U.S. Movers: Chrysler, Ford, GM, McCormick, NASDAQ

Mukesh Buch
02 Apr, 2013
New York City

Chrysler U.S. sales in March rose 5% and Ford and GM sales rose 6%. NASDAQ agreed to acquire eSpeed from BGC Partners, Inc. for $750 million in cash.

[R]11:00 AM New York – Chrysler U.S. sales in March rose 5% and Ford and GM sales rose 6%. NASDAQ agreed to acquire eSpeed from BGC Partners, Inc. for $750 million in cash.[/R]

Chrysler LLC reported March sales increased 5% to 171,606, the best monthly sales since December 2007 and 36th consecutive monthly sales growth of year-over-year sales.

Sales in the first-quarter climbed 8% compared with same quarter a year ago.

Electro Rent Corporation ((ELRC)) rose 2 cents to $18.50 after the electronic test and measurement equipments leasing company said total revenues in the third quarter ending in February jumped 7.6% to $64.7 million. Net income in the quarter were flat at $5 million or 21 cents a diluted share compared to year ago earlier.

The company said rental and lease revenues in the quarter rose 3.6% to $32.8 million and equipment and other revenues climbed 12.2% to $31.8 million.

Ford Motor Company ((F)) gained 1.8% or 24 cents to $13.14 after the automobile company set all-time monthly sales records in March, driving and the best monthly sales since May 2007.

The company said Fusion posted an all-time record monthly and quarterly sales in March with 30,284 vehicles sold for the month and 80,558 during the first quarter. Escape posted best sales month ever with 28,934 vehicles an increase of 28% from a year ago.

The overall sales in March climbed 6% with 236,160 vehicles.

General Motors Company ((GM)) slid 14 cents to $27.66 after the automotive company said vehicles in the United States in March, jumped 6% to 245,950 vehicles best in last five years.

Retail sales rose 4% and fleet sales soared 12% and the fleet mix surged 27% of total sales.

Cadillac sales jumped nearly 50% and crossovers sales surged 31%.

For the first quarter GM sales advanced 9% and retail sales were jumped 10%. Fleet sales increased 6% and fleet mix soared 26% of total sales.

McCormick & Company, Incorporated ((MKC)) gained 50 cents to $73.21 after the food product maker reported net sales in the first quarter ending on February 28 increased 3% to $934 million. Net income in the quarter rose 2% to $76 million or 57 cents a diluted share compared to $74.5 million or 55 cents.

The company added gross profit in the quarter advanced 2% to 361.7 million.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. ((SCVL)) jumped 2.8% or 57 cents to $20.77 after the footwear retailer stated net sales in the fourth quarter ending on February 2 surged 13% to $205.7 million. Comparable store sales in the quarter rose 0.5%.

Net income in the quarter declined 2% to $3.21 million or 13 cents a diluted share compared to $3.28 million or 16 cents.

The company added operating income in the quarter climbed 5% to 5.27 million.

For the first quarter, footwear retailer expects net sales between $226 million and $232 million and comparable store sales decrease in the range of 2% to 4% and diluted earnings per share between 36 cents and 44 cents.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc ((NDAQ)) plunged 10.3% or $3.31 to $28.70 after the exchange operator agreed to acquire the eSpeed from BGC Partners, Inc. for $750 million in cash and expects the transaction to close in mid of 2013.