Midday movers: Comcast, GE, Cliffs Natural

Stocks are mixed following the President's State of the Union address and a report that showed retail sales growth slowed in January.

By MSN Money Partner Feb 13, 2013 2:33PM
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Comcast (CMCSA) announced several important developments late Tuesday and investors reacted favorably, sending its stock up over 4%. The company reported its Q4 results but also announced it will buy General Electric'’s (GE) remaining 49% equity stake in NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion, increased its dividend by 20% to 78 cents per share and said it plans to buy back $2 billion of its stock in 2013. 

After the earlier than expected sale of the JV interest, GE said it was raising its share repurchase plan to $35 billion and accelerating its 2013 share buybacks to about $10 billion and its shares rose about 3%.

Among the notable gainers was Proto Labs (PRLB), up 23%, after its better than expected earnings report as well as a positive mention of 3D printing technology by President Obama last night. 

Shares of publicly traded 3D printer makers moved up as well, including 3D Systems (DDD) and ExOne (XONE). Also higher were shares of WellCare (WCG), which gained 10% after its earnings and revenue both beat consensus expectations. Among the noteworthy losers after earnings reports that sparked analyst downgrades were Bankrate (RATE), down nearly 20% and downgraded at Citi, Rackspace (RAX), down 18% and downgraded at Stifel Nicolaus, and Cliffs Natural (CLF), which was downgraded at Deutsche Bank, Citi and Macquarie and saw shares fall about 19%. 
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