Lowe’s revenue jumps on hot housing market and warmer winter
By Poroma Pant Lowe’s Cos. Inc. fourth quarter operating earnings showed a solid increase, as the retailer of home-improvement and building products profited from the recovering housing market and favorable weather conditions. For the quarter ending Jan 29, the North Carolina company reported net earnings of $11 million, or a penny per diluted share, down […]
Franklin Electric reports record Q4 earnings
By Kaitlin Schuler Franklin Electric Co. Inc. said fourth-quarter earnings strengthened despite falling revenues and soft prices for oil and other commodities. In the latest quarter, Fort Wayne-based Franklin Electric posted net income of $16.2 million or 33 cents per diluted share, up from $3.1 million or 6 cents per share in the year ago quarter. […]
Walmart expects almost no sales growth this year
By Ashesha Mehrotra Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shares weakened Thursday after the retail giant, citing the impact of a strong dollar and planned store closures, trimmed its sales outlook for the year. In the quarter ended Jan. 31, the Arkansas-based company had net income of $4.5 billion, or $1.43 per diluted share, down from $4.9 billion, […]
Exelon turns in lower than expected profit, plans to increase dividend
By Kaitlin Schuler Exelon Corp., hurt by weak energy prices and unfavorable weather in its service areas, reported fourth quarter profits that fell short of forecasts Wednesday. But the company’s shares nonetheless moved higher, after Exelon hinted that it is planning to begin boosting its quarterly dividend payout. In New York Stock Exchange trading, Exelon […]
College Students Weigh Pros and Cons of Majoring for Passion vs Pay
By Yunfei Zhao Anup Patel had a dilemma: Follow his passion — or the money. Like many college students looking to make the most of the investment in time and money, Patel agonized over getting it right. The Illinois Institute of Technology graduate ended up giving up his passion, chemistry, for business. “Our society rewards […]
Caterpillar shares rise on upside earnings
By H. Will Racke Caterpillar Inc. managed to surpass Wall Street’s fourth-quarter expectations even as fierce global headwinds battered earnings. In the latest quarter, the heavy-equipment titan showed a net loss of $87 million, or 15 cents per diluted share, in sharp contrast with earnings of $757 million, or $1.23 per share, in the final […]
Exelon Corp. analysts project stability of stock despite recent fall
By Kaitlin Schuler Last year was agood one overall for Exelon Corp. Increased net income and falling stock prices encouraged investors to buy or hold Exelon stock. So it’s no surprise that, going forward, analysts recommend buying or holding shares in the large utility services holding company, pointing to the likely continuation of Exelon’s strong […]
Verizon Exceeds Q4 Expectations
By Ashesha Mehrotra Verizon Communications Inc. reported higher-than-expected fourth quarter earnings Thursday, bolstered by an addition of 1.5 million wireless retail postpaid users and hefty tax benefits. The company swung to a profit of $5.51 billion, or $1.32 per diluted common share, from a loss of $2.14 billion, or 54 cents per share, the year-ago quarter. Shares […]
Analysts Share Positive Outlook for McDonald’s After Share Price Surges
By Ashesha Mehrotra Analysts are becoming increasingly optimistic about the future of McDonald’s Corp., after the company started 2016 on a positive note with a sharp rise in its stock price since last year and reported a gain in the U.S. comparable sales for the first time after 2013. After years of slumping sales and […]
Ailing markets signal hard times ahead for Caterpillar
By H. Will Racke Last year was a rough one for Caterpillar Inc. Unfortunately for the heavy machinery giant, a cyclical downturn in the global industries it supplies could make 2016 as bad or worse. The Peoria, Ill.-based firm is the world’s largest manufacturer of construction, mining and energy extraction equipment. Its dominant position in […]
