Tag - NASDAQGM:DUCK

Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (Nasdaq:OVBC), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI) and ShoreTel Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOR) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: 99 Cents Only Stores (Nasdaq:NDN), Wilber Corp. (Nasdaq:GIW), North Asia Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:NHR), Home Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:HBCP), Destination Maternity Corp. (Nasdaq:DEST) and Duckwall Alco Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK).

Shuffle Master Inc. (Nasdaq:SHFL), Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEUS) and 99 Cents Only Stores (Nasdaq:NDN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: United Security Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:USBI), Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), Oxford Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:OXM), Venoco Inc. (Nasdaq:VQ), Duckwall Alco Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) and Tessco Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:TESS).

MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MAPP), Geokinetics Inc. (Nasdaq:GOK) and Duckwall Alco Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF), Ocean Power Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT), Polypore International Inc. (Nasdaq:PPO), Federal Mogul Corp. (Nasdaq:FDML) and Greene County Bancorp (Nasdaq:GCBC).

Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) gained one-quarter of its value today after announcing that its second-quarter earnings had improved by 27% over last year.

For the quarter ended Aug. 3, the Abilene, Kan.-based discount retailer said Thursday evening that it earned $3.3 million, or $0.85 per share, compared with $2.6 million, or $0.68 per share, in the prior year period.

No major analysts follow the company.

The firm cited a cost reduction program that it implemented in the first quarter for the improved performance, which included about 14 store closures.

Duckwall-ALCO is at $15.39, up $3.14 from Thursday’s close. The stock has traded between $8.50 and $38.48 in the past year.

For detailed price information and news stories on Duckwall-ALCO, click DUCK.

<strong>Duckwall Alco Stores Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/duck">DUCK</a>), <strong>Gladstone Commercial 7.75% Pref Shs Series A </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/goodp">GOODP</a>) and <strong>Power Medical Interventions Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/pmii">PMII</a>) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.<br /> <br /> Also included among the results: <strong>Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:AVR), <strong>Apco Argentina Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/apagf">APAGF</a>), <strong>Micromet Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/miti">MITI</a>), <strong>Physicians Formula Holdings Inc. (</strong>Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/face">FACE</a>),<strong> FortuNet Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/fnet">FNET</a>) and <strong>Delek US Hldg Inc. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/dk">DK</a>).<br /> <br /> Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Excel Technology Inc (Nasdaq:XLTC), Ruby Tuesday Inc (Nasdaq:RT) and First California Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:FCAL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cato Corp (Nasdaq:CTR), Fundtech Ltd (Nasdaq:FNDT), Duckwall Alco Stores Inc (Nasdaq:DUCK), Metabolix Inc (Nasdaq:MBLX), InterVoice Inc (Nasdaq:INTV) and Renaissance Learning Inc (Nasdaq:RLRN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

United Community Banks Inc (Nasdaq:UCBI), Flotek Industries Inc (Nasdaq:FTK) and TF Financial Corp (Nasdaq:THRD) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Research Frontiers Inc (Nasdaq:REFR), Medis Technologies Ltd (Nasdaq:MDTL) and Duckwall Alco Stores Inc (Nasdaq:DUCK) are also among the biggest percentage losers.

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), Agria Corp. (NYSE:GRO) and Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) were among the new 52-week lows established during Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

Boise Inc. (NYSE:BZ), Merrimac Industries (AMEX:MRM) and PC Connection, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCCC) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

MCG Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: MCGC), MAKO Surgical Corp. (Nasdaq:MAKO) and Pharmaxis Ltd. (Nasdaq:PXSL) were among the new 52-week lows established during Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

CommVault Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CVLT), Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) and Marlin Business Services Corp. (Nasdaq:MRLN) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

FirstCity Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FCFC), ArcSight Inc. (Nasdaq:ARST) and Interwoven, Inc. (Nasdaq:IWOV) were among the new 52-week lows established during Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million. 

Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK), Meta Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CASH) and Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLUB) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) posted a steep decline following news of weak economic reports. The small-cap index fell 19.54 points, or 2.77%, to 686.18, its third consecutive decrease. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) lost 315.79 points, or 2.51%, to 12,266.39.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has let go 10.42%, while the Dow is down 7.53% and the S&P 500 is off 9.38%.

Small-cap stocks started the session down and extended their losses as the day wore on and investors digested bearish economic news.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported before the start of trading that spending increased 0.4% in January, while personal income added 0.3%. Economists were expecting smaller increases of 0.2%.

But the rise in consumption went to cover inflation. The same report showed that the price index for personal consumption expenditures rose 0.4%, while the core index, which excludes the costs of food and energy, climbed 0.3%.

In other economic news, the National Association of Purchasing Managers-Chicago reported after the opening that its index of regional business conditions fell to its lowest level since December 2001, while the University of Michigan’s final figures for February consumer confidence showed the worst result since 1992.

One of the biggest losers in today’s sell-off was general merchandise retailer Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUCK), which slumped to a new 52-week low on news of a disappointing 2008 earnings forecast.

Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUCK) shares are diving after the general merchandise retailer said it expects 2008 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of approximately $13 million, down 32% from $19 million in 2007.

"We believe the financial shortfalls stemmed from a lack of effective execution on specific operational goals," interim CEO Donny Johnson said in a statement.

The Abilene, Kan.-based company said it will not give fiscal 2009 guidance until its board and management team have analyzed Duckwall’s operating performance and the impact of the current economic environment. The company is also searching for a new CEO.

Warren Gfeller, Duckwall’s chairman of the board, said he found the firm’s preliminary financial results “disappointing and unacceptable.”

“However, we continue to have confidence in Duckwall-ALCO's long-term strategy and positioning as a regional retailer offering an exceptional product selection in stores that represent an economic mainstay for communities across the central United States,” Gfeller said in a statement.

In afternoon trading, DUCK shares are plunging to a new year low — down 23%, or $4.69, at $15.70. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $20 to $41.64.

Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUCK) shares are up despite the discount retailer’s announcement that it clocked a third-quarter net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.43 per share, compared with a loss of $0.6 million, or $0.17 per share, a year earlier.

Quarterly revenue increased 5% to $114.3 million, from $108.8 million during the third quarter of 2006

The Abilene, Kan.-based company said markdowns and losses related to stolen or damaged merchandise hurt its margins. Same-store sales during the three month period rose 2.2%.

In afternoon trading, DUCK shares are up 2.19%, or $0.62, at $28.87. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $26 to $41.64.

The Russell 2000 fell and the Dow gained ever so slightly after news the U.S. Federal Reserve remains focused on inflation. The Russell 2000 lost 2.13 points, or 0.25%, to finish at 833.18. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.57 points, or 0.00%, to 13,424.96.

The most significant risk facing the U.S. economy is that inflation will not moderate, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Sandra Pianalto said this morning. She added that keeping inflation in check remains the Fed’s top priority.

The Russell 2000 index is in the red this morning following news that the U.S. central bank remains preoccupied with inflation. At 11:35 a.m. ET the Russell 2000 was down 2.84 points, or 0.34%, to 832.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 8.62 points, or 0.06%, to 13,415.77.

Shares of Israeli information solutions provider Sapiens International Corp. (Nasdaq: SPNS) are higher following news of a $20 million private placement round led by institutional investors Formula Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: FORTY), Sapiens’ parent company. “One of our missions for this year was to ensure that all our subsidiaries have the adequate financial resources to support accelerated growth,” Formula President and CEO Gad Goldstein said on Sunday, June 10. Shares are up $0.08, or 3%, to $2.77.