Stocks rose for a third day on Tuesday, led by utilities and other defensive shares and the prospect of still-strong profit growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 75.91 points, or 0.60 percent, at 12,760.59, according to the latest available data. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 10.90 points, or 0.81 percent, at 1,357.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 28.64 points, or 1.01 percent, at 2,871.89.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)