Stocks Ended Higher on Earnings

U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday as investors embraced a first-quarter earnings season expected to top low expectations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 181.19 points, or 1.41%, to 12,986.58. The S&P 500 climbed 18.86 points, or 1.38%, to 1,387.57. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 39.09 points, or 1.30%, to 3,055.55.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) on Thursday reported a first-quarter profit of $2.89 billion, or $8.75 a share, compared with a profit of $1.8 billion, or $5.51 a share, for the year-earlier period. Revenue was $10.65 billion, up from $8.58 billion.

Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE:DOW) said late Thursday its board raised the company’s second-quarter dividend by 28% to 32 cents a share. The dividend will be paid on July 30 to shareholders of record on June 29.