 after the Charles River Laboratories International, Inc agreed to acquire the company in cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $1.6 billion.