Tag - NASDAQGM:SILC

SXC Health Solutions Corp. (Nasdaq:SXCI), Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. (Nasdaq:HMIN) and Silicom Ltd. (Nasdaq:SILC) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Fuqi International Inc (Nasdaq:FUQI), US Auto Parts Network Inc. (Nasdaq:PRTS), IncrediMail Ltd. (Nasdaq:MAIL), Evercore Partners Inc. (Nasdaq:EVR), Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. (Nasdaq:CHIC) and SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq:SPSS).

After opening lower, small-cap stocks have continued their steady decent, as concerns surrounding the financial sector, a rebound in crude oil prices and dismal corporate earnings overshadowed the Senate’s passage of the housing bill. 

At 12:22 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 7.73, or 1.09%, to 702.61, while the Dow was down 125.46, or 1.1%, to 11,245.23.

Federal regulators seized two small banks over the weekend, which has cast a rain cloud over the financial sector today. The FDIC took over the First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank NA of California and sold the banks to Mutual Omaha Bank. Small banks dominated the list of largest percentage losers on the Nasdaq Exchange early this morning.

The bank seizures overshadowed the Senate’s passage of a housing bill on Saturday that creates a backstop for Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) should the mortgage lenders fall off a ledge. The legislation calls for an extension of a limitless line of credit for both firms for a year and a half and bestows authority to the Treasury department to purchase shares should the companies find themselves faced with insolvency.

Crude oil prices are pushing higher on the session, up $1.19 to $124 a barrel in midday action. The commodity is gaining ground on account of reports of attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria and a fire at a Kuwait refinery.

Server connectivity solutions provider Silicom Ltd. (Nasdaq:SILC) has shed 20% in pre-market trading today after reporting ahead of the opening a drop in its second-quarter earnings. For the quarter ended June 30, revenues were $5.2 million, down from $6.6 million for the same period a year ago. Net income was $0.3 million, or $0.05 per share, compared with $1.6 million, or $0.25 per share for the period a year earlier. The Israel-based company said it had experienced a decline in purchases from its largest customer.

“On the one hand, our revenues for the quarter suffered from both the difficult market environment, which has affected the revenues of many players in the network appliance value chain, and from a significant reduction in orders from our largest customer. We have been impacted by the customer’s new appliance configurations, which reflect its decision to begin offering our copper BYPASS cards as an optional add-on rather than as a standard component, as well as by its low quarterly volume of orders for fiber cards,” said president and CEO Shaike Orbach in a statement.

Ahead of today’s opening, shares are at $6.29, down $1.56 from Friday’s close. Shares have ranged from $6.12 to $28.24 during the past year.

Silicom Ltd. (Nasdaq:SILC), Radware Ltd. (Nasdaq:RDWR) and Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:MNRK) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

CapitalSouth Bancorp (Nasdaq:CAPB), Bank of McKenney (Nasdaq:BOMK) and Escalade, Inc. (Nasdaq:ESCA) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Monday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

After opening lower, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) climbed into positive to flat territory midday, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and the preliminary reading of first-quarter GDP.

At 11:52 a.m. ET, the Russell was up 1.76, or 0.24%, at 723.6, while the Dow gained 6.68, or 0.05%, to 12,898.54.

The Fed is expected to shave another 25 basis points off the federal-funds rate Wednesday, however Wall Street will watch to see if the central bank will pause its loosening monetary policy campaign after this week, as the economy confronts inflation.
 
Also this week, Wednesday serves up first quarter preliminary GDP, in which investors will be watching to see if the economy slipped into negative growth.

On the opening, the market found support on news that Mars Inc. and Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK) were acquiring Wrigley (NYSE:WWY) for a reported $22 billion to $23 billion. Buffet said his stake was $6.5 billion and that he was acting as a financing agent for the deal. From a broad market standpoint, . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are a hair above their closing level and the small-cap index will probably open flat.

Investors are cautiously optimistic on news that HSBC Holdings Plc reported a 10% increase in 2007 profit despite billions in bad debts associated with the U.S. housing sector. Europe’s largest bank attributed the positive result to strong growth in Asia.

Small-cap stocks collapsed Friday, gapping lower on the opening and never looking back. In the end, the Russell 2000 closed down 19.54, or 2.77% at 686.18, the third-largest point decline of the year. In today’s trading, chart support comes in at 683, 680 and 675. A breach of the latter could see a support “vacuum” down to 660 toward the 2008 bottom of 650. Meanwhile, resistance is pegged at 694, 701 and 712.

This week is a huge one for economic data, and things start off with a bang this morning as the market will react to the ISM Manufacturing Survey at 10:00 a.m. ET and throughout the day to various vehicle sales numbers.

Silicom Ltd. (Nasdaq: SILC) this morning said it received a $1.8 million order from one of China’s largest domestic server companies, representing its first significant penetration into the vast Chinese market.

The order is for production quantities of Silicom’s fiber multi-port Gigabit Ethernet adapters and is scheduled for delivery during the first quarter.

 “China’s rapid growth represents a huge new opportunity for Silicom, especially the fact that its server usage is growing in step with the phenomenal development of its telecom, transportation, banking and other sectors,” Silicom’s president and CEO, Shaike Orbach, commented in a press release. “In fact, according to CCID Consulting, more than half a million x86 servers were sold in China in 2007, with additional strong growth projected for 2008.”

Shares of Silicom Ltd. (SILC) gained 9.29%, or $1.36, to $16 in pre-market. Shares of Silicom Ltd. have been trading in the rage of $9.28 to $28.24 for the past 52 weeks.

Silicom Ltd. (Nasdaq: SILC) today reported robust fourth-quarter earnings that beat the sole analyst’s estimate on Wall Street.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2007, the Israeli small cap reported net income increased by 71% to $1.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, above the $0.25 per share an analyst on Wall Street was forecasting. The current quarter’s net compares with $1.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 49% to $7.5 million compared with $5 million for the fourth quarter of 2006. Revenues were virtually in line with the $7.22 million an analyst on Wall Street was forecasting.

The company attributed its strong results to accelerated growth of its target WAN optimization, security and other network appliances markets, which Silicom says continues to exhibit strong demand for its advanced multi-port connectivity and bypass products. Silicom also stated it has been growing faster than its target markets due to increased business with existing customers as well as new design wins. 

 “The company’s bypass card revenue grew 35% sequentially, which we believe was driven by a rebound in ordering from Cisco and Riverbed and continued strength from Blue Coat Systems,” Merriman Curhan Ford analyst David Duley wrote in a research note today.

Silicom recorded a steady rise in operating margin for the quarter. Operating margin increased to 22% compared with 19% for the fourth quarter of 2006.

The company also stipulated that it is not dependent on any single market segment, as the small cap says it has accumulated more than 50 design wins across a variety of market segments.

“We believe Silicom is currently one of the best positioned players in the WAN optimization market due to it being the sole supplier of a critical component to over 80% of the end market,” Duley wrote.

On account of a strong quarter, Duley raised his fiscal year 2008 revenue and EPS estimates to $32.8 million and $1.13 from $32.5 million and $1.10, respectively.

China Techfaith Wireless Comm. Tech. Ltd. (Nasdaq: CNTF), Fushi International Inc. (Nasdaq: FSIN) and North American Galvanizing & Coatings (Nasdaq: NGA) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASIA), China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN) and Isilon Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISLN) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) led a mid-session rally that lifted stocks into positive territory, reversing a bearish morning. The small-cap index gained 11.29 points, or 1.41%, to 810.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) added 44.95 points, or 0.33%, to 13,566.97.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has increased 2.88%, while the Dow has added 8.76%.

Small-cap futures were pointing south and stocks opened in the red on news of an economic slowdown. The finance ministers and central bankers from the G7, the world’s top seven industrialized countries, said over the weekend that U.S. economic growth is in for a slowdown due to tighter credit, the housing slump and the high price of oil.

Just before 10 a.m. ET the Russell 2000 had slipped below a level of 790, but then managed to tentatively approach the flat line before finally settling on an upward trajectory at around 12 p.m. ET. The Dow was more volatile and without a clear direction until just before the close.

Helping the bulls was the technology sector, as investors saw a buying opportunity on expectations of strong third-quarter earnings ahead of the release of Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) third-quarter numbers after the closing.

Small-cap software firm Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP) defied those projections, reporting a slight decline in its third-quarter profit.

Stocks have moved into positive territory this afternoon, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) leading the way up. At 2:11 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 8.90 points, or 1.11%, to 807.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 46.99 points, or 0.35%, to 13,569.01.

Small caps are posting solid gains with two hours left in the session after spending the morning alternating between the green and the red.

Trading began on a bearish note due to fears of a U.S. economic slowdown. Finance ministers and central bankers from the G7, the world’s top seven industrialized countries, said over the weekend that U.S. economic growth will decelerate due to tighter credit, the housing slump and the high price of oil.

Contributing to the negative mood was news that financial services giant Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) has downgraded the mortgage finance sector as well as individual finance companies. Among small caps, Luminent Mortgage Capital, Inc. (NYSE: LUM) is sagging, while Capstead Mortgage Corp. (Nasdaq: CMO) has moved higher.

Elsewhere, the price of commodities has fallen on expectations that slower economic growth will hurt demand for raw materials. The price of oil has fallen $0.83, to $87.77 a barrel.

Here are the current biggest percentage gainers and losers among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Radiation Therapy Services Inc. (RTSX), up 43% on news of a buyout.
• Ceragon Networks Ltd. (CRNT), up 16% on news third-quarter profit doubled.
• Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF), up 14%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Silicom Ltd. (SILC), down 22%.
• L. B. Foster Company (FSTR), down 12%.
• SulphCo Inc. (SUF), down 13%.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is rising despite investors’ fears of a U.S. economic slowdown.

At 10:30 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 1.17 points, or 0.15%, to 799.96. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was off 36.90 points, or 0.27%, to 13,485.12.

Small futures were down and stocks across the board fell this morning as investors reacted to concerns of a slowing United States economy.

News of an economic slowdown is a major cause of the generally bearish mood this morning, with finance ministers and central bankers from the G7, the world’s top seven industrialized countries, saying over the weekend that U.S. economic growth is in for a slowdown due to tighter credit, the housing slump and the high price of oil.

Small and big caps fell hard on Friday after corporate heavyweights missed earnings expectations, spreading fears about the negative effects of the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector and the stagnation in the U.S housing sector.

Thus far this morning small caps are faring better than their bigger brothers, with the Russell 2000 index managing to rise above the flat line shortly after 10 a.m. ET.
Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 2.2%, while London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.5%.

Here are the current biggest percentage gainers and losers among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Radiation Therapy Services Inc. (RTSX), up 43% on news it is being purchased by a private equity firm.
• RadiSys Corp. (RSYS), up 16% on news of an analyst upgrade.
• Cirrus Logic Inc. (CRUS), up 7%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Catalyst Semiconductor Inc. (CATS), down 14%. An analyst contacted for comment did not have an explanation for the stocks’ movement.
• Silicom Ltd. (SILC), down 16%.
• United PanAm Financial Corp. (UPFC), down 11% on news of a decline in third-quarter profit.

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (Nasdaq: LEND), Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTI) and Ceragon Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: CRNT) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (Nasdaq: LEND), Physicians Formula Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: FACE) and STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEC) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Rio Vista Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq: RVEP), Transcend Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRCR) and ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CKSW) are the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Shares of Silicom Ltd. (NASDAQ: SILC) galloped out of the gate this morning after reporting record revenue for the second quarter and beating analyst earnings estimates.

For the three months ended June 30, the provider of connectivity solutions reported net income of $1.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared with $0.32 million, or $0.06 per share (basic and diluted) for the second quarter last year. An analyst polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of $0.20 per share.

Silicom booked record revenues for the second quarter of $6.6 million, compared with $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2006. An analyst polled by Thomson Financial expected revenues of $6.5 million.

Shares of Silicom jumped 11.85%, or $2.57, to $24.25 out of the gate this morning.

NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: NCST), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPPI) and Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALM) were among the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Levitt Corp. (NYSE: LEV) restated its first-quarter results due to an inter-company transaction accounting error. Levitt downwardly revised its earnings for the three months ended March 31 to $976,000, or $0.05 per share, from $1.3 million, or $0.06 per share. 

Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a “hold” rating on Euroseas Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESEA).

These are the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Roth Capital downgraded Cache, Inc. (Nasdaq: CACH) from “buy” to “hold.” The women’s apparel retailer Cache reported its same-store sales fell 2% in May.

These are the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Shares of T.A.T. Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: TATTF), the Gedera, Israel-based manufacturer of heat transfer and accessory equipment for airplanes, shot up nearly 17% following the announcement at the start of Tuesday trading of a 53% increase in revenue from a year earlier for the first quarter ended Mach 31. The company, incorporated in 1985, reported a 106% first quarter profit increase to $2.6 million.

Shares of Nashua Corp. (Nasdaq: NSHA), the Nashua, N.H.-based paper manufacturer, are up over 10% following announcement at the start of Tuesday trading the company plans to buy back 1.9 million shares at $10.50 a share. If the company goes through with its intentions, it will repurchase about 30% of its outstanding shares. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and LaSalle Bank Corp. are financing the buyback, according to the press release. Nashua shares are trading near the 52-week high of $10.

Shares of Shamir Optical Industry, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SHMR), the Upper Galilee, Israel-based optical lens manufacturer, are up over 12% following announcement that the company’s first quarter revenues ended March 31 were well above analysts’ expectations. The company reported strong revenue growth in the United States and reaffirmed its 2007 revenue guidance, according to a press release.

These are the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

CoolcatReport.com publisher Kevin Kennedy uses a proprietary trading and screening system, based in large part on momentum. For example, the stocks that make his buy list must be trading above their closes of 3, 6 and 12 months ago. In addition, they must have made new 52-week highs in the past two months.

Generally, Kennedy prefers stocks that have made new highs, have pulled back in a consolidation pattern, and are then poised to again move to new highs.

This basic strategy is applied to a wide range of stock ideas through his multiple Coolcat newsletter services. Small caps are featured in his Coolcat Explosive Small Cap Growth Stock Report.

“This batch of stocks is hanging out just above its 50-day moving average, offering some interesting entries with decent risks,” Kennedy says. “All have put earnings season to bed and appear well-positioned to move up from here.”

Passing Kennedy’s screening process is a trio of biotech stocks. Metabasis Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: MBRX), says Kennedy, has a “promising pipeline” of preclinical and clinical product candidates targeting metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity.

He notes that first-quarter revenues jumped 252% to $3.4 million, which included a $1.8-million upfront license fee received from Schering-Plough Corp. (NYSE: SGP) and license fee and sponsored research revenue from its hepatitis C collaboration with Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX).

The company – with a market cap of $243 million -- had $71.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and securities at the end of March, Kennedy notes.

Meanwhile, BioImaging Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: BITI), with a market cap of $78 million, offers services to support the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries in product development.

U.S. stocks are trading in negative territory an hour before the closing bell.  Among small caps, shares of Vyyo Inc. (Nasdaq: VYYO) are down after the broadband company reported a worse-than-expected net loss, while Synergy Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNF) fell after news it is being sold for $168.4 million.

At 3:06 p.m. ET the Russell 2000 had lost 7.27 points, or 0.88%, to 822.27.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.33 points, or 0.00%, to 13,325.89.

The following are the most actively traded companies in pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million: