UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) shares jumped 5.48% to $69.84. The company on July 18 reported that its second-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders increased to $1.436 billion or $1.40 per share, from $1.337 billion or $1.27 per share in the same quarter last year. Analysts expected the company to report earnings of $1.25 per share for the quarter. Total revenues for the quarter rose to $30.41 billion from $27.26 billion in the prior year quarter. Analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $30.50 billion for the quarter.
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Xilinx, Inc.(NASDAQ:XLNX) shares increased 6.29% to $46.28. The company, on July 17, announced first quarter fiscal 2014 sales of $579 million, up 9% from the prior quarter and down 1% from the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. First quarter fiscal 2014 net income was $157 million or $0.56 per diluted share.
Additionally, the Xilinx Board of Directors announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per outstanding share of common stock, payable on August 28, 2013 to all stockholders of record at the close of business on August 7, 2013.
The Blackstone Group L.P.(NYSE:BX) shares gained 4.10% to $22.86. The company on July 18 reported its second quarter 2013 results. The company posted profit of $211 million, or 36 cents a share, up from its year-earlier loss of $75 million. The company reported economic net income of $703 million, more than triple what it was a year earlier.
Additionally, the company has declared a quarterly distribution of $0.23 per common unit to record holders of common units at the close of business on July 29, 2013. This distribution will be paid on August 5, 2013.
Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT) shares gained 5.06% to $13.11. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of WLT from $25.00 to $10.00 in a research note issued on July 16. The firm currently has a “market perform” rating on the stock. Separately, analysts at Raymond James upgraded Walter Energy, Inc (WLT) on July 10, saying that the company is likely to fix its financial situation. However, the analysts noted that they believe the coal producer will suspend its dividend in order to save cash. The analysts upgraded WLT from “Underperform” to “Market Perform.”