Dow, Nasdaq hit record highs as rally regains steam

U.S. stocks were higher in later morning trading on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite hitting record levels and the S&P 500 coming within spitting distance of yet another all-time high. The S&P 500 is trading at 17.7 times forward 12-month earnings, above the 10-year median of 14.7 times, according to StarMine data. Fourth-quarter earnings are estimated to have risen 8.2 percent - the best in nine quarters.