Why BlackBerry, Accenture, Steelcase and Two Other Stocks are Trending Today?

All eyes on the UK on Thursday where a fateful referendum is underway which will decide whether the country should leave the European Union.

Latest polls this morning show that “Remain” has a lead on “Leave” so far. Rising oil prices also contributed to the spike in US stocks today. Among the trending stocks are BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN), Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC), Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS), and Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY). This article takes a closer took on the factors moving these stocks are analyzes what elite funds think of these companies.

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Blackberry Posts First Quarter Results

Let’s start with BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), whose stock has gained 2% before the bell after the company reported a break even adjusted EPS of $0.00 for the fiscal first quarter, better than the estimated loss $0.08 per share. Revenue for the quarter came in at $424 million, worse than the expected $470.94 million, as the company’s smartphone sales continue to suffer. Net loss came in at $670 million or $1.28 a share. Blackberry’s CEO said during the earnings call that the company’s first Android phone didn’t sell get a good response due to its high price. Mr. Chen said that Blackberry more than doubled its software revenue on a year-over-year basis for the second consecutive quarter due to its EMM, secure messaging and QNX embedded software businesses. A total of 24 hedge funds from our database were positioned in BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) as of the end of the first quarter. Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Holdings owns approximately 46.72 million shares of the company.

Accenture Beats Estimates

Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN)’s stock gained 0.39% in premarket trading today after the company posted better than expected better-than-expected fiscal third quarter financial results,  driven by a strong demand for consulting services.  The Dublin, Ireland-based company reported EPS of $1.41, in-line with the estimates, but revenue of $8.43 billion topped the consensus estimate of $8.34 billion. New bookings in the quarter were worth $9.1 billion and show a 2% foreign-currency impact as compared to the same quarter last year. For the full year, Accenture sees its EPS in the range of $5.29 to $5.33. With approximately 1.32 million shares of Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN), Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management is one of 34 hedge funds from our database that held stakes in the company at the end of the first quarter.

On the next page, we discuss why Commercial Metals Company, Steelcase and Bed Bath & Beyond are on the move today.

Commercial Metals Company Posts Impressive Results for the Third Quarter

Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) is in the spotlight today after the company beat estimates for the fiscal third quarter. The Texas-based steel and metals manufacturer posted EPS of $0.30, better than the analysts’ estimates of $0.25, while revenue came in at $1.23 billion, versus the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. The company said in a statement that it expects its fourth-quarter results to remain strong and consistent with its performance in the third quarter. The demand from the US construction market remains strong as non-residential construction spending was up by 5% year over year in April 2016. Among the funds we track, 21 were long Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) at the end of the first quarter.

Steelcase Plunges After Posting Dismal Guidance for FQ2

Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS)’s shares have declined by around 4% after the company posted a bleak guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The Michigan based furniture company sees its EPS in the range of $0.29 to $0.33 in the second quarter, versus the consensus of $0.37 and revenue outlook stands in the range of $770 million to $795 million, sharply down from the analysts’ expectations of $827.3 million. For the fiscal first quarter, Steelcase’s EPS of $0.18 was above the estimates of $0.16, while revenue of $718.8 million, topped the expected $702.37 million. According to our data, 25 investors amassed some $98.2 million worth of Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS)’s stock at the end of the first quarter. Chuck Royce’s Royce & Associates owns around 1.85 million shares of the company.

Bed Bath & Beyond Misses Estimates

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY)’s stock plunged after the bell on Thursday but has recovered in the first hours of trading after the company posted a surprise sales decline and disappointing earnings for the fiscal first quarter. The New Jersey based domestic merchandise company reported EPS of $0.80, below the analysts’ estimates of $0.86. Its revenue of $2.74 billion also missed the expectations of $2.78 billion. Comparable sales in the quarter slipped by 0.5% as compared to a rise of 2.2% in the same quarter of the last year. Bed Bath & Beyond is facing a tough competition from rivals like Amazon. In order to increase its eCommerce sales, the company recently acquired One Kings Lane, a home decor business that operates a furniture and home accessories sales website. At the end of the first quarter, 25 funds from our database were bullish on Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY), having amassed $314.5 million worth of stock in aggregate.

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