Stocks in the news: Wal-Mart, Kohl's Corp, LDK Solar

The following post rounds up the companies making headlines today:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) reported second quarter earnings this morning, posting a surprise rise in profit, even if it was by a penny a share. Wal-Mart earned $3.45 billion, or 88 cents a share, up from $3.4 billion, or 87 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales, however, fell to $100.9 billion from $102.3 billion. This was above estimates for profit of 86 cents a share, but below sales estimates of $103.1 billion, according to Thomson Reuters. Wal-Mart raised the bottom end of its full-year profit forecast. Shares climbed nearly 2 percent ahead of the bell.

LDK Solar (LDK) reported a bigger-than-expected $217 million loss and the company's third-quarter sales missed estimates. Shares fell over 12 percent in pre-market trading.