Reversal of Fortune for Stocks

Dow component Honeywell (HON Quote) matched analyst expectations, earning 47 cents a share. This was down slightly from last year's 50-cent profit, but the company posted a 5.7% gain in revenue. The company's stock gained 27 cents, or 0.8%, to $35.95.

Sears (S Quote) walloped expectations, earning $2.24 in the fourth quarter, with analysts looking for $1.98 a share. The retailer has suffered lately at the hands of Wal-Mart (WMT Quote), but it managed to improve from last year's $2.11 profit. Sears' stock plunged $1.43, or 3.1%, to $44.37.

Exxon Mobil (XOM Quote) said it earned 68 cents in the fourth quarter, dramatically higher than the consensus of 58 cents; the company earned 56 cents last year. The stock rallied 66 cents, or 1.6%, to $41.47.

Two more pharmaceutical companies reported quarterly earnings misses. MedImmune(MEDI Quote) said it had earnings of 32 cents a share, excluding items, below the consensus estimate of 33 cents a share. Sales increased 6.2%. And AstraZeneca(AZN Quote) had a profit of 38 cents a share, compared with Wall Street's estimates for 40 cents a share, on a 0.5% decline in total sales. Shares of MedImmune improved $1.48, or 6.7%, at $23.71, while AstraZeneca slipped 91 cents, or 1.8%, to $48.47.

Verizon(VZ Quote) said it earned 58 cents a share in the fourth quarter, which was 2 cents above analysts' consensus view. Revenue rose 0.7%. The shares climbed 33 cents, or 0.9%, to $37.09.

JetBlue Airways(JBLU Quote) earned 17 cents a share in its most recent quarter, matching analysts' consensus, on a 40% surge in revenue. The stock dropped 51 cents, or 2.1%, to $23.49.

And fourth-quarter earnings at Duke Energy(DUK Quote) were 22 cents a share, easily surpassing analysts' consensus for 13 cents a share. Revenue was up 7.7%. Duke shares improved 55 cents, or 2.6%, to $23.49.