Crane, Estee Lauder, Valero, Whirlpool: U.S. Equity Preview

By Elizabeth Campbell

Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes in U.S. markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names, and prices are as of 9 a.m. in New York, unless stated otherwise.

Allstate Corp. (ALL US) fell 1.4 percent to $24.75. The largest publicly traded home and auto insurer in the U.S. was downgraded by Fitch Ratings after posting a third-quarter loss.

Boeing Co. (BA US) gained 8.1 percent to $45.80. The second- largest planemaker's machinists plan to vote within five days on a proposed contract to end an eight-week strike.



Carter's Inc. (CRI US) rose 5.4 percent to $18.40. The maker of baby clothes will replace Captaris Inc. (CAPA US) in the Standard & Poor's Smallcap 600 Index, S&P said.

CF Industries Inc. (CF US) gained 6.6 percent to $48.25. The operator of North America's two biggest nitrogen-fertilizer plants said it may buy back as much as $500 million its stock.

Crane Co. (CR US): The maker of products from airplane brakes to vending machines reported quarterly earnings, excluding some items, that were 30 percent less than analysts' average estimate, according to Bloomberg data. The shares fell 5.5 percent to $15.86 in regular trading yesterday.

Estee Lauder Cos. (EL US) climbed 0.9 percent to $32.87. The maker of Clinique and Bobbi Brown cosmetics reported quarterly profit, excluding some items, of 26 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate of 23 cents, according to Bloomberg data.

Google Inc. (GOOG US) added 2.9 percent to $339. The owner of the most popular Internet search engine was initiated at ``outperform'' at Credit Suisse Group AG.

Google and other U.S. consumer Internet stocks were rated ``market-weight,'' on the risk of further negative earnings revisions in the near future. Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO US) gained 3.5 percent to $11.98 after Credit Suisse started the owner of the second most popular Internet search engine at ``neutral.'' Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN US) and EBay Inc. (EBAY US) were also rated ``neutral.'' Amazon gained 4.4 percent to $51.75. EBay rose 3.2 percent to $15.

Home BancShares Inc. (HOMB US) rose 4 cents to $23.50 in late-trading yesterday. The company will replace Vital Signs Inc. in the S&P Smallcap 600 Index, S&P said.

Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR US) gained 1.9 percent to $12.60. The world's largest onshore oil and natural-gas driller announced the resignation of Bruce P. Koch, its chief financial officer.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY US) added 8.6 percent to $45.69. The fourth-largest U.S. energy company said third-quarter profit rose 73 percent as oil prices topped $147 a barrel for the first time and production increased.

Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (RGA/A US) rose 8.2 percent to $36. The reinsurer majority-owned by MetLife Inc. (MET US) will replace Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG US) in the S&P Midcap 400 Index, S&P said.

Valero Energy Corp. (VLO US) gained 12 percent to $16.86. The largest U.S. refiner reported third-quarter profit, excluding some items, that was 23 percent more than analysts' average estimate, according to Bloomberg data.

Whirlpool Corp. (WHR US) increased 0.4 percent to $50.21. The world's largest appliance maker will cut 5,000 jobs, or 6.8 percent of its workforce. The company reported quarterly profit, excluding some items, of $2.47 a share, topping the average analyst estimate of $1.70, according to Bloomberg data.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elizabeth Campbell in New York ecampbell11@bloomberg.net