U.S. stocks were little changed in early trading Thursday as investors weighed disappointing quarterly results and forecasts from several big companies. Telecom stocks fell, while health care stocks mostly rose.
KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average edged down 5 points to 18,232 as of 10:27 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped 3 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,141. The Nasdaq composite index fell 10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,235.
BAD DEAL: EBay slumped 10.2 percent after the e-commerce giant reported disappointing fourth-quarter results. The stock was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500, sliding $3.31 to $29.22.
HANG UP: Verizon slid 2.8 percent after the company posted weak quarterly revenue as it added far fewer wireless and internet service subscribers than a year ago. The stock shed $1.33 to $49.05. Rival AT&T also fell, shedding 77 cents, or 2 percent, to $38.61.
RAILROADED: Union Pacific was down 3.6 percent after it said weak demand for consumer goods had dampened its freight and coal shipments volume. The railroad operator slid $3.49 to $93.63.