* Goldman Sachs falls with earnings, caution ahead
* Johnson & Johnson tops Dow gainers after results
* Steel makers lead materials sector higher
* Dow up 0.5 pct, S&P up 0.6 pct, Nasdaq up 0.4 pct (Updates with tech results after the close, adds latest volume)
By Ryan Vlastelica
NEW YORK, April 19 (Reuters) - Encouraging results from health care and materials companies lifted U.S. stocks on Tuesday, but weak earnings from Goldman Sachs limited gains in a market skeptical of the growth outlook.
Investors were reluctant to make big bets as the market readied for a spate of high-profile earnings. Volume was extremely low, with 6.65 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, below last year's daily average of 8.47 billion.
Johnson & Johnson was one of the first major names to rally following results this season, rising 3.7 percent to $62.69 after it raised its profit outlook. The health care giant was the Dow's top percentage gainer.
Offsetting that was Goldman Sachs Group Inc, which fell 1.2 percent to $151.89 after posting a steep profit drop as trading revenue fell, the latest in a number of underwhelming reports from banks. The investment bank also warned that there were fewer opportunities to make money in the current environment.
"Unless the performance of financials and tech stocks improves, then I think the market could be in store for a correction," said Marshall Front, chairman and chief investment officer oft Front Barnett Associates in Chicago. "These are important groups that point towards future economic activity."
The S&P Financial Index is down 3.8 percent from a recent high reached on April 7, while the S&P Information Technology Index is down 2 percent over the same period.
A trio of major tech companies beating revenue expectations after the market's close suggested an encouraging trend for the group. Dow component Intel Corp gained 5.7 percent to $21 in extended trading while Yahoo Inc advanced 4.5 percent to $16.85 and VMware Inc jumped 11 percent to $95.43.
International Business Machines Corp raised its full-year profit outlook after Tuesday's close, but the stock slid 1.2 percent in extended trading.
Materials were the S&P's top percentage gainers during the regular session. The rally in the materials sector came a day after Steel Dynamics forecast strong growth, lifting other steelmakers. The stock rose 5.7 percent to $18.46 while U.S. Steel Corp climbed 4.5 percent to $52.74. The S&P Materials Index rose 1.8 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 65.16 points, or 0.53 percent, to 12,266.75 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 7.48 points, or 0.57 percent, to 1,312.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 9.59 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,744.97.
The market seemed to have moved past Monday's surprising announcement that Standard & Poor's was revising its outlook downward on the United States credit rating.
"People are acknowledging that it is still very unlikely that there could be a downgrade of the U.S., but still there are a lot of concerns about what could happen with all these government debt problems," said Charles Bobrinskoy, vice chairman of Ariel Investments LLC in Chicago, which oversees about $5.5 billion.
Home builders' shares also rose after government data showed U.S. housing starts and permits for future home construction rose more than expected in March.
The Dow Jones U.S. home construction index rose 2.2 percent. PulteGroup rose 5.1 percent to $8.24 and KB Home added 3.2 percent to $11.66.
Texas Instruments Inc warned late Monday of slower-than-usual quarterly sales growth, citing damage to its factories in Japan after the huge earthquake there in March. The chipmaker's stock fell 0.7 percent to $34.54.
About two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, while on the Nasdaq, the number of advancers only slightly exceeded the number of decliners. (Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Jan Paschal)