Industrials

Alliant Techsystems is taking a second look at its merger with Orbital Sciences, whose unmanned NASA rocket exploded after liftoff Tuesday night.

Caterpillar reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter and raised its outlook as it continues to keep costs in check.

Boeing recorded 17% earnings growth in the third quarter and again raised its full-year outlook amid surging demand for commercial jets.

The aluminum maker unofficially kicked off 3Q earnings season with a beat on both lines -- profits-per-share of 31 cents on revenues of $6.24 billion topped views. Shares climbed about 2% after hours.

With crude gushing from the Permian Basin, companies are ramping up efforts to build pipelines and better capitalize on the production surge.

Alcoa returned to profitability in its fiscal second quarter, driven by stronger results for the company’s metals business.

Alcoa reached a deal with Oak Hill Capital Partners to buy Firth Rixson, a maker of jet engine parts, for $2.85 billion.

Dow Chemical will break ground on a manufacturing plant in Freeport, Texas this weekend that is expected to create some 2,000 temporary jobs over the next three years and generate significant revenues in the Gulf. 

Owens Corning cut its earnings guidance for the full year amid continued weakness at the company's roofing business.

Climate Corp., a unit of seed giant Monsanto, reported a data breach that left some credit-card and employee information exposed.

Flint Hills Resources, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, agreed to buy PetroLogistics for $2.1 billion in cash, expanding its chemicals business.

Deere reported earnings that slipped 9.5% in its second quarter, as sales of the company’s farm equipment were worse than anticipated.

Caterpillar handily beat Wall Street estimates with a first-quarter profit that climbed 4.8%, as strong sales of construction equipment offset continued weakness in mining.

United Tech's profit declined 4.2% in the first quarter, as restructuring costs overshadowed sales growth for the company’s defense and construction businesses.

General Electric reported weaker earnings and revenue for the first quarter, but the conglomerate’s bottom line still topped estimates amid strong results from its energy businesses.

Johnson Controls agreed to a $1.6 billion deal to buy Air Distribution Technologies, adding to the diversified manufacturer’s ventilation business.

Boeing said it will inspect the wings of about 40 Dreamliner jets still in production after learning of a possible manufacturing defect at a supplier.

Honeywell expects to book double-digit earnings growth through 2018, as the company looks to boost annual sales to $51 billion.

Blue-chip beverage giant Coca-Cola announced a 9% bump to its quarterly dividend and the retirement of its CFO.

Shares of Deere advanced more than 1% after posting a stronger-than-expected 5% increase in fiscal first-quarter profits.