On the upside
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) posted better than expected quarterly profits due to strength in its cable, broadcast and movie businesses.
Teen clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) reported lower revenues and profits, but the results beat expectations.
J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) announced lower profits due to one-time pension-related charges, but the department store operator also boosted its outlook.
On the downside
Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) posted quarterly earnings that missed estimates. The stock fell despite the high-end department store operator's favorable guidance.
Zagg (Nasdaq: ZAGG) reported higher revenues from mobile accessories sales, but margins were curbed by a decline in website sales.
Shares of Esco Technologies (NYSE: ESE) fell after the engineering and manufacturing firm announced lower profits and offered a disappointing outlook. An analyst promptly downgraded the stock.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks rose a point to 581.