Stocks Opened Higher on Strong Earnings

U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday as strong earnings from Netflix, Goldman Sachs and health majors boosted optimism. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 241.86 points, or 0.98%, to 24,814.90. The S&P 500 gained 22.12 points, or 0.83%, to 2,699.96. The Nasdaq Composite added 81.26 points, or 1.14%, to 7,237.54.

Crude-oil futures saw muted action in early Tuesday trade as political jitters centered on military conflicts in the Middle East receded somewhat. May West Texas Intermediate crude edged 4 cents, or less than 0.1%, higher at $66.26 a barrel. June Brent ticked up by 3 cents, or less than 0.1%, to $71.45 a barrel.

UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) on Tuesday posted quarterly profit that beat estimates. UnitedHealth’s net earnings rose to $2.84 billion, or $2.87 per share, in the first quarter ended March 31 from $2.17 billion, or $2.23 per share, a year earlier. Total revenue rose 13.3 percent to $55.19 billion.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc blew past Wall Street’s expectations for quarterly profit on Tuesday. Net income applicable to common shareholders rose 27 percent to $2.74 billion, or $6.95 per share, and blew past the average analyst estimate of $5.58 per share. Total revenue rose 25 percent to $10.04 billion.