user: IN: Navistar pickup hides military secrets
If you’ve ever seen videos from an African or Asian warzone, you’ve probably noticed most of them have something in common: midsize pickups. Lots of them.

Usually Toyotas, but increasingly Chinese, the typically white, crew cab trucks are a favorite mode of transportation for both combatants and folks just going about their business in developing nations.

So, if you’re from out of town and looking to fit in, say on a secret recon mission with your special ops team, they’re a good way to go, but not exactly military spec. That’s why Navistar has developed the SOTV-B, a purpose-built tactical vehicle that was designed to look like your average pickup, but isn’t.

Based on the SOTV-A, which wears a more official uniform, the SOTV-B is fitted with the most generic bodywork imaginable. There’s nothing distinguishing about it at all, but if you’re still concerned the locals have gotten wise to your presence, the body panels are modular and can be easily swapped out for a quick change in appearance.

Regardless of what it’s wearing, the SOTV-B skin hides some serious equipment underneath. While it sports the profile of a regular truck, it rides on a chassis that features an armored safety cell, C4ISR electronics suite, fully-independent Dynatrac independent suspension, 4x4 system with transfer case, Allison 6-speed transmission, and a 4.5-liter 4-cylinder Cummins turbo diesel engine with 250 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

That’s heavy duty hauling power, and with a 3,000-pound payload capacity and gross vehicle weight rating of 12,500 pounds, the SOTV-B needs it. It can also ford two feet of water and climb up a 60 degree slope. And if that’s still not enough to get into or out of a sticky situation, the 78-inch wide truck fits inside a Chinook helicopter, so just call HQ for an airlift and you’re good to go.

Believe it or not, Navistar isn’t the only company competing in this segment. A couple of years ago, Battelle scored a contract to supply Special Operations Command with 200 modified Toyota trucks like the ones SOTV-B is trying to imitate. So you might want to think about putting one of those antenna balls on your team's truck to make it easier to pick out in the top secret motor pool.

Quick military spin: 1975 Volvo C303
What is a short summary of the above article?

OUT: The pickup with secrets.


IN: UPDATE 3-Home improvement chain Lowe's profit misses on higher costs, taxes
* 2nd-qtr selling, general costs rise 2.6 pct

* Tax rate rises to 38.1 pct from 37.3 pct

* Profit $1.20/share vs est. $1.24

(Adds details, graphic; updates shares)

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit, hurt by higher costs and taxes, and the No.2 U.S. home improvement chain posted its slowest growth in same-store sales in five quarters.

Lowe's selling and general expenses rose 2.6 percent in the second quarter and tax rate increased to 38.1 percent from 37.3 percent.

The company's same-store sales rose 4.3 percent, slowing from 4.4-7.3 percent growth in the prior four quarters, but beating average analyst estimate of 3.9 percent, according to research firm Consensus Metrix.

Lowe's said sales of lumber and building materials, paint, and lawn and garden equipment were below average. The lumber and building materials category is its second largest, accounting for about 12 percent of total sales in 2014.

Demand was low also for exterior improvement items due to heavy rain in parts of the United States, analysts said.

However, Lowe's net sales rose 4.5 percent to $17.35 billion, helped by higher demand for items such as appliances and outdoor power equipment.

The company sells items such as refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines in its kitchens and appliances category, its biggest. Its outdoor power equipment category includes chainsaws and generators.

Larger rival Home Depot Inc reported a stronger-than-expected rise in quarterly same-store sales on Tuesday, helped by increased home remodeling activity in the United States and a recovery in the housing market.

Lowe's net income rose 8.7 percent to $1.13 billion, or $1.20 per share, in the quarter ended July 31.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of $1.24 per share and revenue of $17.27 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Unlike Home Depot, which raised its full-year profit and sales forecasts, Lowe's maintained its forecast of a profit of about $3.29 per share, sales growth of 4.5-5.0 percent and same-store sales growth of 4.0-4.5 percent for the year ending January.

Lowe's shares were up slightly at $73.15 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Up to Tuesday's close, the stock had risen about 45 percent in the past 12 months.
What is a short summary of the above article?

OUT:

assistant: *Profit $1.20/ share vs est. Aug 19- Lowe's Cos Inc reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit, hurt by higher costs and taxes, and the No.2 U.S. home improvement chain posted its slowest growth in same-store sales in five quarters. Demand was low also for exterior improvement items due to heavy rain in parts of the United States, analysts said.