Stress tests be damned; better-than-expected jobs numbers pushed the major indices well into positive territory Wednesday, with the Dow gaining1.2%, the S&P gaining 1.7% and the NASDAQ gaining 0.3%.
Here are Wednesday’s winners and losers:
Winners
Lincoln National Corp. (LNC)
Despite a ratings drop by S&P and a loss in the first quarter, the insurer did beat on earnings and shares closed up 33%. LNC closed at $15.57, a gain of 3.86 on the day.
Zions Bancorp. (ZION)
Shares soared 26.1% ahead of the 5 p.m. stress test release on Thursday. The stock ended the session at $16.10, a gain of $3.33 on the day.
Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG)
Another stock that ignored downgrades, Principal Financial gained $4.54 in trading Wednesday. The stock ended the day up 24.2% at $23.29.
Marshall & Ilsley Corp. (MI)
Another regional bank that gained big, Marshall & Ilsley Corp. saw its shares surge 23.3% on Wednesday ahead of the stress test results. The stock last traded at $8.63, a gain of $1.63.
Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG)
The company got an extension on its purchase of Federal Trust Bank of Sanford, and investors rejoiced. The stock closed the day at $15.07, a gain of 17.9%, or $2.29.
Losers
D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI)
DHI continued its downward trend, falling another 12.6% on Wednesday. Shares ended the day at $10.79, a loss of $1.56.
Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI)
PBI shares were on their way down from the beginning of the trading day following the company’s worse-than-expected earnings report released Tuesday. The stock closed down 10.7%, or $2.79, to settle at $23.20.
General Motors Corp. (GM)
GM shares ended the day down 10.3% ahead of the company’s earnings release. The auto maker finished the session at $1.66, a loss of 19 cents on the day.
Pulte Homes Inc. (PHM)
Pulte posted a wider-than-expected loss for the first quarter, which cost the stock 8.1% on Wednesday. PHM closed at $11.31, a loss of 99 cents.
Centex Corp. (CTX)
While the company’s fourth-quarter loss was slightly less than analysts expected, the stock still fell 8% to end the trading day. CTX finished at $10.78, a loss of 94 cents.
