Investors feeling confident again
Optimism’s on the rise as consumers increasingly believe in the economy’s recovery. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index climbed to a five-year high of 76.2 in May, up greatly from April’s 69. The housing recovery has helped the economy’s fortunes, as home prices rose nearly 11% year over year in March as measured by S&P and Case-Shiller.
The good feelings have helped UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH)‘s stock gain 2.3% to top the Dow today. Despite the uncertainty over health care reform coming next year, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) investors found some stability when the company decided not to immediately participate in California’s state insurance exchange next year, joining several other public insurers. It’s potentially an opportunity lost for UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH), but with rising premiums due to Obamacare still a concern, America’s largest insurer is playing health care reform safely. However, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH)’s caution could be WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE:WLP)‘s gain. The country’s second-largest insurer is a major player in California’s individual-insurance market, and if its biggest public competitor is out of the race for millions of previously uninsured consumers, WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE:WLP) could narrow the market-share gap between it and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH).
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)‘s also having a good day, with shares of the entertainment giant jumping 1.5% so far. The company has been reaping the rewards of its Marvel property in the past few weeks as superhero film Iron Man 3 continues to rock the box office. The movie picked up another $36.8 million at the worldwide box office this past weekend, bringing its cumulative run to a whopping $1.14 billion and making the film the fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time. Between Iron Man and Marvel’s The Avengers, which made more than $1.5 billion at the box office, this branch has been a cash cow for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) lately and should continue its winning ways with more films planned for the future.
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is trailing the Dow today, ranking at the bottom of the index with losses of 1.1%. Investors are still dealing with the fallout of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)’s announced CEO shake-up as former CEO A. G Lafley returns to the company he once presided over. The move sent The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)’s stock racing higher last week, but Lafley faces challenges in his comeback. P&G has seen sales fall in certain segments as competition ramps up, and while Lafley intends to continue his predecessor’s cost-cutting moves, he’ll need to come up with a plan to re-establish P&G’s dominance in the consumer market in order for his return to pay off for investors.
The article UnitedHealth Leads the Dow’s Big Gains originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Carroll.
Fool contributor Dan Carroll has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Procter & Gamble, UnitedHealth Group, Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS), and WellPoint. The Motley Fool owns shares of Walt Disney and WellPoint.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
