Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of Visa and Caterpillar popped while Dollar Tree and Unilever dropped.
POPS (stocks that jumped higher)
Visa (V) popped 9%. Earnings beat estimates, and the company gained from international business. - Good for them, says Pete Najarian.
State Street (STT) popped 14%. The world’s largest institutional money manager announced cost cutting measures. Investors didn’t mind that included slashing the dividend. - Seems like good news, muses Karen Finerman.
Akamai Technologies (AKAM) popped 18%. Fourth-quarter results beat analyst estimates as demand rose for its Web traffic-management services. - I think they're in the sweet spot and I like this name, counsels Guy Adami.
Caterpillar (CAT) popped 3%. The largest maker of earthmoving equipment popped as investors bet on a bottom in the global economy. - Big construction stocks had been hammered, reminds Pete Najarian.
Prudential (PRU) popped 7%. After posting record losses yesterday, the life insurer said its capital levels and main business units remain strong. - I'm a little surprised, says Karen Finerman. I think there's trouble to come in their commercial real estate exposure.
BHP Billiton (BHP) popped 6%. Coal profits in the first half of 2008 rose 135% from the previous year due to higher prices and improved efficiency. - I think the stock chart looks fantastic, says Tim Seymour.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) popped 10%. January same-store sales beat expectations. - Nice spike, exclaims Pete Najarian.
DROPS (stocks that slid lower)
General Electric (GE) dropped 4%. CEO Jeff Immelt said he will be prepared to run the company even without the highest available credit rating. - This stock is caught in a spiral right now, explains Guy Adami.
Dollar Tree (DLTR) dropped 17%. Quarterly profit rose 20 percent as more customers came into its stores for low prices on basic items like food and cleaning supplies. - I think this is the entry point, counsels Guy Adami.
Equity Residential (EQR) dropped 8%. Fourth-quarter earnings came in worse than expected due to cancelled projects. - Across the board there's trouble here, says Karen Finerman.
Unilever PLC (UL) dropped 2%. The consumer-products goliath said it won’t give guidance for 2009 and 2010. - They don't want to compete against their own estimates, explains Tim Seymour.
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Trader disclosure: On Feb. 4th, 2008, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Adami Owns (AGU), (BTU), (C), (GS), (INTC), (MSFT), (NUE); Finerman Owns (PAL), (MSFT), (BAC); Finerman's Firm Owns (DNA) & (DNA) Calls; Finerman's Firm Is Short (IYR), (IJR), (IWM), (MDY), (SPY), (USO); Najarian Owns (CAT) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (EEM) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (FCX) & (FCX) Calls; Najarian Owns (ENER) & (ENER) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (GDX) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (MSFT) & (MSFT) Short Calls; Najarian Owns (MS) & (MS) Short Calls; Najarian Owns (MOS) Call Spread; Najarian Owns (DLTR) Calls; Najarian Owns (PALM) Calls; Seymour Owns (BAC), (EEM), (FXI), (MOS), (PBR), (CBRE)
