The second factor driving up stocks today is expectation-beating earnings. Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE: TRV ) is among today's best Dow stocks, up 2.2% after beating Wall Street earnings forecasts. The insurance company reported that earnings were up 11% to $2.33 per share, well above expectations of $2.02. Revenue was down 1% to 6.39 billion — still above expectations of $6.23 billion. Travelers was able increase its prices in the quarter, and the company suffered less in catastrophe losses than expected. The company also announced that it would increase its dividend by 9% to $0.50 for a forward yield of 2.3% and that it had repurchased 3.7 million shares in the first quarter. Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE: TRV ) still has a $1.86 billion buyback authorization remaining. Today's Dow leaders E I Du Pont De Nemours And Co (NYSE: DD ) is faring even better, up 3.8%.