Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS), the global pharmaceuticals company posted Q3 earnings and sales that topped estimates. Group net income rose 45% to $3.2 billion, mainly due to higher operating income, and income from associated companies, which included a pre-tax gain of $0.8 billion from the sale of the shares of Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. to Merck & Co. (MRK).EPS was $1.33, up 48% and higher than net income because of a reduced number of shares outstanding. Group core net income rose 9% to $3.3 billion or $1.37 a share. Analysts had expected adjusted earnings of $1.30. Net sales of $14.7 billion grew 4% and were ahead of forecasts for $14.5 billion. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook for net sales to grow at a low to mid-single digit rate and core operating income to grow ahead of sales at a mid to high-single digit rate. The shares recently traded at $92.42 with a 52-week range of $76.36 - $95.50.Coverage of interactive multichannel retailer HSN, Inc. (HSNI) has been initiated by analysts at Brean Capital with a buy rating and a price target of $74 a share. The price target on the stock represents a potential upside of 12% from its Monday closing price. Shares of HSNI have a 52-week trading range of $51.59 - $66.31.Receptos Inc (NASDAQ:RCPT), the biopharmaceutical firm reported promising results for its ulcerative colitis drug, RPC1063. The company said the drug met its primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints with statistical significance in patients administered with a 1mg dose of RPC1063 in an 8-week induction period. Based on the results of the phase 2 trial, Receptos Inc (NASDAQ:RCPT) said it plans to launch a late-phase clinical trial in 2015 and a phase 2 trial looking at the potential for RPC1063 to be used in the treatment of Crohn's disease. RCPT shares are moving above the top end of the 52-week range of $20.90 - $68.54.PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ:PCAR), the manufacturer of trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates reported Q3 results above analysts' expectations. PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ:PCAR) is trading in a 52-week range of $53.59 to $68.81. Net income rose to $371.4 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, up from $309.4 million, or $0.87 per share, a year earlier. Analysts polled by Capital IQ were expecting $0.96 per share, on average. Net sales and revenue for trucks and parts climbed to $4.62 billion from $4.01 billion, topping the $4.44 billion expected on average by the Street. Financial-services revenue rose to $305.9 million from $293.5 million."PACCAR's third-quarter results reflect the benefits of strong truck sales in the U.S. and Canada, and excellent aftermarket parts revenue and financial services results worldwide," said CEO Ron Armstrong. He added: "Our North American customers are benefiting from good economic growth, record freight tonnage, improving freight rates and the excellent operating efficiency of our new Kenworth and Peterbilt models in the on-highway and construction markets."
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