The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) is rebounding after yesterday's big drop. As of 1:15 p.m. EDT the Dow is up 142 points, or 0.97%, to 14,741. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) is up 1.24% to 1,572.
There were four U.S. economic releases today.
| Consumer price index | March | (0.2%) | 0.7% |
| Core CPI | March | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Housing starts | March | 1.04 million | 968,000 |
| Building permits | March | 902,000 | 939,000 |
| Industrial production | March | 0.4% | 1.1% |
Source: MarketWatch U.S. Economic Calendar.
The two to focus on are the housing numbers. February's rate of housing starts was revised upward from 917,000 to 968,000. In March, housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.04 million -- the highest level since late 2008.
Growth in housing starts for both February and March is good news for the ongoing recovery of the housing market, which has been strengthening over the past year. There are worrying signs ahead, however: Building permits dropped in March from 939,000 to 902,000. Building permits are a leading indicator of future housing starts. While permits were down 4% month over month, they are still up 17% from March 2012.
US Housing Starts data by YCharts.
Coke stock leads the Dow
Today's Dow leader is Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO ) , up 5.6% to $42.35 after it reported first-quarter earnings. The company earned $0.39 per share, or $0.46 when you exclude one-time items. That's better than the year-ago quarter's $0.45 and better than analyst expectations of $0.45. Revenue was $11.04 billion, down 1% from the year ago but better than analyst expectations of $11.02 billion. Worldwide, the company saw 4% growth in volume, with 3% growth in the U.S. and 5% growth abroad.
In the U.S., Coke announced that it will sell some of its internal bottling operations to its five U.S. independent bottlers: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE ) , Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Swire Coca-Cola USA, Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country and Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works. No details were released, but the company did say it expects to close the deals in 2014.
Long-term Coke shareholders should be concerned by the rising tide against soda in the U.S. However, Coke's diversification into global markets and other beverages like juice and tea both cap this risk over the long run.
Coca-Cola's wide moat has helped provide its shareholders with superior gains in the past, but the company faces some new threats to its continued market dominance. The Motley Fool recently compiled a premium research report containing everything you need to know about Coca-Cola. If you own or are considering buying shares in the company, you'll want to click here now and get started!
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