Today’s Market Winners and Losers

September 20, 2012 by 247sam

Source: Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The stock market is down Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.35%, the Nasdaq down 0.58% and the S&P 500 down 0.52%. The winners included a pharmaceutical company in correction and a food maker who beat Wall St. earnings expectations. Meanwhile, today’s losers  include a solar company selling stock and a retailer who missed earnings expectations.

These are Thursday’s market winners and losers.

Biggest Winners

Shares of Questor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR) are up 15.42% to $30.41 on trading volume of 9.7 million shares. Shares are in correction after Wednesday’s large dropoff when insurer Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) decided to drop nearly all coverage of Questor’s drug to help treat multiple sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome. The 52-week high is $58.91.

Shares of ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) are up 8.01% to $27.70 on trading volume of 5.6 million shares. Excluding special items, the food maker earned 44 cents a share in the first-quarter, better than the 36 cents a share Wall St. analysts polled by Reuters expected. The company also raised its full-year profit outlook to between $2.03 to $2.06 a share, up from $1.95 to $1.99 a share. Before Thursday, the 52-week high was $27.34.

Biggest Losers

Shares of Ascent Solar Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTI) are down 26.19% to $1.24 on trading volume of 3.1 million shares. The company announced it was selling nearly 9.2 million shares of common stock at $1.20 a share. The 52-week low is 36 cents.

Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) are down 8.53% to $62.92 on trading volume of 4.9 million shares. The retailer reported second-quarter earnings of 98 cents a share, below the $1.02 a share Wall St. expected. The 52-week low is $53.15.

Samuel Weigley

Follow him on Twitter: SWeigley

Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored

A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.