The U.S. stock market is holding near its records on Thursday following mixed reports from companies. Dollar General and Spam-maker Hormel are climbing to some of the market’s biggest gains, while Kroger is falling.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% but remains only 0.7% below its all-time high, continuing a relatively calm run following weeks of sharp swings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 35 points, or 0.1%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% lower.
Dollar General rallied 8.8% after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, as more customers shopped at its stores. It was also able to squeeze more profit out of each $1 in sales that it made.
Hormel climbed 3.9% after likewise reporting a better profit than expected, thanks in part to strength for its Planters nuts and Jennie-O turkey offerings. It also gave a forecasted range for profit in the upcoming year whose midpoint was above analysts’ forecasts.
Salesforce, meanwhile, helped keep the market in check. It delivered a better profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, but its revenue fell just short, and its stock drifted between modest gains and losses. It was most recently up 0.4%.
