Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Caterpillar (CAT), Disney (DIS), Home Depot (HD), McDonald’s (MCD), 3M (MMM), Microsoft (MSFT), UnitedHealth (UNH), United Technologies (UTX) and Wal-Mart (WMT). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +37 points.

Wednesday the Dow was up +232.23 (+1.12%) at 20,996.12.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +6.14%.

There were 14 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by Verizon (VZ) +1.41% and United Technologies (UTX) +1.14%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Procter & Gamble (PG) -2.51% and Boeing (BA) -0.98%.

McDonald’s (MCD -0.61%) was upgraded to ‘Buy’ from ‘Hold’ at Argus with a price target of $158.

Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT) report after the close today.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 257,000 for the week ended April 22. Data for the prior week was revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported. Economists had forecast first-time applications for jobless benefits rising to 245,000 last week.

European stocks are lower and Asian markets ended mostly higher.

The national average price of gasoline is down five-tenths of a cent at $2.403 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) reported earnings on 3/21/2017 after the market close of $0.68, beating estimates calling for $0.524 per share.

JPMorgan (JPM) reported earnings on 4/13/2017 before the market open of $1.65, beating estimates calling for $1.512 per share.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported earnings on 4/18/2017 before the market open of $1.83, beating estimates of $1.767 per share.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported earnings on 4/18/2017 before the market open of $5.15, missing estimates calling for $5.34 per share.

UnitedHealth (UNH) reported earnings on 4/18/2017 before the market open of $2.37, beating estimates of $2.18 per share.

IBM (IBM) reported earnings on 4/18/2017 after the market close of $2.38, beating estimates calling for $2.341 per share.

American Express (AXP) reported earnings on 4/19/2017 after the market close of $1.34, beating estimates calling for $1.276 per share.

Travelers (TRV) reported earnings on 4/20/2017 before the market open of $2.16, missing estimates calling for $2.409 per share.

Verizon (VZ) reported earnings on 4/20/2017 before the market open of $0.95, missing estimates calling for $0.977 per share.

Visa (V) reported earnings on 4/20/2017 after the market close of $0.86, beating estimates calling for $0.789 per share.

General Electric (GE) reported earnings on 4/21/2017 before the market open of $0.21, beating estimates calling for $0.17 per share.

3M (MMM) reported earnings on 4/25/2017 before the market open$2.16, beating estimates calling for $2.069 per share.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported earnings on 4/25/2017 before the market open of $1.28, smashing estimates calling for $0.618 per share.

Dupont (DD) reported earnings on 4/25/2017 before the market open of $1.64, beating estimates of $1.383 per share.

Coca Cola (KO) reported earnings on 4/25/2017 before the market open of $0.43, missing estimates calling for $0.438 per share.

McDonald’s (MCD) reported earnings on 4/25/2017 before the market open of $1.47, beating estimates calling for $1.318 per share.

Boeing (BA) reported earnings on 4/26/2017 before the market open of $2.01, beating estimates of $1.914 per share.

United Technologies (UTX) reported earnings on 4/26/2017 before the market open of $1.48, beating estimates calling for $1.387 per share.

Procter & Gamble (PG) reported earnings on 4/26/2017 before the market open of $0.96, beating estimates of $0.936 per share.

Intel (INTC) reports earnings on 4/27/2017 after the market close.

Microsoft (MSFT) reports earnings on 4/27/2017 after the market close.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reports earnings on 4/28/2017 before the market open.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Intel (INTC)

Intel (INTC) is up +1.82% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected +1,000 to 245,000, previous +10,000 to 244,000. Weekly continuing claims expected +28,000 to 2.007 million, previous -49,000 to 1.979 million.

0830 ET Mar durable goods orders expected +1.3% and +0.4% ex transportation, Feb +1.8% and +0.5% ex transportation. Mar capital goods new orders non-defense ex aircraft & parts expected +0.5%, Feb -0.1%.

0830 ET Mar wholesale inventories expected +0.3% m/m, Feb +0.4% m/m. Mar retail inventories, Feb +0.4% m/m.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.

1000 ET Mar pending home sales expected -1.0% m/m, Feb +5.5% m/m and -2.4% y/y.

1100 ET Apr Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity expected -3 to 17, Mar +6 to 20.

1300 ET Treasury auctions $28 billion 7-year T-notes.