U.S. major stock indexes rose significantly, as the published solid quarterly results of UnitedHealth (UNH), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) eased concerns about the negative impact of the protracted US-China trade war on US companies.

UnitedHealth announced that it received a adjusted quarterly profit of $ 3.88 per share, which was higher than the average forecast of analysts at $ 3.76. The company's revenue also exceeded market expectations and it raised its profit forecast for the whole of 2019. UNH shares soared 8.31%.

Johnson & Johnson reported quarterly earnings of $ 2.12 per share, compared with analysts' average forecast of $ 2.01. The quarterly revenue of the manufacturer of medical equipment and consumer goods also exceeded the average market estimate, which was mainly facilitated by the growth in sales of medicines and medical devices. JNJ shares jumped 1.62%.

JPMorgan Chase reported quarterly earnings of $ 2.68 per share, which was $ 0.22 higher than analysts' average forecast. The financial institution’s revenues also exceeded Wall Street’s forecasts, driven by growth in mortgages, car loans and credit cards. JPM shares rose 3.17%.

According to CNBC, of ​​the 34 companies in the S&P 500 index that have already posted third-quarter results, 29 have exceeded expectations. However, it is worth noting that, in general, expectations for the reporting season are quite pessimistic: analysts polled by FactSet predict that the profit of the S&P 500 index will show a decrease of 4.6% compared to the same period last year.

Most DOW components completed trading in positive territory (25 out of 30). The biggest gainers were UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH .; + 8.31%). Outsider were the shares of The Procter & Gamble Co. (PG; -2.34%).

Most S&P sectors recorded an increase. The health sector grew the most (+ 1.8%). The conglomerate sector showed the largest decrease (-0.2%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 27,025.00 +237.64 +0.89%

S&P 500 2,995.64 +29.49 +0.99%

Nasdaq 100 8,148.71 +100.06 +1.24%

U.S. stock-index futures rose on Tuesday, as the Q3 earnings season started on a positive note due to solid reports from UnitedHealth (UNH), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM). 

Global Stocks:

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

NVIDIA (NVDA) target raised to $250 from $225 at BofA/Merrill

Wells Fargo (WFC) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $0.92 per share (versus $1.13 in Q3 FY 2018), missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.18.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $22.010 bln (+0.3% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $21.320 bln.

WFC fell to $49.15 (-0.24%) in pre-market trading.

Citigroup (C) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $1.97 per share (versus $1.73 in Q3 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.95.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $18.574 bln (+1.0% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $18.545 bln.

C fell to $69.88 (-0.51%) in pre-market trading.

JP Morgan Chase (JPM) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $2.68 per share (versus $2.34 in Q3 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.46.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $29.341 bln (+7.6% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $28.363 bln.

JPM rose to $118.80 (+2.02%) in pre-market trading.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $4.79 per share (versus $6.28 in Q3 FY 2018), missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $4.89.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $8.320 bln (-3.8% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $8.326 bln.

GS fell to $204.00 (-0.88%) in pre-market trading.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $3.88 per share (versus $3.41 in Q3 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $3.76.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $60.351 bln (+6.7% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $59.836 bln.

The company also raised its FY 2019 EPS guidance to $14.90-15.00, up from $14.70-14.90 prior, versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $14.83.

UNH rose to $225.70 (+2.32%) in pre-market trading.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $2.12 per share (versus $2.05 in Q3 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.01.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $20.729 bln (+1.9% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $20.142 bln.

The company also raised guidance for FY 2019, projecting EPS of $8.62-8.67 (versus its prior guidance of $8.53-8.63 and analysts’ consensus estimate of $8.61) and revenues of $81.8-82.3 bln (versus its prior guidance of $80.8-81.6 bln and analysts’ consensus estimate of $81.59 bln).

JNJ rose to $133.28 (+1.96%) in pre-market trading.

October 15

Before the Open:

Citigroup (C). Consensus EPS $1.95, Consensus Revenues $18544.78 mln

Goldman Sachs (GS). Consensus EPS $4.89, Consensus Revenues $8326.06 mln

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Consensus EPS $2.01, Consensus Revenues $20142.05 mln

JPMorgan Chase (JPM). Consensus EPS $2.46, Consensus Revenues $28362.87 mln

UnitedHealth (UNH). Consensus EPS $3.76, Consensus Revenues $59836.36 mln

Wells Fargo (WFC). Consensus EPS $1.18, Consensus Revenues $21319.50 mln

October 16

Before the Open:

Bank of America (BAC). Consensus EPS $0.68, Consensus Revenues $22729.68 mln

After the Close:

Alcoa (AA). Consensus EPS -$0.28, Consensus Revenues $2581.98 mln

IBM (IBM). Consensus EPS $2.66, Consensus Revenues $18292.87 mln

Netflix (NFLX). Consensus EPS $1.05, Consensus Revenues $5247.81 mln

October 17

Before the Open:

Honeywell (HON). Consensus EPS $2.01, Consensus Revenues $9145.67 mln

Morgan Stanley (MS). Consensus EPS $1.12, Consensus Revenues $9626.70 mln

October 18

Before the Open:

American Express (AXP). Consensus EPS $2.03, Consensus Revenues $10946.06 mln

Coca-Cola (KO). Consensus EPS $0.56, Consensus Revenues $9441.28 mln