Amid Mixed Data Signals, Stockpicking Prevails (ARO, ULTA, NSM, PLL, IPI)

Stocks ended the day mixed, on a largely uneventful day on Wall Street. The economic news was once against mixed with consumers saying they are less confident but then turning around and spending more than anticipated. We would expect the economic news to continue to paint a contrasting picture in the months ahead.

The Agricultural Chemical and Fertilizer Stocks Index was the top performing tickerspy Index on the day, led by Intrepid Potash (IPI) with a 11% gain.

Stocks closed mixed, with the Dow the lone winner up 13 points to 10,625. The Nasdaq fell -1 point to 1,150, while the S&P edged down fractionally. Oil dipped -89 cents to $81.22 a barrel, while gold slipped -$1.20 to $1,107.00 an ounce.

On the economic front, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales rose 0.3% in February, better than the -0.2% drop economists had forecast. Elsewhere, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers index fell to 72.5, down from 73.6 at the end of February. Economists were expecting the reading to be unchanged.

In earnings news, shares of Aeropostale (ARO) rose 4.2% after the teen apparel retailer’s Q4 results topped Wall Street expectations. For the quarter, the company posted a profit of $96.6 million, or 99 cents per share, up 44% from $68.2 million, or 67 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue climbed 16% to $801.2 million, as same-store sales jumped 9%. The Wall Street consensus was for EPS of 95 cents on sales of $786.0 million. For Q1, the company projected EPS of 39-40 cents, above the 37-cent consensus. Sixteen pro investors counted the stock among their top-15 holdings at the start of Q1, while 122 tickerspy members included the stock in their portfolios.

Elsewhere in retail, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (ULTA) shares climbed 8.3% after the cosmetic and beauty retailer reported strong Q4 results. For the three-month period ended January 30th, the company earned $20.2 million, or 34 cents a share, up 64% from $12.3 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue zoomed 16% higher to $396.4 million, while same-store sales climbed 6.2%. Analysts were looking for EPS of 30 cents on sales of $390 million. For Q1, the company guided for EPS of between 14-16 cents versus the 12-cent consensus.

Chipmaker National Semiconductor (NSM) saw its fiscal Q3 profit more than double to $53.2 million, or 22 cents a share, up from $21.1 million, or 9 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose 24% to $361.9 million. That easily topped the Wall Street view for EPS of 18 cents on sales of $348.6 million. The stock edged up 0.3%. Three pro investors counted the stock among their top-15 holdings at the start of Q1, while 94 tickerspy members included the stock in their portfolios.

Shares of Pall Corp. (PLL) dropped -4.8% after its fiscal Q2 profit fell short of analyst estimates and it reduced its full year guidance. For the quarter, the filtration and purification products maker earned $49.6 million, or 42 cents per share, up 28% from $38.9 million, or 33 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 3% to $560.4 million. Analysts were expecting EPS of 47 cents on sales of $589.0 million. Looking forward, the company reduced its full-year outlook to EPS of $1.95-$2.05 from $2.02-$2.19.

Tags: ARO, IPI, NSM, PLL, ZQK