Stocks - S&P, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs, Shrugging off Weakness in Energy, Tech
Published Apr 26, 2019 03:39PM ET
Updated Apr 26, 2019 04:41PM ET
Investing.com – The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched record highs as gains in consumer discretionary stocks offset losses in energy and tech stocks on the back of disappointing earnings.
The S&P 500 gained 0.47%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.34% and the Dow gained 0.31%.
Tech and energy proved an exception to the broader market rally, as investors fled the sectors following poor quarterly results from Intel and oil majors like Exxon.
Intel's (NASDAQ:INTC) soft revenue forecast for 2019 offset better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, sending its stock down 9%, knocking 35 points out of the Dow. The weak results weighed on chip stocks, with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Qorvo (NASDAQ:QRVO) ending the day sharply lower.
Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) was also hit by a wave of red as Baird downgraded the chipmaker’s shares to underperform, highlighting an increasing "disconnect between significant stock appreciation (year to date) and a continued deterioration in NAND flash fundamentals."
In energy, Exxon Mobil 's (NYSE:XOM) first-quarter profits missed estimates from Investing.com, as its refining business came under pressure. Its shares fell about 2.1%. Chevron (NYSE:CVX), meanwhile, posted first-quarter revenues that fell short of estimates, sending its share price down 0.7% on the day.
The weakness in Chevron comes as investor attention is fixed on the company's battle with Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) to acquire oil and gas driller Anadarko Petroleum.
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said in a call that the company's $33 billion deal to buy Anadarko (NYSE:APC) is a "superior" offer to Occidental's $38 billion offer to buy the company.
"Our companies simply have the best strategic fit," Wirth added.
Losses in energy stocks were also exacerbated by a slump in oil prices globally as President Donald Trump again called on OPEC to raise crude production to ease gasoline prices. West Texas Intermediate crude was off 2.9%. Brent crude fell nearly 3%.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom on the earnings front, as shares of Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) and toymaker Mattel (NASDAQ:MAT) rose on better-than-expected earnings, propping up consumer discretionaries.
So far, 77% of the 229 S&P 500 components that have reported have posted better-than-expected earnings, according to data by Refinitiv published today.
Economic data was also in the spotlight as a deeper dive into first-quarter U.S. growth data showed gains more mostly driven by temporary factors such as private inventory investment and foreign trade. But personal consumption, which makes up about two-thirds of economic growth, slowed. This would likely result in a drag on second quarter growth, analysts said.
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Top S&P 500 Gainers and Losers Today:
Ford Motor (NYSE:F), Align Technology (NASDAQ:ALGN) and Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) were among the top S&P 500 gainers for the session.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Target (NYSE:TGT) and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) were among the worst S&P 500 performers of the session.
Written By: Investing.com
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