The S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY) is up by 0.07% today and stands at 1,359. These four stocks are ahead of the market uptrend.

First Solar Inc.’s (NASDAQ:FSLR) spokesman, Alan Bernheimer, said Friday it had received approval to continue a major solar power project in California. Not elaborating, Bernheimer said that the Tempe, Ariz., solar power developer had resolved all permitting issues that held up the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One project. FSLR shares recently traded at $42.53, up $2.82, or 7.1%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $42.50 to $175.45. Volume today was 7,386,223 shares versus a 3-month average volume of 4,361,100 shares. The company’s trailing P/E is 6.98, while trailing earnings are $6.09 per share.

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NiSource (NYSE:NI) needs to be closely monitored, as it is having a huge mid-day spike for reasons unknown as yet. NI shares recently traded at $24.23, up $1.13, or 4.89%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $17.95 to $24.06. Volume today was 6,055,989 shares versus a 3-month average volume of 2,976,350 shares. The company’s trailing P/E is 23.20, while trailing earnings are $1.03 per share.

Heinz’ (NYSE:HNZ) third-quarter earnings rose 13% from the prior year’s third quarter to 95 cents, beating consensus by 10 cents. The condiment and frozen food producer said that its sales rose 7% to $2.92 billion, above views. HNZ shares recently traded at $54.55, up $2.45, or 4.7%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $46.99 to $55.00. Volume today was 4,101,419 shares versus a 3-month average volume of 1,981,810 shares. The company’s trailing P/E is 18.39, while trailing earnings are $2.96 per share.

Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:ZION) followed the regional bank’s investor day on Thursday with shares up strongly today. Zion’s investors were told that it has enough capital and liquidity to repay its obligations under the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program. ZION shares recently traded at $19.85, up $0.69, or 3.6%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $13.18 to $24.92. Volume today was 4,440,891 shares versus a 3-month average volume of 3,565,950 shares. The company’s trailing earnings are $-0.01 per share.

Investor Insights:

Consumer Prices Log Moderate Gains in January.
NYSE, CME Group, and ICE Battle for London Metal Exchange.
General Electric Leads These 4 Stocks to the Top of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Lawson at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com

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