With the focus now away from international problems, U.S. markets were trading slightly higher on Monday looking toward second-quarter earnings reports.
Several companies, including Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL), helped boost stocks with good earnings beats. Although, it was not enough to broadly push stocks dramatically higher.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were basically flat on the day, for instance, while the Nasdaq set an intraday record and was up 0.1%. Even though technology was strong, the general sectors were mixed, particularly weak on the side of energy and commodities. Gold fell to a five-year low, and was trading below $1100 per ounce as speculative selling took over in China.
The earnings tide also lifted Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) today, while GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO) and Vivint Solar Inc (NYSE:VSLR) had other reasons for storming to the top of three of today’s best stocks.
Hasbro, Inc. (HAS)
Plain and simple, Hasbro had a great day. The Pawtucket, RI-based toy maker put the exclamation on earnings today after reporting Q2 adjusted earnings of 33 cents a share, which is 7 cents higher than a year ago and 4 cents above analysts’ estimates.
Revenue of $797.7 million was down 4% from a year ago, but still beat the Street estimates of $781.0 million quite handily.
Sales of Hasbro products — such as Marvel, Star Wars and Jurassic World — were particularly strong. Play-Doh, which has been around for decades, also continued its trend of strong sales.
HAS stock was over 6% higher today, and is up about 51% in 2015.
GoPro Inc (GPRO)
GPRO stock climbed 7% and was picture perfect after reporting a deal with Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) (NYSE:TM) that will put a mount for a GoPro action camera inside every 2016 Toyota Tacoma on the inside windshield. This is the first time an automaker has ever pre-installed a camera mount in a vehicle.
The idea behind the mount is that truck owners can record their off-road adventures, but the mounts will not come with cameras. Consumers will need to add their own.
GPRO also unveiled a premium content licensing portal today for use by global advertising agencies, in which the agencies can use stock footage of GoPro videos for their ad campaigns.
Analysts are expecting good news from GPRO when it reports earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.
Vivint Solar Inc (VSLR)
The sun was shining for VSLR stockholders today, after Sunedison Inc (NYSE:SUNE) said they will purchase Vivint for approximately $2.2 billion. VSLR surged more than 44% higher on the news.
The acquisition of VSLR, the second-largest solar panel installer in the U.S., is expected to be accretive to SUNE’s bottom line within a year’s time. SUNE will pay VSLR stockholders a total of $16.50 per share, to be divided up as $9.89 cash, $3.31 in stock and $3.30 in notes for every share.
Vivint leases solar systems for residential properties, making its business model unique, as solar companies have normally sold their systems to homeowners.
As of this writing, Ethan Roberts does not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
