Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Manufacturing Productivity in Q4 came in light of estimates this morning: 1.3% reported versus 1.6% anticipated. However, in a measure of good news, the Trade Deficit (delayed til now due to the government shutdown) was down to $49.31 billion from the $54.3 billion expected.

In Q4 earnings news, Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)-rated General Motors (GM Quick QuoteGM - Free Report) outperformed expectations on both top and bottom lines: $1.43 per share versus $1.21 expected and $38.4 billion over $37 billion in the Zacks consensus, respectively. Earnings were down year over year by 13%, but sales in the quarter were 1.8% higher than in the year-ago quarter.

Big Pharma major GlaxoSmithKline (GSK Quick QuoteGSK - Free Report) also topped estimates for both earnings and revenues in its Q4 report, with 80 cents per share beating by a dime on $10.54 billion against expectations of $9.85 billion. EPS is now expected to decline for full-year 2019, although Vaccines were up 18% in the quarter.

Healthcare giant Humana (HUM Quick QuoteHUM - Free Report) also brought positive surprises to its Q4 results, with $2.65 per share outpacing the $2.53 expected on $14.17 billion improving 1.76% from estimates. Shares were up slightly in the pre-market following the quarterly release.

Take Two Interactive (TTWO Quick QuoteTTWO - Free Report) easily surpassed fiscal Q3 expectations with $4.05 per share well ahead of the $2.75 expected, whereas revenues $1.57 billion in sales (on video games such as Grand Theft Auto) beat estimates by 5.6%. Yet weaker-than-anticipated guidance — especially after such a big beat — have sent shares of the (formerly?) Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)-rated company down 13% in early trading Wednesday.

Mark Vickery
Senior Editor

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