U.S. markets regained some of what they lost Tuesday, as the revealed an economy that’s still expanding.
But while July’s , this was well below expectations for an 0.9% increase. And Chinese markets were once again volatile, although the Shanghai Composite ended down only slightly following an earlier drop over 4%.
Oil, too, initially fell, after the Energy Information Administration said that last week. But oil later recovered to finish near $46 a barrel.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index both finished up 1.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite was a solid 2.46% higher. Sectors were mostly higher on the day, with technology and industrial stocks in the lead.
Earnings helped boost two of today’s three best stocks, while a new CEO and analyst upgrade helped the third. Here’s a look at what H & R Block Inc (NYSE:HRB), Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA) and The Fresh ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Inc (NASDAQ:
TFM) did to boost their performance.
H & R Block Inc (HRB)
HRB stock was a solid winner Wednesday, after showing a loss of 35 cents a share, which is 5 cents less than in the year-ago period, and besting the Zacks consensus by 6 cents. Its revenue of $138 million was enough to put the kibosh on the Street’s $136 million estimate.
In addition, HRB announced that will work like a for $1.5 billion in stock.
Which would represent 16% of HRB’s total market value. H & R Block will also buyback as much as $3.5 billion over the next three years.
HRB stock closed over 7% higher on the day.
Vera Bradley, Inc. (VRA)
VRA stock gapped up 28% after of 15 cents a share, well ahead of the 10 cent estimate announced previously by analysts. In addition, revenue of $120.7 million far surpassed the street’s forecast for $115.4 million.
VRA was also ahead of estimates for the current quarter ending in November, with a range of $120 million to $123 million. Analysts were expecting only $118.1 million.
VRA stock was recently in a five-month downtrend — falling from $16 to $9.50 a share — but it appears that the manufacturer of handbags, luggage and accessories may have turned a corner, and its share price is heading north again.
The Fresh ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Inc (TFM)
Just one day after and President (the same positions he held with Food Lion for eight years), TFM stock was again moving higher by nearly 4%.
Also propelling TFM stock higher Wednesday was an upgrade by Goldman Sachs Group Inc to “neutral” from “sell.”
It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it was enough to impress investors Wednesday.
As of this writing, Ethan Roberts did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
