Stock Market Today: August 15th - 19th

Early movers: HD, DKS, AAP, COTY, HAIN, PX, BHP, AET, AIG, AAPL & more

Home Depot — The home improvement retailer had an all-around in-line quarter, matching estimates with earnings of $1.97 per share. The company essentially equaled forecasts for revenue and comparable-store sales, as well. Home Depot also raised its earnings forecast for the year to $6.31 per share from $6.27, just below the current consensus estimate of $6.32 a share.

Dick's Sporting Goods — The sporting goods retailer beat estimates by 13 cents a share, with quarterly profit of 82 cents per share. Revenue beat estimates, as well. The company also sees a full-year profit of $2.90 to $3.05 per share, above the current consensus of $2.84 a share. Dick's said it was especially pleased with the quarter's performance in light of liquidation activity by bankrupt rival Sports Authority.

Advance Auto Parts — The auto parts retailer reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.90 per share, missing estimates of $2.12 a share. Revenue topped Street forecasts, however, and comparable-store sales fell 4.1 percent. Chief Executive Officer Tom Greco termed the quarter's performance "not acceptable," although he added that the necessary changes to improve performance were being implemented.

Coty — The beauty products maker earned an adjusted 13 cents per share for its fiscal fourth quarter, 7 cents a share above estimates. Revenue was slightly above forecasts. Coty said it is being helped by recently completed acquisitions and is focusing on the upcoming integration of the P&G Beauty Brands business.

Hain Celestial — The organic food maker announced a delay in its annual earnings report because of accounting issue. Hain also said it did not expect to reach prior targets for sales or profit for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Praxair — Praxair is in talks to buy rival industrial gas supplier Linde, according to Reuters. The talks to buy Praxair's German peer are in the early stages, but would create a company worth more than $60 billion if the deal takes place.

BHP Billiton — BHP reported a record $6.4 billion loss for its just-concluded fiscal year, hurt by slumping commodity prices, the dam disaster in Brazil, and other factors. However, the mining company gave an upbeat growth and cash flow forecast for fiscal 2017.

Aetna — Aetna will withdraw from 11 of the 15 states where it offers Affordable Care Act coverage. Aetna said the move was designed to limit the health insurer's financial exposure moving forward.

AIG — AIG has struck a deal to sell mortgage guaranty unit United Guaranty to Arch Capital Group for about $3.4 billion in cash and stock. Dow Jones had reported Monday that such a deal was imminent.

Volkswagen — VW and the Justice Department have held settlement talks to resolve the criminal probe surrounding the automaker's diesel admissions scandal, according to Reuters.

Apple — Apple is the subject of another bullish bet by Berkshire Hathaway, according to Berkshire's quarterly 13-F filing. Berkshire increased its Apple holdings by 55 percent, and also cut its stake in retail giant Wal-Mart.

General Motors — GM will not have to face a lawsuit by a Texas woman who claimed a 2012 crash was caused by the faulty ignition switch problem that later resulted in a 2.6 million vehicle recall. A judge threw out the suit without elaborating on the decision.

Rite Aid, Hertz Global — The two stocks represent new stakes for David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital, according to the hedge fund's quarterly filing.

Alphabet — Alphabet's Google unit unveiled a new mobile video calling application called Duo. The app is available on iOS and Android devices beginning today, and does not require the participants to have similar hardware.

 

market map at the lunch hour:


just a few ER after the bell today and in the pre-market tomm: $TGT $LOW $AEO $URBN $SPLS $JASO $PLCE $ADI $CREE $PLKI $JKHY $VNET $OSIS

 

@Talon
@nft2

looks like we have ourselves yet another very poor high on the profile yesterday w/ zero excess ... you know what that means ... that'll need to get repaired at some point once again lol

 

Early movers: LOW, TGT, SPLS, URBN, CREE, PLKI, BKS, CSCO, VIAB & more

Lowe's — Lowe's reported adjusted profit of $1.37 per share, 5 cents a share below estimates. Revenue missed forecasts, as well. The home improvement retailer saw comparable sales up 2 percent, half of what analysts had expected.

Target — The retailer earned an adjusted $1.23 per share for the second quarter, above estimates of $1.12 a share. Revenue was essentially in line. Comparable-store sales fell 1.1 percent, however, slightly more than estimates of a 1 percent drop. Target also lowered its comparable sales forecast for the second half of 2016.

Staples — Staples matched estimates with adjusted quarterly profit of 12 cents per share, while the office products retailer's revenue fell slightly below forecasts. Sales dropped for the 14th quarter in a row.

Urban Outfitters — The apparel retailer reported second quarter profit of 66 cents per share, 10 cents a share above estimates. Revenue also beat Street forecasts. Urban Outfitters saw an improvement in profit margins, as well, thanks to fewer promotions.

Cree — Cree earned an adjusted 19 cents per share for its fiscal fourth quarter, a penny a share below estimates. The maker of lighting and semiconductor products did see revenue exceed analysts' projections. Investors are focusing on weakness in the lighting products segment, which saw a 13 percent sales drop.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Popeyes matched estimates with quarterly profit of 47 cents per share, but the restaurant chain's revenue fell short of forecasts. Popeyes also cut its comparable sales forecast and slashed in half the number of stores it expects to open in 2016.

Barnes & Noble — Barnes & Noble ousted Chief Executive Officer Ronald Boire, saying that Boire was "not a good fit" for the book seller. Executive Chairman Leonard Riggio will serve as acting chief executive while the search for a permanent CEO takes place.

Cisco Systems — Cisco is cutting 14,000 workers, or about 20 percent of the its global workforce, according to technology news website CRN. The maker of networking equipment is expected to announce the cuts within the next few weeks.

Viacom — The media giant has resumed settlement talks with Sumner Redstone-controlled National Amusements to end the litigation between the two, according to multiple reports. The talks will reportedly lead to the departure of Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and make changes to the Viacom board.

MetLife — MetLife has outlined its plan to fight its designation as a systemically important financial institution, as it goes to court to fight the so-called "SIFI" designation that mandates more extensive oversight. The insurer's plan is laid out in a court filing, and contends that regulators used a flawed process to conclude that Metlife could damage the U.S. financial system in a distress situation.

Lumber Liquidators — Lumber Liquidators received a favorable ruling from a California court, which rejected claims that the flooring maker did not warn consumers about the presence of cancer causing formaldehyde in some of its products.

Southern Company — The utility company announced the pricing of a previously announced 32.5 million common share offering, which will bring in proceeds of about $1.6 billion.

 

federal open market committee minutes due out in one hour...

then a couple ER due out after the bell today and before the open tomm:
$CSCO $WMT $NTES $CSIQ $HRL $A $LB $NTAP $SNPS $KEYS $YY $PERY $TTC $CACI