U.S. stocks were flat on Monday as surprisingly strong payrolls growth data softened the concern about slower first-quarter earnings growth.

The first major financial reports begin later this week, and expectations for profit growth by Standard & Poor's 500 companies declined to 5.0 percent compared with a year ago from a 9.2 percent estimate when the quarter began.

U.S. stock markets reacted for the first time to Friday's news from the Labor Department that 180,000 new jobs were added in March, indicating the economy remains stable despite a slowdown in housing markets. The stock markets were closed on Good Friday.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 5.12 points, or 0.04 percent, to 12,565.32. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index inched up 0.83 points, or 0.06 percent, to 1,444.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.20 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,469.14.