Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of JC Penney (JCP) and Sony (SNE) popped while Unilever (UN) and Aetna (AET) dropped.
POPS (stocks that jumped higher)
JC Penney (JCP) popped 9%. Penney only posted a 2% decline in comps for January; investors considered it a triumph amid the worst retail sales figures since 1970. – Things might not be that bad, says Karen Finerman.
Sony (SNE) popped 3%. The Japanese electronics giant won the holiday HD-TV sales wars, with shipments outpacing competitors Sharp, Samsung and Vizio. – It’s interesting, says Jeff Macke.
Airlines Index popped 4%. Merger speculation gained momentum for two potential parings: Delta-Northwest and Continental-United. – Keep an eye on the ones left standing, says Pete Najarian.
Minnesota Football. The Minnesota Gophers scored a major recruiting victory on National Signing Day, ranking ahead of national programs Auburn, Virginia Tech, and Oregon.
The Andersons (ANDE) popped 3%. The agriculture services firm posted profits that were 70% higher than last year. – I really like this company, says Pete Najarian.
Flowserve (FLS) popped 5%. The pumps and valves maker, and Karen Finerman's best pick of 2007, rose higher on little news. – I think there’s a lot left in this stock, says Karen Finerman.
Trading High. The New York Times reported that according to experts in the field of "neurofinance," brain scans of traders making a winning trade are Indistinguishable from drug addicts preparing to take their next hit.
Exide Technology (XIDE) popped 20%. This maker of car batteries swung to a profit, after posting a loss in the same quarter last year.
Blue. We told you back in December, after the international color authority Pantone named "Blue Iris" the official color of 2008, blue would indeed dominate the year. It started with "Big Blue" IBM's blowout earnings. Then there were the 400 disappointed group of Croatian Smurfs that couldn't break a world record...Then the other Big Blue - the New York Giants - improbably won the Super Bowl. And finally, as we told you last night, Chanel's "Blue Satin" nail polish is sold out nationwide.
DROPS (stocks that slid lower)
Unilever (UN) dropped 3%. The consumer products giant behind Dove soap, Lipton tea, and Slim Fast said 4th quarter profit was hurt by costs associated with cutting jobs. – I think the stock is a buy with a 2-handle, says Guy Adami.
Aetna (AET) dropped 3%. Shares of the health insurer were down after it missed both 4th quarter and full-year estimates.
O'Charley's (CHUX) dropped 14%. Another casual dining casualty - O'Charley's posted an 82% plummet in operating income.
Broadridge (BR) dropped 7%. Despite strong earnings and a full-year forecast at the high end of its profit range, investors sold off this financial services firm. – I like this stock, says Karen Finerman.
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) dropped 9%. This IT-services provider said a dropped $12 billion contract with Verizon led to a revenue shortfall.
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Trader disclosure: On Feb.6, 2008, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Macke Owns (INTC), (YHOO), (DIS), (ATVI), Najarian Owns (AIG) Puts; Najarian Owns (AAPL) Calls, (NYX) Calls, (SKS) Calls; Najarian Owns (BIIB), (C), (CSCO), (MS), (MSFT), (YHOO), (AMR), (CTSH); Finerman Owns (GS); Finerman's Firm Owns (AEO), (BR), (DSW), (JCP), (KSS), (MO), (MSFT), (PLCE), (SKS), (SUN), (TSO), (WMT), (YHOO); Finerman's Firm Is Short (IJR), (IYR), (IWM), (SPY), (MDY), (SPG); Finerman's Firm Is Short (LEH) And Owns (LEH) Puts; Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (FLS) (HD); Finerman's Firm Owns (CROX) And (CROX) Calls, Finerman Owns (CROX); Finerman's Firm Owns Shares Of Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc; Finerman's Firm Owns Shares Of HBOS plc; Finerman's Firm Is Short The Pound; Terranova Owns Crude Oil; Vivendi Owns 20% Of NBC Universal, The Parent Company Of CNBC
