U.S. Movers: Avon, Checkpoint, Hyatt, Legg Mason, MasterCard, Pfizer

Mukesh Buch
03 May, 2011
New York City

Avon first quarter net income surged to $143.6 million. Duke Energy first quarter net income surged to $511 million. MasterCard first quarter net income increased 23.6% to $562 million. Pfizer first quarter net income surged 10% to $2.22 billion. Stepan first quarter net income fell 9% to $18.8 mn.

[R]10:30 AM New York – Avon first quarter net income more than doubled to $143.6 million. Duke Energy first quarter net income surged to $511 million. MasterCard first quarter net income increased 23.6% to $562 million. Pfizer first quarter net income surged 10% to $2.22 billion. Stepan first quarter net income fell 9% to $18.8 million.[/R]

Of 30 the stocks in the Dow, 17 increased and 13 decreased.

Of the stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Alcoa Inc. led the gainers with a rise of 3.34% followed by increase in Bank of America Corporation of 2.03%, in Intel Corporation of 1.41%, in JPMorgan Chase & Co. of 1.17%, in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. of 0.69%.

Pfizer Inc. led the decliners with a fall of 3.45%, followed by decline in Chevron Corporation of 1.34%, in Caterpillar Inc. of 1.05%, in E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of 1.01%, in Cisco Systems, Inc. of 0.97%.

Other Movers

Avon Products, Inc. ((AVP)) surged 5.3% or $1.58 to $31.15 after the cosmetics, fragrances, skin care product reported first quarter revenue increased 7% to $2.6 billion from $2.4 billion in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter soared 238% to $143.6 million or 33 cents per diluted share compared to $42.5 million or 10 cents per share a year ago.

AGL Resources Inc. ((AGL)) rose 0.4% or 17 cents to $41.62 after the holding company reported first quarter revenues declined to $0.88 billion compared to $1.00 billion in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter decreased to $134 million or $1.59 per diluted share compared to $145 million or $1.73 per share a year ago.

Balchem Corporation ((BCPC)) rose 0.6% or 26 cents to $39.12 after the ingredients maker reported first quarter net sales increased 21.9% to $73.0 million from $59.9 million in the same quarter last year. Net earnings in the quarter soared 26.8% to $8.9 million or 30 cents per diluted share compared to $7.0 million or 24 cents per share a year ago.

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. ((CKP)) tumbled 8% or $1.64 to $18.86 after the retail security systems provider said first quarter revenue fell to $184.6 million from $187.4 million in the same quarter last year. Net loss in the quarter was $9.3 million or 23 cents per diluted share compared to net earnings of $3.5 million or 9 cents per share for the year-ago quarter.

Duke Energy Corporation ((DUK)) rose 0.5% or 10 cents to $18.90 after the energy company reported first quarter revenue increased to $3.66 billion from $3.59 billion in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter soared to $511 million or 38 cents per diluted share compared to $445 million or 34 cents per share for the year-ago quarter.

HCP, Inc. ((HCP)) decreased 1.3% or 52 cents to $39.23 after the real estate investment trust said first quarter total revenues surged to $331.7 million compared to $294.8 million in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter decreased to $63.9 million or 17 cents diluted share compared to $74.8 million or 25 cents share a year ago.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation ((H)) slipped 2.6% or $1.16 to $42.98 after the hospitality company reported first quarter total revenues declined 4.2% to $875 million compared to $841 million in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter increased to $10 million or 6 cents diluted share compared to $5 million or 3 cents share a year ago.

Legg Mason, Inc. ((LM)) declined 6.1% or $2.28 to $34.82 after the holding company said fourth quarter net revenues surged 6% to $713.4 million compared to $671.4 million in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter increased to $69.0 million or 45 cents diluted share compared to $63.6 million or 39 cents share a year ago.

MasterCard Incorporated ((MA)) gained 2.8% or $7.70 to $282.99 after the electronic payments company reported first quarter net revenues surged 14.8% to $1.5 billion compared to $1.3 billion in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter increased 23.6% to $562 million or $4.29 per diluted share compared to $455 million or $3.46 per share a year ago.

Pfizer Inc. ((PFE)) slumped 2.5% or 54 cents to $20.48 after the biopharmaceutical company reported first quarter revenues nearly flat to $16.50 billion compared to $16.57 billion in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter surged 10% to $2.22 billion or 28 cents per diluted share compared to $2.03 billion or 25 cents per share a year ago.

Rowan Companies, Inc. ((RDC)) decreased 2% or 78 cents to $39.75 after the drilling service provider reported first quarter revenues declined to $364.3 million compared to $432.4 million in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter decreased to $32.1 million or 25 cents diluted share compared to $64.6 million or 56 cents share a year ago.

Stepan Company ((SCL)) rose 0.4% or 30 cents to $70.99 after the intermediate chemicals said first quarter net sales surged 25% to $422.6 million compared to $337.0 million in the same period last year. Net income in the quarter decreased 9% to $18.8 million or $1.68 per diluted share compared to $20.7 million or $1.88 per share a year ago.

The Clorox Company ((CLX)) plunged 3.9% or $2.78 to $67.21 after the institutional product maker reported third quarter net sales surged to $1.30 billion compared to $1.29 billion in the same period last year. Net earnings in the quarter decreased to $151 million or $1.09 per diluted share compared to $165 million or $1.16 per share a year ago.

Unit Corporation ((UNT)) declined 4% or $2.46 to $59.09 after the drilling company said first quarter revenue increased to $247.4 million from $206.6 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter rose to $41.0 million or 86 cents per diluted share compared to $36.1 million or 76 cents per share a year ago.

Vornado Realty Trust ((VNO)) fell 0.4% or 46 cents to $96.38 after the real estate investment trust reported first quarter revenues surged to $737.1 million from $685.3 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter soared to $399.2 million or $2.12 per diluted share compared to $200.3 million or $1.09 per share a year ago.