Whirlpool, Barnes & Noble, Lexmark Rise

Mayank Mehta
02 Feb, 2010
New York City

Whirlpool Corp surged after it offered better than expected 2010 outlook. Barnes & Noble soared on a possible buyout from activist investor Ron Burkle. Ann Taylor reported better than expected sales. Comsys IT agreed to be acquired by Manpower.

[R]12:30 PM New York – Whirlpool Corp surged after it offered better than expected 2010 outlook. Barnes & Noble soared on a possible buyout from activist investor Ron Burkle. Ann Taylor reported better than expected sales. Comsys IT agreed to be acquired by Manpower.[/R]

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 212 increased, 278 declined and 10 were unchanged.

The Dow Chemical Company led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 5.2% followed by losses in Fifth Third Bancorp of 3.0% and in Jacobs Engineering Group Inc of 2.4%, in Amazon.com, Inc of 2.2% and in Massey Energy Company of 2.1%.

Lexmark International, Inc led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 10.8% followed by gains in Emerson Electric Co 8.1%, in D.R. Horton, Inc of 7.7% and in Cummins Inc 5.7%.

Other Movers

AeroViroment Inc ((AVAV)) dropped 9.7% to $3.07 after the maker of unmanned aircrafts for the U.S. military was downgraded to “neutral” from “buy.”

Array BioPharma Inc ((ARRY)) surged 11.6% or 28 cents to $2.68 after the biopharmaceutical company said second quarter revenues rose 24.7% to $9.6 million from $7.7 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was to $21.8 million or 44 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $37.8 million or 79 cents per share a year ago.

American Superconductor Corporation ((AMSC)) decreased 2.4% or 97 cents to $38.78 after the energy technologies company reported third quarter revenues rose 95.4% to $80.7 million from $41.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $5.2 million or 11 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $7.7 million or 18 cents per share a year ago.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp ((ANN)) surged 14.8% to $15.37 after the women’s apparel retailer said fourth quarter sales were $470 million, higher than estimates of most analysts.

Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation ((ANH)) rose 3.0% or 21 cents to $7.11 after the real estate investment trust announced that its board has authorized the company to acquire 5.85 million shares of its common stock, or approximately 5% of its total shares outstanding.

Automatic Data Processing, Inc ((ADP)) fell 0.3% or 14 cents to $40.93 after the payroll processing company reported second quarter revenues were flat at $2.2 billion. Net income in the quarter rose 5% to $315.8 million or 62 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $300.5 million or 59 cents per share a year ago.

BE Aerospace, Inc ((BEAV)) rose 0.4% or 10 cents to $23.00 after the supplier of aircraft interior products reported fourth quarter sales fell 9% to $479.4 million from $526.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $33.3 million or 33 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $253.6 million or $2.59 per share a year ago.

BP Plc ((BP)) dropped 5.3% or $3.07 to $54.16 an oil company said fourth quarter revenues rose 20.5% to $73.6 billion from $61.1 billion a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $4.3 billion or 22.64 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $3.3 billion or 17.62 cents per share a year ago.

Barnes & Noble, Inc ((BKS)) surged 6.7% or $1.25 to $19.25 after activist investor Ron Burkle asked the company to remove the takeover defense and sought the permission to increase his stake to 37% from 19%.

Comsys IT Partners, Inc ((CITP)) soared 32% to $17.46 after the professional staffing agreed to be acquired by Manpower Inc for $17.65 a share or $431 million. Manpower agreed to offer either cash or 0.332 of its share but not more than 50% of the deal value can be paid in its stock.

Cummins Inc ((CMI)) surged 7.3% to $50.36 after fourth quarter sales increased 3% to $3.40 billion and net income increased to $270 million or $1.36 a share from $43 million or 22 cents a share a year ago quarter.

D.R. Horton, Inc ((DHI)) increased 8.7% or $1.04 to $12.96 after the homebuilder reported first quarter revenues rose 22% to $1.1 billion from $900.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $192 million or 56 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $62.6 million or 20 cents per share a year ago.

Other homebuilders Pulte Homes and Lennar gained 6% on the D.R. Horton earnings report.

The Dow Chemical Company ((DOW)) fell 1.5% or 45 cents to $28.18 after the chemical maker reported fourth quarter sales increased 15% to $12.5 billion from $10.8 billion a year ago.

Emerson Electric Co ((EMR)) increased 7.3% or $2.82 to $45.30 after the technology company reported first quarter sales fell 8% to $5.01 billion from $5.45 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 7% to $425 million or 56 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $458 million or 60 cents per share a year ago.

Flagstar Bancorp, Inc ((FBC)) dropped 1.4% or 1 cent to $0.04 after the savings and loan association said fourth quarter net interest income rose 1.5% to $47.2 million from $46.5 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $71.6 million or 15 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $218.5 million or $2.62 per share a year ago.

Hologic Inc ((HOLX)) increased 8% to $16.47 after the maker of imaging and diagnostic medical products for women estimated full year 2010 adjusted profit of as much as $1.20 a share.

Lexmark International, Inc ((LXK)) surged 11.7% or $3.15 to $29.89 after the maker of small business use printers reported fourth quarter revenue increased 12% to $1.073 billion and estimated adjusted profit of at least 80 cents a share.

Manpower Inc ((MAN)) rose 3.0% or $1.63 to $54.79 after the employment services company reported fourth quarter revenues fell 4.3% to $4.4 billion from $4.6 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 61.7% to $29.1 million or 37 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $76 million or 97 cents per share a year ago.

Marathon Oil Corporation ((MRO)) fell 1.1% or 35 cents to $30.28 after the oil company reported fourth quarter revenues rose 9.5% to $16.1 billion from $14.7 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $355 million or 50 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $41 million or 6 cents per share a year ago.

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc ((PLC)) rose 1.3% or 50 cents to $37.25 after the timberland owner said fourth quarter revenues fell 44% to $258 million from $461 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 70.5% to $28 million or 17 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $95 million or 57 cents per share a year ago.

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated ((RGA)) added 0.2% or 13 cents to $49.25 after the insurance company said fourth quarter revenues rose 40.6% to $1.94 billion from $1.38 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $112.4 million or $1.52 per diluted share compared to net income of $9.4 million or 14 cents per share a year ago.

Rent-A-Center, Inc ((RCII)) gained 2.6% or 53 cents to $20.60 after the rent-to-own operator said fourth quarter revenues fell 4% to $672.9 million from $699.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 21% to $43.7 million or 66 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $36.1 million or 54 cents per share a year ago.

Steris Corporation ((STE)) the maker of sterilization products for use in medical settings increased 8.6% or $2.26 to $28.34.

Tupperware Brands Corporation ((TUP)) increased 2.1% or 92 cents to $43.38 after the direct seller of consumer products said fourth quarter sales rose 20% to $626 million from $521.7 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 28% to $84.1 million or $1.31 per diluted share compared to net income of $65.8 million or $1.05 per share a year ago.

Unica Corporation ((UNCA)) fell 0.3% or 3 cents to $7.90 after the provider of software and services said first quarter revenues fell 4% to $25.1 million from $26.1 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $1.8 million or 8 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $4.1 million or 20 cents per share a year ago.

Whirlpool Corp ((WHR)) increased 6.3% to $80.83 after it estimated adjusted full year 2010 profit per share between $6.50 and $7.00. in the fourth quarter 2009 sales increased 13% to $4.9 billion and earnings were $95 million compared to $44 million a year ago. Earnings per share in the quarter increased to $1.24 from 60 cents a year ago.