Visa, Macy's Gap Rise; MasterCard, Moody's Fall

Mayank Mehta
04 Feb, 2010
New York City

Starwood Hotels & Resort led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 8.3%. Ameriprise returns to profit on higher fees. International growth boosts Yum Brands. Visa quarterly net income jumps 33%. MasterCard plunges. Same store sales and outlook lifts Gap, Macy

[R]1:00 PM New York – Starwood Hotels & Resort led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 8.3%. Ameriprise returns to profit on higher fees. International growth boosts Yum Brands. Visa quarterly net income jumps 33%. MasterCard plunges. Same store sales and outlook lifts Gap, Macy’s and Abercrombie & Fitch.[/R]

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 41 increased, 457 declined and 2 were unchanged.

Monster Worldwide, Inc led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 15.4% followed by losses in MEMC Electronic Materials Inc of 6.3% and in MasterCard Incorporated of 5.9%, in Moody’s Corporation of 5.2% and in Cliffs Natural Resources Inc of 5.0%.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 8.3% followed by gains in Abercrombie & Fitch Co 6.0%, in The Gap, Inc of 4.7% and in Macy''s, Inc 4.5%.

Other Movers

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ((ANF)) increased 4.5% to $33.41 after the teenage apparel retailer same stores sales in January increased 8%.

Affymetrix, Inc ((AFFX)) surged 18.8% or $1.07 to $6.74 after the genetic data analysis instrument maker said fourth quarter revenues rose 13% to $88.8 million from $78.6 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $2.8 million or 4 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $318.7 million or $4.65 per share a year ago.

Allergan, Inc ((AGN)) dropped 0.2% or 16 cents to $56.61 after the multi-specialty health care company reported fourth quarter revenues rose 15% to $1.22 billion from $1.06 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 51% to $221.5 million or 72 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $146.6 million or 48 cents per share a year ago.

Akamai Technologies, Inc ((AKAM)) decreased 4.8% or $1.29 to $25.21 after the Internet content delivery company said fourth quarter revenues rose 12% to $238.3 million from $212.6 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 1% to $40.1 million or 21 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $40.5 million or 22 cents per share a year ago.

Alliant Energy Corporation ((LNT)) fell 0.5% or 16 cents to $31.44 after the utility company reported fourth quarter revenues fell 3% to $854.9 million from $882.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 6% to $53.6 million or 49 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $50.6 million or 46 cents per share a year ago.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc ((AMP)) fell 1.9% or 79 cents to $39.19 after the asset manager and broker said fourth quarter revenues rose 69.4% to $2.27 billion from $1.34 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $237 million or 90 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $369 million or 1.69 per share a year ago.

Assurant, Inc ((AIZ)) dropped 1.4% or 45 cents to $31.66 after the provider of specialty insurance said fourth quarter revenues fell 2% to $2.18 billion from $2.22 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 93.5% to $11.9 million or 10 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $182.4 million or $1.55 per share a year ago.

Avon Products, Inc ((AVP)) fell 4.3% or $1.45 to $31.15 after the door-to-door cosmetic seller reported fourth quarter revenue increased 13% to $3.2 billion from $2.8 billion a year ago.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc ((BRK)) declined 1.4% to $73.48 after the insurance and industrial conglomerate filed to sell $8 billion in debt offering to fund its acquisition of Burlington Northern for $26 billion.

Blackboard Inc ((BBBB)) fell 1.1% or 48 cents to $40.19 after the educational software maker said fourth quarter revenues rose 17.6% to $100.0 million from $85.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 327.8% to $7.7 million or 23 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $1.8 million or 6 cents per share a year ago.

Bristow Group Inc ((BRS)) advanced 1.1% or 41 cents to $37.66 after the helicopter company said third quarter revenues rose 7% to $303.3 million from $283.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 39.3% to $26.7 million or 74 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $44.0 million or $1.32 per share a year ago.

Bunge Limited ((BU)) decreased 4.9% or $3.00 to $57.50 after the agribusiness and food company reported fourth quarter sales fell 4.5% to $10.4 billion from $10.9 billion a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $28 million or 21 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $230 million or $1.89 per share a year ago.

Burger King Holdings, Inc ((BKC)) gained 5.1% or 90 cents to $18.40 after the fast food hamburger restaurant reported second quarter revenues rose 2% to $645.4 million from $634.1 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 13.3% to $50.2 million or 37 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $44.3 million or 33 cents per share a year ago.

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc ((CBG)) fell 0.8% or 11 cents to $13.58 after the commercial real estate services firm said fourth quarter revenues rose 1.6% to $1.3 billion from $1.28 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $64.3 million or 21 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $1.1 billion or $4.70 per share a year ago.

Cisco Systems, Inc ((CSCO)) increased 3.1% or 68 cents to $23.75 after the maker of computer networking equipment said second quarter sales rose 7.7% to $9.8 billion from $9.1 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 26.6% to $1.9 billion or 32 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $1.5 billion or 26 cents per share a year ago.

Cigna Corporation ((CI)) increased 1.0% or 41 cents to $35.17 an investor-owned health service organization reported fourth quarter revenues fell 3.7% to $4.64 billion from $4.82 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $330 million or 1.19 per diluted share compared to net loss of $209 million or 77 cents per share a year ago.

The Clorox Company ((CLX)) rose 0.9% or 56 cents to $61.22 after the household products maker reported second quarter sales rose 5% to $1.28 billion from $1.22 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 28% to $110 million or 77 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $86 million or 61 cents per share a year ago.

CME Group Inc ((CME)) fell 1.5% or $4.52 to $287.59 after the operator of futures exchanges reported fourth quarter revenues fell 4% to $667.5 million from $691.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 226% to $202.6 million or $3.04 per diluted share compared to net income of $62.1 million or 93 cents per share a year ago.

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc ((DO)) slipped 5.1% or $4.97 to $90.81 after the oil and gas rig contractor reported fourth quarter revenues fell 1.4% to $890.8 million from $903.2 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 6% to $276.1 million or $1.98 per diluted share compared to net income of $293.3 million or $2.11 per share a year ago.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc ((DLB)) rose 3.0% or 68 cents to $23.75 after the audio technology licensor said first quarter revenues rose 22.7% to $221.2 million from $180.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 11.5% to $69.1 million or 59 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $78.1 million or 68 cents per share a year ago.

DynCorp International Inc ((DCP)) dropped 3.8% or 47 cents to $11.64 after the provider of specialized mission-critical services said third quarter revenues rose 15.5% to $915 million from $792.3 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 3% to $20.4 million or 36 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $19.8 million or 34 cents per share a year ago.

Equifax Inc ((EFX)) fell 0.1% or 5 cents to $32.99 after the provider of credit histories and other background data said fourth quarter revenues rose 4% to $464.3 million from $446.6 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 6% to $60.2 million or 47 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $64.0 million or 50 cents per share a year ago.

Fidelity National Financial, Inc ((FNF)) gained 2.8% or 37 cents to $13.39 after the title insurer said fourth quarter revenues rose 46% to $1.46 billion from $998.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $69.3 million or 30 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $14.9 million or 7 cents per share a year ago.

Gap Inc ((GPS)) increased 3% to $19.60 after it reported same store sales increased 5% in January. The apparel retailer also said its fourth quarter earnings per share are likely to be between 49 cents and 51 cents, ahead of most analysts’ expectations.

Kellogg Company ((K)) dropped 3.8% or $2.09 to $53.10 after the breakfast-cereal maker reported full-year $1.2 billion or $3.16 per diluted share.

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc ((WFR)) plunged 11% to $11.99 after the solar systems chip maker reported adjusted fourth quarter earnings per share of 1 cent.

Macy’s Inc increased 2.4% to $16.61 after the department store retailer estimated full year earnings per share between $1.36 and $1.38.

MasterCard Incorporated ((MA)) fell 7.3% or $18.14 to $229.67 after the payments network reported fourth quarter net income $294 million or $2.24 per diluted share.

Moody’s Corporation ((MCO)) decreased 4.9% to $26.72 after the provider of credit ratings reported fourth quarter sales rose 20% to $485.8 million from $403.7 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 15% to $101.9 million or 43 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $88.7 million or 37 cents per share a year ago.

Monster Worldwide Inc ((MWW)) tumbled 17% to $13.45 after it reported fourth quarter loss of1 cents per share. The online recruitment company also agreed to acquire Yahoo! HotJobs for $225 million.

Novellus Systems, Inc ((NVLS)) slipped 0.3% or 7 cents to $21.98 after the maker of equipment for producing computer chips said fourth quarter sales rose 29.5% to $244.2 million from $188.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $35.2 million or 36 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $130.3 million or $1.36 per share a year ago.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc ((HOT)) increased 5.2% to $37.26 after it reported fourth quarter sales fell 1.5% to $1.28 billion from $1.30 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $107 million or 59 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $79 million or 44 cents per share a year ago.

Visa Inc ((V)) increased 3.4% or $2.85 to $86.40 after the payment processing company said first quarter revenues rose 12.6% to $1.96 billion from $1.74 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 33% to $763 million or $1.02 per diluted share compared to net income of $574 million or 74 cents per share a year ago.

Walter Energy, Inc ((WLT)) rose 0.5% or 37 cents to $69.01 after the thermal coal producer said fourth quarter sales fell 35.3% to $236.3 million from $365.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 88% to $29.2 million or 54 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $240.3 million or $4.37 per share a year ago.

Willis Group Holdings PLC ((WSH)) rose 1.7% or 46 cents to $27.42 after the insurance broker said fourth quarter revenues rose 4% to $824 million from $792 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 27.4% to $79 million or 47 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $62 million or 37 cents per share a year ago.

YUM! Brands, Inc ((YUM)) fell 1.2% or 44 cents to $34.90 after the fast-food operator said fourth quarter revenues fell 0.6% to $3.37 billion from $3.39 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 6% to $216 million or 45 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $204 million or 43 cents per share a year ago.