Ford, CIT Group: Monday's Headlines

(Updated with BofA TARP news, earnings from Clorox and Sysco.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are the top stock market headlines for the morning of Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.

Monday's Earnings Roundup

• Ford (F Quote) reported a surprise third-quarter profit of 26 cents a share, compared to expectations the automaker would post a loss of 12 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters. Revenue fell 2.5% from a year ago to $30.9 billiion, much better than the consensus target of $28.3 billion. Ford said its U.S. market share increased by 2.2 percentage points compared to last year as Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands all posted sales gains.
• Humana (HUM Quote) said it had a third-quarter profit of $1.78 a share, beating the Thomson Reuters average estimate by a penny. Revenue climbed 8% to $7.72 billion, falling short of the $7.82 billion consensus target. Looking ahead, Humana offered better-than-expected earnings guidance for the full year, although the revenue guidance is below Wall Street's consensus. For 2010, Humana offered worse-than-expected earnings guidance but a stronger revenue forecast.
• Dean Foods (DF Quote) posted third-quarter adjusted earnings of 34 cents a share, a penny better than the Thomson Reuters average estimate. Revenue slid 13.2% from a year ago to $2.77 billion, below the consensus target of $2.94 billion. Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, Dean Foods said it expects earnings of at least 36 cents a share on an adjusted basis, compared to forecasts for a profit of 39 cents a share.
• Loews (L Quote) reported a third-quarter adjusted profit of $1.08 a share, well ahead of the Thomson Reuters average estimate of 89 cents a share. Revenue jumped nearly 26% from a year ago to $3.74 billion, also ahead of targets.
• Clorox (CLX Quote) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $1.11 a share, topping the Thomson Reuters average estimate for a profit of 95 cents a share. Revenue fell nearly 1% from a year ago to $1.37 billion, matching forecasts. Clorox offered in-line guidance for the full year, as well.
• Sysco (SYY Quote) posted fiscal first-quarter adjusted earnings of 46 cents a share, a penny better than estimates. Revenue fell just over 8% from a year ago to $9.08 billion, falling short of the Thomson Reuters average estimate of $9.16 billion.