Today the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) is regaining some of the ground it lost last week. As of 12:50 p.m. EDT the blue-chip index is up 129 points, or 0.88%, putting it within striking distance of the elusive 15,000-point mark. The other two major indexes are also on the rise: The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) has gained 0.94%, and the NASDAQ-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) is up 1.14%. Of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI)’s 30 components, only six are in the red at the time of writing.
Shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) are again moving lower today, down 0.27% despite the report that new-homes sales rose 1.5% in March. This report comes one day after the existing-homes sales number was reported to have fallen 0.6% in March. While an increase in new-home sales is great for homebuilders and should be a sign that the economy is strengthening, The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) would likely prefer to see existing-home sales performing better. People who buy new homes aren’t likely to spend a ton of money changing things like wall paint and flooring. But with an existing home, those are some of the first things a new owner will replace — and such things are found at The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD). Additionally, preparing an existing home for sale could lead homeowners into a The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) to spruce things up, but that’s not something that happens when a new home is sold.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) have fallen 0.6% today. The company announced earnings on Thursday of last week, and shares tanked 3.7% that day alone. The company beat on the bottom line but missed on the top line and announced that a large customer had reduced it policy coverage from full risk to a fee-based plan. Given the uncertainty about Medicare reimbursement rates and how Obamacare will affect the health insurance industry, investors are not sure what to expect from a revenue or earnings standpoint. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) will likely be a volatile stock moving forward, and any shareholder should watch the industry closely for any signs of future weakness.
Lastly, shares of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) are down 2.5%, making United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) the worst-performing Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) component of the day. The company announced first-quarter earnings of $1.39 per share, while analysts were only expecting $1.29 per share. However, revenue of $14.4 billion fell short of analyst expectations of $14.9 billion. The company also reiterated its 2013 full-year EPS estimate of $5.85 to $6.15 on sales of $64 billion to $65 billion. The miss on the top line and the fact that management did not raise its full-year EPS estimate higher are two likely reasons the shares have headed south today.
The article A Handful of Losers Missing Today’s Rally originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Matt Thalman.
Fool contributor Matt Thalman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Home Depot and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). Check back Monday through Friday as Matt explains what caused the Dow’s winners and losers of the day, and every Saturday for a weekly recap. Follow Matt on Twitter: @mthalman5513.
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