Red Lion Hotels receives takeover offer; shares jump 22%

Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE:RLH) on Monday received an unsolicited takeover offer from Columbia Pacific Opportunity Fund Co., pushing shares of Red Lion Hotels up more than 22%. | NYSE: RLH |Comment

CEO: Sonic Corp. optimistic

Sonic Corp. (Nasdaq:SONC) CEO Cliff Hudson said the struggling restaurant operator is not providing a more conservative outlook to investors because the company is changing management, has a higher... | Nasdaq: SONC |Comment

Empire Resorts up 12% after approval for $1B gaming resort

Empire Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq:NYNY) shares rose 12% after the company announced early Wednesday that New York state had approved the development of a $1 billion gaming resort in Sullivan County, N.Y. | Nasdaq: NYNY |Comment

CFO: Lodgian continues to gain market share

Lodgian, Inc. (AMEX:LGN) CFO James MacLennan said the Atlanta, Ga.-based company’s core hotels are in good physical condition and continue to gain market share. | AMEX: LGN |Comment

Sector Watch: Let the games begin

Two companies poised to benefit from the Beijing Olympics tourism boost are Home Inns & Hotels Management, Inc. (Nasdaq:HMIN) and AirMedia Group Inc. (Nasdaq:AMCN). | Nasdaq: HMIN |2 Comments

Rick's Cabaret: Naughty by nature

Vice is nice. Sin is in. Maybe that’s the philosophy driving investors to the stock of Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. (Nasdaq:RICK). | RICK |Comment

Sector Watch: Restaurant stocks

With casual dining restaurant stocks plummeting this year on recession fears, happy hour has now extended itself into the stock market, especially in the case of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (Nasdaq:... | BJRI |Comment

Carrols Restaurant Group down on 2008 guidance below Street view

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TAST) shares are down after the restaurant operator provided 2008 earnings guidance below Wall Street expectations. | TAST |Comment

CEO says Papa John's pressured by economic factors

Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) CEO Nigel Travis said lower consumer spending and higher commodity costs will continue to pressure the pizza delivery franchiser’s profits. Travis... | PZZA |Comment

Grill Concepts rises despite no significant news

Grill Concepts, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRIL) shares soared significantly in midday trading — at one point popping more than 40% — but have moderated despite no important news. Anton Brenner, a senior... | GRIL |Comment

California Pizza Kitchen lowers earnings guidance

Shares of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPKI) are getting pummeled to a near 52-week low this morning after the restaurant chain lowered its fourth-quarter and 2008 guidance. | CPKI |Comment

California Pizza Kitchen lowers earnings guidance

Shares of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPKI) are getting pummeled to a new 52-week low this morning after the restaurant chain lowered its fourth-quarter and 2008 guidance. | CPKI |Comment

Ruby Tuesday climbs on insider trading

Shares of chain restaurant operator Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (NYSE: RT) are climbing after several executives and board members disclosed buying shares of the Maryville, Tenn.-based company after... | RT |Comment

Steak n Shake falls on preliminary Q1 results

Shares of Steak n Shake Co. (NYSE: SNS) are barreling lower today after the casual dining restaurant chain reported disappointing preliminary first-quarter results after Friday’s close, and said... | SNS |Comment

Carrols Restaurant Group posts full-year sales above estimates

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TAST), owner and operator of quick-service and quick-casual restaurants that is the parent of Carrols Corp., this morning reported that preliminary full year... | TAST |Comment

Empire Resorts plummets after casino request denied

Empire Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq: NYNY) shares are on a downward spiral after the gambling and resort management company said it received a letter from the Department of the Interior that denied a... | NYNY |Comment

P.F. Chang's posts increased Q4 revenue, sees higher operating costs

Asian cuisine restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc. (Nasdaq: PFCB) reported sales for the fourth quarter rose 16%, but said it expects to incur higher-than-anticipated operating costs. | PFCB |Comment

Lodgian updates value enhancement plan, to repurchase shares and sell assets

Lodgian, Inc. (AMEX: LGN), owner and operator of full-service hotels, said that it plans to repurchase shares and continue with the liquidation of hotel assets under its shareholder value... | LGN |Comment

Isle of Capri Casinos' loss widens in FY08 Q2

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISLE) reported a wider loss from a year ago for its fiscal 2008 second quarter. | ISLE |Comment

Steak n Shake sees shaky 2008, posts lackluster Q4

Shares of The Steak n Shake Co. (NYSE: SNS) are veering lower today after the casual dining restaurant reported a gloomy fourth quarter and issued 2008 guidance below Wall Street’s expectations. | SNS |Comment

CEO: Papa John's expects higher royalty revenues in FY08

Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) CEO Nigel Travis said the company expects increased revenue from higher royalty revenues in a new franchise agreement. Travis made the comments during... | PZZA |Comment

Buffalo Wild Wings down after missing estimates

Buffalo Wild Wings (Nasdaq: BWLD) shares are down after the casual restaurant operator’s announced after the close that its third-quarter earnings totaled $4.27 million, or $0.24 per share, below... | BWLD |Comment

Morton's Restaurant Group dives on wider Q3 loss

Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. (NYSE: MRT) shares are diving after the restaurant operator’s third-quarter loss widened to $0.74 million, or $0.04 per share, worse than analyst estimates of a... | MRT |Comment

P.F. Chang's EPS beat by a penny, lowers full year guidance

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc. (Nasdaq: PFCB) reported third-quarter earnings a penny above the consensus on Wall Street, while revenues clocked in a shade lower than estimates. The restaurant... | PFCB |Comment

Good Times Restaurants reports robust Q4 bottom-line

Shares of Good Times Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq: GTIM) are treading higher today after the restaurant chain operator reported robust net income for the fourth quarter and an increase in September... | GTIM |Comment

Cosi Inc. rises, serves up increase in Q3 same-store sales

Shares of Cosi Inc. (Nasdaq: COSI) ended higher following news before the start of trading that the restaurant operator reported a 1.6% rise in third-quarter same-store sales. | COSI |Comment

The Marcus Corp. rises on new contract news

The Marcus Corp. (NYSE: MCS) shares are up after the operator of theaters, hotels and resorts announced after the opening that it has been selected to manage the four-star Venturella Resort and Spa... | MCS |Comment

BUCA Inc. rises, reports same-store sales increase

Shares of BUCA Inc. (Nasdaq: BUCA) are higher following news after the close on Tuesday that the restaurant operator increased its third-quarter same-store sales. | BUCA |Comment

California Pizza Kitchen up on preliminary Q3 results

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPKI) shares are up after the casual restaurant operator reported preliminary third-quarter revenue of $162 million, below Wall Street estimates of $163.5... | CPKI |Comment

Trump Entertainment Resorts up on buyout reports

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMP) shares are jumping after The Newark Star Ledger reported Friday morning that a Baltimore-based real estate developer is eyeing Trump’s Atlantic... | TRMP |Comment

Red Lion Hotels to repurchase up to $10M worth of shares

Hospitality and leisure company Red Lion Hotels Corp. (NYSE: RLH) said this morning that it will begin a share repurchase program through which the small cap will purchase up to $10 million of its... | RLH |Comment

Russell 2000 ends in the green

The Russell 2000 and the Dow moved up today following good news from major players and a moderately upbeat jobs report. | C |Comment

Russell 2000 goes up

The Russell 2000 and the Dow made advanced today on positive economic news and more speculation about Federal Reserve policy moves. | MCD |Comment

Mergers boost stocks

The Russell 2000 and the Dow gained on news of mergers and acquisitions, while major banks moved to boost liquidity. | MGM |Comment

Stocks still higher

The Russell 2000 and the Dow have trimmed their gains but are still in higher on news that four major U.S. banks borrowed money from the Fed. | C |Comment

Russell 2000 heads rally

The Russell 2000 is leading the rally with the Dow in tow as stocks react to news of mergers and acquisitions. | MGM |Comment

Russell 2000 poised to climb

The Russell 2000 futures are rising and the small-cap index is poised to move up following news of mergers and acquisitions. | IWM |Comment

Grill Concepts rises on higher Q2 revenue, same-store sales

Shares of Grill Concepts Inc. (Nasdaq: GRIL) are heating up on news before the opening bell that the operator of casual dining restaurants reported a rise in second-quarter revenue and same-store... | GRIL |Comment

Sector Watch: The gaming industry

Gaming is a high growth business. Here's a look at two small caps that are poised to benefit. | LACO |Comment

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co., Medis Technologies Ltd. and Virco Mfg. Corp. lead Monday percentage losers

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (Nasdaq: LEND), Medis Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: MDTL) and Virco Mfg. Corp. (Nasdaq: VIRC) are the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies... | LEND |Comment

Cost Plus Inc., Novacea Inc. and Isramco Inc. lead Thursday small-cap percentage gainers

Cost Plus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPWM), Novacea, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVC) and Isramco, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISRL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market... | CPWM |Comment

Churchill Downs says gambling websites will power revenue growth

During a morning conference call, Churchill Downs Inc. (Nasdaq: CHDN) executives said the horse racing company’s second-quarter revenue was boosted by gambling websites and television channels.... | CHDN |Comment

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. Q2 loss widens

Shares of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMP) are edging down Tuesday morning after the owner and operator of casino hotel properties reported its net loss widened for the second... | TRMP |Comment

Pre-market: Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co., Local.com Corp., Rock of Ages Corp. lead Tuesday volume

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (Nasdaq: LEND), Local.com Corp. (Nasdaq: LOCM) and Rock of Ages Corp. (Nasdaq: ROAC) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading... | LEND |Comment

Empire Resorts, Inc. loss widens, misses sole estimate

Shares of Empire Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq: NYNY) are taking a hit this morning after the Las Vegas operator of the Monticello Gaming & Raceway reported its second-quarter loss widened from a year ago... | NYNY |Comment

After beating Street expectations, Riviera Holdings Corp. warns of costs

Riviera Holdings Corporation (Amex: RIV) executives warned investors during an afternoon conference call that the company’s upcoming results will be negatively impacted by state smoking bans,... | RIV |Comment

Russell rises on strong earnings

The Russell 2000 and the Dow moved up for the second consecutive day on news of strong corporate earnings. | APPB |Comment

Indices still down

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) are still firmly in negative territory. | MCD |Comment

Frisch's flat on Q4 profit decline

Shares of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Frisch’s Restaurants Inc. (AMEX: FRS) are little changed on news that net income declined in the fourth quarter but improved for the fiscal year. | FRS |Comment

Russell falls, third record for Dow

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) fell but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) closed at a third consecutive record high. | IHP |Comment