U.S. Stocks Rise on Earnings as Investors Assess Data

U.S. stocks rose, putting the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index three points from a record, as corporate earnings beat estimates and signs of slower economic growth fueled bets the Federal Reserve will maintain stimulus.

Homebuilders rallied 3.3 percent as a group after PulteGroup Inc.’s profit surged. McKesson Corp. jumped 4.9 percent after boosting its annual forecast and agreeing to buy Germany’s Celesio AG for about 3.9 billion euros ($5.4 billion). Citrix Systems Inc. climbed 4.9 percent as it raised its share buyback. Xerox Corp. tumbled the most in four years after its forecast trailed analysts’ estimates.