Potash Corp, Pactiv, Wal-Mart Rise

Bikram Pandey
17 Aug, 2010
New York City

U.S. stocks edged higher after industrials and technology stocks led the gainers. Larger-than-expected increase in industrial production lifted energy and resource producers and steelmakers. Pactiv Corp rose 5% after it agreed to a buyout. Potash Corp gained after BHP Billiton offered $130 a share.

[R]11:30 AM New York – U.S. stocks edged higher after industrials and technology stocks led the gainers. Larger-than-expected increase in industrial production lifted energy and resource producers and steelmakers. Pactiv Corp rose 5% after it agreed to a buyout. Potash Corp gained after BHP Billiton offered $130 in cash per share.[/R]

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 1% and of the stocks in the index, 28 increased and 2 declined. Home Depot led the gainers with a rise of 4% followed by increase in Alcoa Inc of 3.9%, in Caterpillar Inc of 2.9% and in du Pont of 2.8%.

Steelmakers and coal miners traded higher after industrial production increased at a faster pace in July. Peabody Energy increased 2.2%, Massey Energy Corp gained 4.2% and United States Steel Corp advanced 5.2%.

Other Movers

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ((ANF)) plunged 5.2% or $2.02 to $35.57 after the teen apparel retailer reported second quarter net sales increased 17% to $745.8 million from $637.2 million in the year ago quarter. Net income in the quarter was $19.5 million or 22 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $26.7 million or 30 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.

Agilent Technologies Inc. ((A)) soared 4.7% or $1.28 to $28.44 after the scientific instruments maker said net revenue for the third quarter rose 31% to $1.38 billion from $1.06 billion in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter was $205 million or 58 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $19 million or 6 cents per share for the year-ago quarter.

G&K Services, Inc ((GKSR)) gained 2.2% or 47 cent to $21.75 after the branded apparel net revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter was $220.2 million from $218.0 million in the same quarter last year. Net income rose in the quarter was $11.4 million or 61 cents per diluted share, compared to a net profit of $2.8 million or 16 cents per share for the year-ago quarter.

Net revenue for the fiscal 2010 was $833.59 million from $935.96 million in the period of fiscal 2009. Net income was $28.61 million or $1.56 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $72.46 million or $3.94 per share for the year-ago.

The Home Depot, Inc. ((HD)) rose 1.5% or 43 cent to $27.81 after the home improvement retailer stated second-quarter net sales edged higher 1.8% to $19.41 billion from the previous year''s revenue of $19.07 billion on comparable store sales rise of 1.7%. Net income in the quarter rose 6.8% to $1.19 billion or 72 cents per diluted share as against net income of $1.12 billion or 66 cents per share a year-ago quarter.

Pactiv Corp ((PTV)) increased after the maker of plastic trash bags agreed to be acquired by Rank Group Ltd based in New Zealand $33.25 a share

Pacific Ethanol, Inc ((PEIX)) soared 45.8% or 24 cent to 76 cent after the producer of ethanol reported second quarter net sales rose 9% to $76.8 million compared to $70.1 million a year ago quarter. Net income for the quarter was $107.8 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $28.2 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the same quarter of 2009.

Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc ((POT)) increased 25% to $140.335 after it rejected cash offer of $130 a share or $39 billion from BHP Billiton Ltd.

Radio One, Inc. ((ROIA)) increased 2.4% or 2 cent to $1.01 after the radio broadcaster reported net revenue for the second quarter rose 7.6% to $75.19 million from $69.87 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter was $2.05 million or 4 cents per diluted share, compared to a net income of $7.21 million or 12 cents per share for the year-ago quarter.

Saks Incorporated ((SKS)) rose 2.7% or 21 cent to $7.85 after the fashion retailer second quarter total sales rose 5.1% to $593.1 million from $564.5 million last year on comparable store sales rose of 4.6%. Net loss in the quarter was $32.23 million or 21 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $54.51 million or 39 cents in the prior-year period.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation ((SIX)) rose 1.3% or 47 cent to $34.20 after the amusement park operator reported second quarter revenue increased 8% to $321.3 million compared to $296.8 million a year ago quarter. Net income in the quarter was $743.5 million, or breakeven per diluted share, compared to net loss of $121.6 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago.

Trico Marine Services, Inc. ((TRMA)) plunged 13.5% or 5 cent to 32 cent after the subsea services provider said second quarter revenue was $144.6 million compared to $179.7 million a year ago quarter. Net loss in the quarter was $160.4 million, or $7.74 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago.

The TJX Companies, Inc. ((TJX)) increased 2% or 84 cent to $42.21 after the apparel and home fashions reported fiscal second quarter net sales rose 7% to $5.1 billion compared to $4.7 billion a year ago quarter. Net income for the quarter was $305 million, or 0.74 cent per diluted share, compared to net income of $262 million, or $0.61 cent per diluted share, for the same quarter of 2010.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. ((URBN)) gained 4.1% or $1.29 to $32.60 after the lifestyle specialty retailer reported second quarter net sales increased 20% to $552.0 million from $458.6 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter surged 46% to $71.7 million or 42 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $49.0 million or 29 cents per share in the prior-year quarter.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ((WMT)) rose 1.3% or 67 cent to $51.08 after the retail stores operator stated second quarter net sales rose 2.8% to $103 billion from $100 billion last year on comparable store sales decline of 1.8%. Net income in the quarter grew 3.6% to $3.59 billion or 97 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $3.47 billion or 89 cents in the prior-year period.