The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.18%) was trading seven points higher, or 0.04%, by midafternoon as earnings season inches closer to an end. A total of 451 companies in the S&P 500 had reported earnings results as of this morning, with 69% beating estimates. That's above the 63% average since 1994 and the 66% mark over the last four quarters, according to Reuters. Overall profits are expected to rise 5.4% this quarter, which is below the 6.5% estimated at the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, here are some companies making headlines in the market today.
Inside the Dow, Boeing's (BA 1.08%) delivered 56 commercial airplanes deliveries in April, which is 10 fewer than the prior month and under the pace required to meet its full-year delivery guidance.
This is important to Boeing investors because the aviation juggernaut receives the majority of cash from its sales when customers fly the airplanes back home. By the numbers, Boeing last month delivered 39 of its 737 narrow-body airplane (five fewer than in March's performance), eight 787 Dreamliners and eight 777s (compared to 10 each in March), and one 747 (compared to two the previous month).
While the sequential decline in deliveries isn't favorable, it's not enough to raise a red flag for Boeing investors -- at least not yet. It's normal for month-to-month deliveries to vary; it's definitely more accurate to judge on a quarterly basis. That said, investors should keep an eye on commercial aircraft deliveries as we progress through the second quarter; So far, Boeing stands by its expectation to deliver between 715 and 725 commercial airplanes in 2014.
In industrial news closer to the ground, Ford (F +0.68%) is also in the news for unfavorable reasons. Round and around we go, where the next recall comes from, nobody knows. General Motors' massive, high-profile recall debacle has given other automakers an opportunity to announce recalls of millions of their own vehicles without being placed under an unwanted spotlight.
Ford on Friday announced the recall of nearly 1.4 million vehicles for an air bag malfunction and door handles that may not latch properly. The air bag issue involves roughly 692,000 Escape and C-Max models, while the door handle defect covers an additional 692,700 Escapes.
According to my unofficial count, this marks the eighth recall for Ford's popular Escape crossover. However, likely due to the limited nature of the recall issues, sales haven't been negatively affected over the last two years.
