S&P MidCap 400 in Focus: UVV FL

The index--which is used to track mid-sized companies which have a market capitalization of $1.5 billion to $5.5 billion--lost 11 points to 857.84. According to S&P, midcap stocks make up roughly 7 percent of the U.S. equities market.

After the closing bell Thursday, Universal said its profit fell 49 percent, as the company said shipments to South America, Europe and Asia were finished earlier than in the previous year. Revenue decreased 7 percent.

The stock dropped $8.06, or 13 percent, to $53.74.

Shares of clothing retailer Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. fell after the company posted a larger first-quarter loss and cut its profit forecasts. The stock gave up $1.22, or 12.1 percent, to $8.89, and set a five-and-a-half-year low of $8.82.

Shares of electronic payments company ACI Worldwide Inc. lost $1.25, or 7 percent, to $16.62.

About 35 of the 400 stocks were up, with athletic shoe retailer Foot Locker Inc. advancing $1.30, or 10.8 percent, to $13.37. The company reported solid fiscal first-quarter results on Thursday, and backed its full-year outlook.

Shares of robotic surgery device maker Intuitive Surgical Inc. gained $10.08, or 3.7 percent, to $284.83. Standard & Poor's said Thursday that Intuitive will be added to the S&P 500 index, replacing Bear Stearns Cos. When companies are added to indexes, shares usually rise because the index funds that track them must now buy the shares.

Medical technology company Hologic Inc. picked up $1.07, or 4.7 percent, to $23.81.