Agilent, Kirkland

Mayank Mehta
18 May, 2010
New York City

Forest Laboratories, Inc. led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 4.7%. TJX Companies profit climbs 58%. Abercrombie & Fitch narrows quarterly loss. Home Depot net rises stronger-than-expected 41%. Agilent swings to second quarter profit.

[R]11:00 AM New York - Forest Laboratories, Inc. led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 4.7%. TJX Companies profit climbs 58%. Abercrombie & Fitch narrows quarterly loss. Home Depot net rises stronger-than-expected 41%. Agilent swings to second quarter profit.[/R]

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 440 increased, 54 declined and 6 were unchanged.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 5.3% followed by losses in Agilent Technologies, Inc. of 4.1% and in The TJX Companies, Inc. of 2.2%, in BB&T Corporation of 2.0% and in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. of 1.9%.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 4.7% followed by gains in Sprint Nextel Corporation of 4.4%, in Titanium Metals Corporation of 4.3% and in Wynn Resorts, Limited of 4.1%.

Other Movers

Agilent Technologies, Inc. ((A)) decreased 2.0% or 69 cents to $33.50. The measurement company said second quarter revenues rose 16.5% to $1.27 billion from $1.09 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $108 million or 31 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $101 million or 29 cents per share a year ago.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ((ANF)) fell 0.2% or 8 cents to $40.71. The specialty retailer reported first quarter sales rose 14.3% to $687.8 million from $601.7 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $11.8 million or 13 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $59.2 million or 26 cents per share a year ago.

Ambac Financial Group, Inc. ((ABK)) decreased 8.2% or 12 cents to $1.34 after the finance company reported first quarter revenues loss of $499.1 million from income of $1.12 billion a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $690.1 million or $2.39 per diluted share compared to net loss of $392.2 million or $1.36 per share a year ago.

The Boeing Company ((BA)), the aerospace company rose 0.01% or 1 cent to $69.68.

Bluegreen Corporation ((BXG)) rose 2.7% or 15 cents to $5.61. The provider of places to live and play said first quarter sales fell 43% to $26.2 million from $45.9 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $7.9 million or 25 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $3.6 million or 11 cents per share a year ago.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. ((DKS)) added 1.8% or 53 cents to $29.01 after the sporting goods retailer reported first quarter sales rose 9.5% to $1.05 billion from $959.7 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 157% to $26.2 million or 22 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $10.2 million or 9 cents per share a year ago.

Ezcorp, Inc. ((EZPW)), the short-term cash lender dropped 2.0% or 39 cents to $18.59.

Giant Interactive Group Inc. ((GA)) fell 1.7% or 13 cents to $7.25 after the online game maker said first quarter sales fell 18.5% to Rmb 304.4 million from Rmb 373.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 20% to Rmb 185.2 million or Rmb 0.79 per diluted share compared to net income of Rmb 232 million or Rmb 0.99 per share a year ago.

The Home Depot, Inc. ((HD)) rose 0.5% or 21 cents to $35.70 after the home improvement retailer reported first quarter sales rose 4.3% to $16.86 billion from $16.18 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 41% to $725 million or 43 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $514 million or 30 cents per share a year ago.

Independence Holding Company ((IHC)) rose 0.6% or 5 cents $7.76 after the life and health insurance company said first quarter sales rose 18% to $116.4 million from $98.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 416% to $16.0 million or $1.04 per diluted share compared to net income of $3.1 million or 20 cents per share a year ago.

Kraft Foods Inc. ((KFT)), the packaged food products manufacturer and marketer rose 1.7% or 52 cents to $30.55.

Kirkland’s, Inc. ((KIRK)) fell 1.8% or 42 cents to $22.68. The specialty retailer of home décor reported first quarter sales rose 12% to $93.5 million from $83.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 85.7% to $6.5 million or 32 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $3.5 million or 17 cents per share a year ago.

MGM Mirage ((MGM)), a holding company engaged in gaming, hospitality and entertainment gained 4.2% or 57 cents to $13.89.

QAD Inc. ((QADI)) declined 8.2% or 47 cents to $5.24 after the maker of logistics software for manufacturers said net income for the fiscal 2010 fourth quarter was $0.7 million or 2 cents per diluted share compared with a net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 of $19.7 million or 64 cents per share.

Saks Incorporated ((SKS)) added 3.2% or 30 cents to $9.64 after the fashion retailer reported first quarter sales rose 7% to $667.4 million from $624.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $18.8 million or 11 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $5.1 million or 4 cents per share a year ago.

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group ((SCR)) rose 0.3% or 3 cents to $8.09 after the manufacturer and supplier of branded generic pharmaceuticals reported first quarter revenues rose 3.7% to Rmb 458.7 million from Rmb 442.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 57.5% to Rmb 20.5 million or Rmb 0.36 per ADS compared to net income of Rmb 48.2 million or Rmb 0.80 per ADS a year ago.

Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. ((SPRD)) surged 16.0% or $1.31 to $9.49 after the fabless semiconductor company said first quarter revenues rose 534% to $52.1 million from $8.2 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $6.6 million or 13 cents per ADS compared to net loss of $8.3 million or 19 cents per ADS a year ago.

SINA Corporation ((SINA)) added 3.3% or $1.15 to $36.00 after the online media company said first quarter sales rose 15% to $85.0 million from $73.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 151.5% to $24.4 million or 37 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $9.7 million or 17 cents per share a year ago.

The TJX Companies, Inc. ((TJX)) fell 2.7% or $1.25 to $44.00. The off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions reported first quarter sales rose 15.4% to $5.02 billion from $4.35 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 58.4% to $331.4 million or 80 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $209.2 million or 49 cents per share a year ago.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ((WMT)) rose 2.7% or $1.48 to $54.21 after the retailer reported first quarter sales rose 6% to $99.1 billion from $93.5 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 10% to $3.3 billion or 88 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $3.0 billion or 77 cents per share a year ago.