Wednesday Morning Market Highlights

Markets up, National Research jumps on earnings

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Nov 04, 2020
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U.S. Markets

U.S. stocks were in the green on Wednesday, with Donald Trump and Joe Biden head to head in the presidential election. The Dow gained 1.06% to 27,771, the S&P 500 index jumped 1.76% to 3,427 and the Nasdaq Composite Index was up 2.90% to 11,482.

Gainers

Losers

Global markets

The main European stock markets traded in the green.The U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 1.01%, France's CAC 40 inched up 1.32%, Germany's Dax increased 0.95% and Spain's Ibex 35 lost 0.36%.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.72%, India's BSE Sensex advanced 0.88%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 0.21% and China's Shanghai Composite was up 0.19%.

National Research releases earnings report

Shares of National Research Corp. (NRC, Financial) gained 3.5% on Wednesday morning after the company announced financial results for the third quarter. It posted earnings of 37 cents per share on revenue of $33.48 million, which grew 3.1% year over year.

Consolidated operating income was $12 million, or 36% of revenue, higher than $10.2 million, or 31% of revenue, for the prior-year quarter. Total operating expenses were $22 million, down 1%.

Moreover, direct expenses rose to $12.2 million as a result of increases in fixed expenses partially offset by lower variable expenses. However, direct expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 36% from 37% in third-quarter 2019.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were 24% of revenue, compared to 27% in the year-ago quarter. They decreased to $8 million from $8.7 million for the same period in 2019, principally due to lower travel and meals costs.

Disclosure: The author holds no positions in any stocks mentioned.

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