Stocks were little changed on Friday as investors paused to assess the sustainability of recent better-than-expected results from major companies, including banks.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was off 3.98 points, or 0.05 percent, to 8,121.45. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 2.05 points, or 0.24 percent, to 863.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 12.75 points, or 0.76 percent, to 1,657.69.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)