U.S. factory orders rise 3% in June on solid aircraft orders

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Factory orders jumped 3% in June, the first gain after two consecutive monthly declines, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a gain of 2.9% for overall factory orders. Analysts had anticipated the increase because of strong demand for Boeing[S: BA] planes in the month. Aircraft orders pushed up orders for durable goods to a revised 6.4% gain in June compared with the prior estimate of a 6.5%. Orders excluding transportation orders slipped 0.2% in June. Orders for nondurables fell 0.3%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Fannie Mae CEO: We’re focused on reducing appraisal turnaround times      

By jgaffney@housingwire.com Access to smartphones is redefining consumer expectations and getting a mortgage is a “wildly different” experience for homebuyers when compared to other online transactions. And not in a good way, according to Fannie Mae CEO Timothy Mayopoulous. “With Amazon shopping one click away and streaming Netflix on your smartphone, looking for a mortgage is a wildly different digital experience,” he said in an interview this morning after reporting another profitable quarter. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

U.S. stocks open flat, Dow has risen for seven straight sessions

U.S. stocks opened flat on Thursday, with investors looking for reasons to continue pushing shares higher following a string of recent gains that have taken indexes to repeated records. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 3 points to 22,014. The blue-chip average has risen for seven straight sessions, its longest such streak since February, and it has ended at a record for the past six. The S&P 500 lost 1 point to 2,476, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3 points to 6,365. All three moved less than 0.1% on the day. Many traders are looking ahead to Friday’s highly anticipated July jobs report, which could indicate whether current valuations are justified by economic activity, as strong corporate earnings have recently been suggesting. Among the most active stocks of the day, Tesla Inc. jumped 5.9% a day after it reported a quarterly loss that was narrower than expected. The electric-car maker is up more than 60% thus far this year.

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From:: Stock Market News

Fatburger parent plans to go public, as it gauges customer interest in IPO

FAT Brands, the parent of Los Angeles-based burger chain Fatburger Corp. and Buffalo’s, announced on its website that it plans to go public, while surveying customers of their interest in an initial public offering. “Make history today with our parent company FAT Brands,” said a statement on the website. “Register your indication of interest to purchase shares in our I.P.O. by clicking below.” Fatburger operates in 5 states and 18 countries, while Buffalo has locations in two states and Qatar. An IPO would come at a tough time for shares of fast-casual burger companies. Shake Shack Inc.’s stock has lost 6.5% year to date and shares of Habit Burger Grill parent Habit Restaurants Inc. have tumbled 9.9%, while the S&P 500 has climbed 10.7%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Allergan reports Q2 profit, revenue beats

Allergan PLC reported second-quarter profit and revenue beats early Thursday. The company said it had a loss of $795.5 million, or a loss of $2.37 per share, wider than a loss of $571.3 million, or a loss of $1.44 per share in the year-earlier period. Adjusted earnings-per-share were $4.02, compared with the FactSet consensus of $3.92. Revenue rose to $4.01 billion From $3.68 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $3.95 billion. Allergan attributed revenue growth to its Botox product, which brought in $816 million in sales, above the FactSet consensus of $691 million. Revenue growth was also driven by its Juvederm fillers, new Alloderm breast reconstruction products and CoolSculpting fat-reduction product and other new products, Allergan said. These revenue increases were partly offset by lower revenues due to losing patent exclusivity on its Asacol HD and Minastrin, continued decline in dementia medication Namenda XR and lower revenues from the immunosuppressive drug Restasis, the company said. Allergan also raised its 2017 financial guidance. The company now expects 2017 revenue of $15.85 billion to $16.05 billion, above previous guidance of $15.8 billion to $16 billion. Allergan also raised its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance to between $16.05 and $16.45 from previous guidance of between $15.85 and $16.35. Allergan shares declined 0.5% in premarket trade. Shares have risen 2.6% over the last three months, compared with a 3.8% rise in the S&P 500 .

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From:: Stock Market News

Kellogg shares edge up after earnings beat

Kellogg Co. shares rose nearly 1% in Thursday premarket trading after the food company reported second quarter earnings and revenue beat expectations. Net income was $282.0 million, or 80 cents per share, up from $280.0 million, or 79 cents per share, for the same period last year. Adjusted EPS was 97 cents, beating the 92-cent FactSet consensus. Sales were $3.19 billion for the quarter, down from $3.27 billion and ahead of the $3.15 billion FactSet consensus. Kellogg shares are down 8.5% for the year so far while the S&P 500 index is up 10.7% for the period.

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From:: Stock Market News

Church & Dwight shares plummet 5.8% after Q2 profit beat, revenue miss

Church & Dwight Co. shares slid 5.8% in premarket trade Thursday after the company reported a second-quarter profit beat and revenue miss, noting discounting was affecting growth. Earnings for the latest quarter declined to $72.9 million, or 29 cents per share, from $111.6 million, or 43 cents per share in the year-earlier period. The latest results included a 12 cent charge for a previously announced U.K. pension settlement that exceeded outlook. Adjusted earnings-per-share were 41 cents, above the FactSet consensus of 39 cents. Revenue rose to $898 million from $877 million, below the FactSet consensus of $904 million. Church & Dwight manufactures household and personal care products such as detergents, cat litter and condoms. Categories are growing slower than expected because of discounting, Church & Dwight Chief Executive Matthew Farrell said, with couponing and promotional investments affecting consumer domestic sales and gross margins. The company expects 2017 EPS of $1.79 per share, above guidance of $1.75 to $1.77 per share that was given in May. Church & Dwight affirmed 2017 adjusted EPS guidance of $1.92 per share. Church & Dwight shares have risen 8.2% over the last three months, compared with a 3.8% rise in the S&P 500 .

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From:: Stock Market News

Teva’s stock plunges on heavy volume after profit miss and slashed outlook

Shares of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. plunged 10.4% in active premarket trade Thursday, after the drug maker missed fiscal second-quarter profit expectations and slashed its full-year outlook. Volume of 1.5 million shares made the stock the most actively traded ahead of the open. The net loss for the quarter to June 30 was $6.04 billion, or $5.94 a share, after a profit of $188 million, or 20 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as a $6.1 billion goodwill impairment charge related to its U.S. generics business, adjusted earnings per share came to $1.02, below the FactSet consensus of $1.05. Revenue rose to $5.69 billion from $5.04 billion, topping the FactSet consensus of $5.68 billion, but generics revenue of $3.08 billion missed expectations of $3.12 billion. Teva said its U.S. generics business suffered from accelerated price erosion and decreased volume, due primarily to customer consolidation, increased competition from increased drug approvals and delayed product launches. The company cut its 2017 adjusted EPS outlook to $4.30 to $4.50 from $4.90 to $5.30. Interim Chief Executive Yitzhak Peterburg said the company was focused on executing “meaningful cost reductions,” asset rationalization and divestiture opportunities. The stock has tumbled 13.8% year to date through Wednesday, while the SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF has gained 7.9% and the S&P 500 has climbed 10.7%.

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From:: Stock Market News