Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE)’s film unit can’t seem to catch a break. Activist investor Dan Loeb ridiculed the studio for producing flops, while box-office receipts declined 36% last year. The parent company has targeted the studio for cost cuts. Sony needs a hit. Unfortunately the company’s latest would-be blockbuster, “RoboCop,” had an underwhelming opening weekend. It grossed $21.5 million over three days in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo, even less than the lukewarm $25.6 million opening weekend for Sony’s previous Paul Verhoeven remake, 2012’s critically reviled “Total Recall.” Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) stock opened at $16.79 in last trading session, and closed at $17.06, trading in the range of $16.79 – $17.13. The stock showed a positive weekly performance of 1.43%.
Illumina and a Billionaire Want to Jump-Start Genomics Upstarts. Last week, Illumina, the top seller of gene sequencing machines, announced a deal in tandem with Yuri Milner, the billionaire Russian investor behind Facebook, Twitter, and many other Web companies, to provide some aid to a select group of genomics startups. Illumina will carve out a laboratory at its San Francisco research facility for startups and provide them with sequencing equipment, $100,000 for such things as chemical reagents, and coaching on how to start and run their businesses. Milner and Silicon Valley Bank will lend financial support as well. Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) shares closed at $164.33 on last trade day, by gaining 0.34%. Stock 52 week range is $48.00 – $165.45. Company’s market capitalization is $20.77 billion.
In the latest look at the underlying components of the S&P 500 ordered by largest market capitalization, Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) has taken over the #348 spot from Akamai Technologies Inc (Symbol: AKAM), according to The Online Investor . Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) stock decreased -0.87% and finished the last session at $57.14. The EPS of the stock remained 1.81. Company’s market capitalization is $10.70 billion.
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 2/18/14, Gildan Activewear Inc, Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), and Autoliv Inc. will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Gildan Activewear Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.108 on 3/17/14, Mattel Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.38 on 3/7/14, and Autoliv Inc. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.52 on 3/6/14. Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) stock opened at $36.62 in last trading session and closed at $36.65. The 52 week range of the stock is $35.85 – $48.48 and the day range was $36.51 – $36.81.