Lockheed beats estimates as it buys Sikorsky, mulls spinoff or sale of other businesses

Lockheed Martin said Monday it had net earnings of $929 million, or $2.94 a share, in the second quarter, up from $889 million, or 2.76 a share, in the year-earlier period. Sales rose to $11.6 billion from $11.3 billion. The results were better than the FactSet consensus for EPS of $2.66 and sales of $10.9 billion. The defense company, which said it is buying Sikorsky helicopters from United Technologies Inc. for $9.0 billion in cash, said it is also launching a strategic review of its government IT and technical services businesses. Lockheed expects the review to result in a spinoff or sale of the businesses and expects to conclude the review this year. The programs to be reviewed represent about $6.0 billion in estimated 2015 annual sales and about 17,000 employees, said the company. Shares were not yet active in premarket trade, but are up 4.4% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained 3.3%.

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Lockheed to buy United Technologies Sikorsky business for $9 billion

Lockheed Martin Corp. announced on Monday a deal to buy United Technologies Corp.’s Sikorsky Aircraft business for $9 billion. Including a tax benefit, the present value of the deal is $7.1 billion. The companies expect the deal to close by late in the fourth quarter of this year, or early in the first quarter of 2016. Lockheed said the deal will have no impact on its plans to return cash to shareholders. United Technologies said its board has authorized the buyback of up to 75 million shares, which would be worth about $8.3 billion based on Friday’s closing price. Separately, Lockheed Martin said it will conduct a review of its government information technology and technical services businesses, which employ more than 17,000 people. “As global security market dynamics shift, this review will strengthen our competitive posture, enabling sustained, profitable growth and positioning Lockheed Martin to deliver value for customers, shareholders and employees,” said Lockheed Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson. United Technologies stock gained 1.1% in light premarket trade, while Lockheed shares were still inactive.

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SunEdison to buy Vivint Solar in $2.2 billion deal

Renewable energy company SunEdison Inc. said Monday it has agreed to acquire residential solar systems company Vivint Solar for about $2.2 billion in cash, stock and convertible notes. As part of the agreement, TerraForm Power , an owner of clean energy power plants, will acquire Vivint’s rooftop solar portfolio for $922 million in cash. The portfolio comprises 523 megawatts expected to be installed by year end. TerraForm will acquire future residential and commercial projects from SunEdison, which is expanding its residential and small commercial business unit. “SunEdison’s acquisition of Vivint Solar is a logical next step in the transformation of our platform after the successful execution of our First Wind acquisition in January 2015,” Chief Executive Ahmad Chatila said in a statement. SunEdison is now expecting to generate 4,200 megawatts to 4,500 megawatts in 2016, up 50% from prior guidance. Vivint shares surged 40% in premarket trade, while SunEdison slid 0.9% and TerraForm was not yet active.

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Morgan Stanley profit, revenue top estimates

Morgan Stanley said Monday it had net income of $1.81 billion, or 85 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared with $1.89 billion, or 92 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding a debt valuation adjustment, per-share earnings came to 79 cents. Revenue totaled $9.7 billion, compared with $8.6 billion a year ago. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 73 cents and revenue of $9.1 billion. Revenue from institutional securities came to $5.2 billion, up from $4.2 billion a year ago, buoyed by a strong performance in equity sales and trading, investment banking and an improved performance in fixed income, currencies and commodities sales and trading. The bank continues to be ranked number 1 in global IPOs and number 2 in global announced M&A. Wealth management revenues came to $3.9 billion, up from $3.7 billion, and investment management revenues rose to $751 million from $705 million. Shares were up nearly 4% in light premarket volumes, and are up 3.6% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained 3.3%.

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Halliburton’s stock surges after profit, revenue beat expectations

Halliburton Co.’s stock climbed 2.5% in premarket trade Monday, after the oil services company reported profit and sales that fell much less than expected. Net earnings fell to $54 million, or 6 cents a share, from $774 million, or 91 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as charges relted to severance costs and asset write offs as a result of the downturn in the energy market, adjusted earnings per share slipped to 44 cents from 49 cents, but beat the FactSet consensus of 29 cents. Revenue dropped to $5.92 billion from $8.05 billion, but was above the FactSet consensus of $5.8 billion. Separately, Chief Executive Dave Lesar said the company has received the initial rounds of bids on previously-announced divestitures, related to the acquisition of Baker Hughes, “and are pleased with the prices and level of interest.” Lesar said he remains “fully committed” to closing the deal, and expects to achieve cost synergies of nearly $2 billion. The stock has tumbled 16% year to date through Friday, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.3%.

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Hasbro beats profit, sales expectations

Toy maker Hasbro Inc. reported a second-quarter profit that rose to $41.8 million, or 33 cents a share, from $33.5 million, or 26 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. That beat the FactSet earnings-per-share consensus of 29 cents. Revenue fell 4% to $797.7 million, above the FactSet consensus of $774 million, as gains in Hasbro franchise brand Nerf, Marvel and Star Wars products, and shipments of Jurassic World products, helped offset declines in games and girls categories. “Our second quarter results came with numerous challenges, including a significant negative foreign exchange impact and difficult year-over-year comparisons in several brands,” said Chief Financial Officer Deborah Thomas. “Even with these challenges, we delivered a strong second quarter and a good first half of 2015. We continue to make important investments across our business to promote brand initiatives and to further improve the global efficiency of Hasbro.” The stock, which was mostly inactive in premarket trade, had climbed 5.5% over the past three months, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.3%.

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Cal-Maine profit, sales lag estimates

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. said Monday it had net income of $46.1 million, or 95 cents a share, in its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with $31.5 million, or 65 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Sales came to $403 million, up from $371.6 million. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of $1.04 and sales of $420 million. Chief Executive Dolph Baker said total dozen shell eggs sold rose 6.2%, while average selling prices were up 2.6% from the year-earlier quarter.The recent outbreak of avian flu in the upper Midwestern U.S. have reduced the national flock by more than 40 million laying hens and pullets, or 13% of the total, he said. There have been no positive tests for the disease at any of the Cal-Maine Foods locations, but the company has increased biosecurity measures at every location. “We are also working closely with the egg industry associations and government health officials to identify ways to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks,” he said. Shares were down 0.2% in premarket trade, but are up 38% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained 3.3%.

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Barclays plans to cut 30,000 jobs: reports

Barclays PLC plans to cut more than 30,000 of its staff within two years as the ailing bank steps up its cost-cutting efforts, according to reports from The Times of London and others. The reductions would take the bank’s worldwide workforce under 100,000 by the end of 2017, and they are considered the only way to address the bank’s chronic underperformance and double its share price, The Times said. The reports about job cuts come after last week’s news that the bank’s deputy chairman, Michael Rake, has become chairman of payments company Worldpay.

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Greek banks reopen after three-week closure

Banks in Greece opened Monday for the first time in three weeks, media reports said. Capital controls remain in place, and customers are now restricted to withdrawals of 420 euros ($456) a week, rather than the €60 a day previously imposed. Other restrictions, such as on sending money overseas, are still in force. Greek banks have been shuttered since June 29, after the European Central Bank capped emergency liquidity assistance to the institutions. Greece faces a €4.2 billion debt payment to the ECB on Monday, which Athens is expected to repay using an EU bridge loan of €7.16 billion approved on Friday.

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China stocks reach for third day of gains

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Chinese stocks added to recent gains Monday morning, looking to extend a three-day winning streak after the Chinese government’s recent, drastic supportive measures. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.4%, adding to a 2.1% advance the previous week. The rise came amid news that margin lending in mainland China increased slightly by 7.05 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) to 1.43 trillion yuan on Friday, according to the latest statistics released by the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index edged up 0.2%, with the mainland-China-tracking Hang Seng China Enterprises Index nudging 0.1% higher. Index heavyweight Tencent Holdings Ltd. climbed 2.3%, after 10 central-government agencies, including the central bank, securities regulator and police department, jointly issued guidelines on Internet finance, specifying policies on how to further develop the emerging industry. Other Internet-related stocks rallied, with online-transaction-service provider China Binary Sale Technology Ltd. surging 6%, software developer Kingdee International Software Group up 5.9%, and larger rival Kingsoft Corp. ahead by 3.5%. However, mainland banks were mixed, as China Merchants Bank Co. dropped 0.5%, and Bank of Communications Co. fell 0.4%, while Bank of China Ltd. rose 0.7%, and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. traded flat. Meanwhile, gold stocks took heavy losses, as Lingbao Gold Co. and Zijin Mining Group Co. lost 4.4% and 3.8%, respectively, after intertional gold prices dropped to a more-than-five-year low at the end of last week.

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