Stock Market News For Apr 17, 2019

Markets closed higher on Tuesday as investors welcomed a spate of healthy first quarter earnings results. Further, a broad-based rally in technology stocks ensured that the Nasdaq closed above the 8,000-mark. Meanwhile, the Dow and the S&P 500 also closed in the green.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) increased 0.3%, to close at 26,452.66. The S&P 500 increased almost 0.1% to close at 2,907.06. The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 8,000.23, gaining 0.3%. The fear-gauge CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) decreased 2.1% to close at 12.06. Advancers outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a 2.02-to-1 ratio. On Nasdaq, a 2.00-to-1 ratio favored advancing issues.

J&J Buoys Gains for the Dow

The Dow gained 67.9 points to close in the green. Gains for the 30-stock index were triggered by a 1.1% rally in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) . The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Johnson & Johnson’s first-quarter 2019 earnings came in at $2.10 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 and increased 1.9% from the year-ago period. Moreover, the company tightened its 2019 adjusted earnings per share guidance from a range of $8.50 - $8.65 to $8.53 - $8.63. The guidance range, however, reflects a growth rate of 4.3% - 5.5%, higher than 3.9% - 5.8% expected previously. (Read More)

Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) reported first-quarter 2019 earnings of $3.73 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.6%. The same was up 22.7% year over year. (Read More)

The stock initially rallied 2.1%, however, it fell 4% to close the session in the red. UnitedHealth was weighed down by broad-based concerns such as Trump’s “Medicare for All” proposal which could potentially hurt the insurance industry. However, the fall in UnitedHealth’s stock couldn’t mar the Dow’s run.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq Close in the Positive Territory

The S&P 500 gained 1.5 points to end in the green. Of the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, eight ended in positive territory, with financials leading the advancers. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) increased 1.4% on Tuesday. This also marked the broader index’s 12th gain in the last 14 sessions.

Gains for the S&P 500 were also supported by a 0.1% uptick in the shares of Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) . Loan growth and higher interest rates drove Bank of America’s first-quarter 2019 earnings of 70 cents per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents. Also, the figure was up 13% from the prior-year quarter. (Read More)

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq surged 24.2 points to close above the psychological 8,000 level for the first time since Oct 3, 2018. Gains for the tech-heavy index were propelled by broad-based rally in tech stocks.

Economic Data

On the economic data front, industrial production for the month of March fell 0.1% versus the consensus estimate of an increase of 0.02%. Meanwhile, capacity utilization for the same period fell to 78.8, its lowest level since July. The consensus estimate for the period was 79.1.

Further, National Association of Home Builders’ monthly confidence index surged to 63 in April from 62 in March. This marked the metric’s highest settlement in the past six months.

Stocks That Made Headlines

ExxonMobil Expands Argentina Portfolio, Wins Three Blocks

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) announced that its unit and an affiliate of Qatar Petroleum have won three exploration blocks in Argentina’s first offshore bid round. (Read More)

CSX Q1 Earnings & Revenues Surpass Estimates, Shares Gain

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) delivered first-quarter 2019 earnings, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. (Read More)

United Continental Q1 Earnings Top & Rise Y/Y, Stock Up

United Continental Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) reported better-than-expected earnings in first-quarter 2019 and became the second major U.S.-based carrier to do so after Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) on Apr 10. (Read More)

McDermott Up 12.6% as Cameron LNG Project Nears Completion

McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR) jumped 12.6% yesterday after it announced positive news regarding the Cameron LNG project, located in Hackberry, LA. (Read More)

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