U.S. stocks open higher; Dow gains 50 points

U.S. stocks opened slightly higher Thursday, shrugging off economic reports and a rout in China’s stock market and falling oil prices. The S&P 500 opened 7 points, or 0.4%, higher at 1,937. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 50 points, or 0.4%, to 16,541. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite began the day up 15 points, or 0.3%, at 4,557.

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Cablevision Q4 earnings, revenue fall below expectations

Shares of Cablevision Systems Corp. were down less than 1% in premarket trade after the company reported net income of $32.15 million, or 12 cents per share for the fourth quarter. That’s a significant decline compared with earnings of $55.98 million, or 21 cents per share in the year earlier period. The FactSet consensus for per share earnings during the quarter was 14 cents. Revenue for the quarter was $1.629 billion, a less than 1% decline compared with last year’s $1.631 billion. FactSet’s revenue consensus was $1.64 billion. Cable subscribers declined by 10,000, but that was offset by an addisition of 25,000 Internet subscribers. The cable, phone and Internet provider added 13,000 total customers in the quarter across all services. Cablevision suspended its share buyback program and doesn’t plan to pay any dividends as it as awaits its acquisition by Altice to close. The company expects the deal to close during the second quarter.

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AMC Networks beats on revenue, driven by AMC advertising

AMC Networks Inc. shares are up 1% in premarket trading after the company announced revenue that beat expectations, driven by advertising on the AMC channel. AMC said it had net income of $90 million, or $1.23 per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $78 million, or $1.06 per share, for the same period last year. The FactSet consensus was $1.23. Revenue for the quarter was $679 million, up from $609 million last year and exceeding the FactSet consensus of $675 million. AMC’s networks include AMC, WE tv, BBC America, IFC and SundanceTV. Revenue growth was led by a 13.4% increase in advertising revenue to $289 million, the company said in a Thursday release, largely from AMC, which airs programs including “The Walking Dead” and “Better Call Saul.” AMC Networks shares are down 5.2% for the year so far, but up 2.4% for the past year. The S&P 500 is is down 5.6% for the year-to-date.

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AMC Networks beats on revenue, driven by AMC advertising

AMC Networks Inc. shares are up 1% in premarket trading after the company announced revenue that beat expectations, driven by advertising on the AMC channel. AMC said it had net income of $90 million, or $1.23 per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $78 million, or $1.06 per share, for the same period last year. The FactSet consensus was $1.23. Revenue for the quarter was $679 million, up from $609 million last year and exceeding the FactSet consensus of $675 million. AMC’s networks include AMC, WE tv, BBC America, IFC and SundanceTV. Revenue growth was led by a 13.4% increase in advertising revenue to $289 million, the company said in a Thursday release, largely from AMC, which airs programs including “The Walking Dead” and “Better Call Saul.” AMC Networks shares are down 5.2% for the year so far, but up 2.4% for the past year. The S&P 500 is is down 5.6% for the year-to-date.

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McKesson agrees to buy Vantage Oncology and Biologics in $1.2 billion deals

McKesson Corp. said Thursday it has agreed to acquire Vantage Oncology LLC and Biologics Inc. in two transactions valued at $1.2 billion. McKesson said it will fund the deals with a mix of cash and debt and expects it to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The deals will boost McKesson’s specialty pharmaceuticals distribution and oncology-based offerings.” We will also be able to offer additional value-added services to our manufacturer partners, expand our reach and pharmaceutical distribution scale, and provide care management and care coordination for payers as the industry moves towards value-based reimbursement models,” Chief Executive John Hammergren said in a statement. The company is expecting the deal to add 11 cents to fiscal 2017 adjusted per-share earnings. McKesson shares rose 3.5% in premarket trade, but are down 33% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has fallen 9%.

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Team Health’s stock surges after Jana Partners discloses large stake

Team Health Holding Inc.’s stock surged 6.9% in premarket trade Thursday, after the healthcare staffing company disclosed that private-equity firm Jana Partners acquired an 8% stake in the company. That would make Jana the second-largest shareholder, according to FactSet. Regulatory filings showed that Jana bought 5.9 million shares of Team Health in a series of transactions from Jan. 6 through Feb. 24, at prices ranging from a low of $33.92 to a high $44.91. Jana said in the filing that it believes Team Health shares are “undervalued,” after the company made “missteps in critical areas” including capital allocation, strategy and governance. Team Health’s stock has tumbled 33% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 has lost 7.6%.

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Kohl’s earnings beat expectations, announces share buyback program

Kohl’s Corp. said it had net income of $296 million, or $1.58 per share, for the the fourth quarter, down from $369 million, or $1.83 for the same period last year. The FactSet consensus was $1.55. Revenue for the quarter totaled $6.4 billion, up from $6.3 billion in 2014, and meeting the FactSet consensus. Comparable-store sales were up 0.4%, also meeting the FactSet estimate. The company said in the Thursday release that it plans to open seven smaller format pilot stores across the country, as well as two added Off-Aisle pilot stores in Wisconsin. And the retailer is entering the outlet space with 12 Fila brand stores. The company will close 18 underperforming stores, representing less than 1% of total sales and incur between $150 million and $170 million in charges. Between $55 million and $65 million of that charge will be reported in the first quarter. Kohl’s expects fiscal 2016 earnings between $4.05 and $4.25, above the $3.99 FactSet estimate. Comparable sales are expected to be flat to 1%. The company plans $600 million in share repurchases at an average price of $50 per share. Kohl’s stock is inactive in premarket trading, but is down 35.9% for the past year. The S&P 500 is down 8.7% for the past 12 months.

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Best Buy’s stock drops after disappointing outlook offsets profit beat, capital return moves

Best Buy Co. Inc.’s stock slumped 3.3% in premarket trade Thursday, after the consumer electronics retailer provided a downbeat profit outlook, offsetting better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results and new capital return measures. For the quarter ended Jan. 30, earnings declined to $479 million, or $1.40 a share, from $519 million, or $1.46 a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted earnings per share came to $1.53, above the FactSet consensus of $1.39. Revenue fell to $13.62 billion from $14.21 billion, but beat the FactSet consensus of $13.61 billion. Domestic same-store sales declined 1.8%, missing the FactSet consensus of a 1.1% decline. For its fiscal first quarter, adjusted EPS is expected to be 31 cents to 35 cents, below the FactSet consensus of 39 cents. Domestic same-store sales are seen falling 1% to 2% compared with the FactSet consensus of a 0.1% drop. Separately, Best Buy announced a 22% increase in its quarterly dividend to 28 cents a share, a new $1 billion stock repurchase program and a special dividend of 45 cents a share related to legal settlements and asset disposals. The stock has lost 1.5% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 has slipped 7.6%.

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