Tag - NASDAQGS:CSGS

MSC Software Corp. (Nasdaq:MSCS), XenoPort Inc. (Nasdaq:XNPT) and Cheesecake Factory Inc. (Nasdaq:CAKE) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: CSG Systems International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSGS), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI), Websense Inc. (Nasdaq:WBSN), Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (Nasdaq:BDSI) and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (Nasdaq:ENER).

Buckeye Gp Holdings LP (Nasdaq:BGH), Vascular Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:VASC) and Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:HA), Chemed Corp. (Nasdaq:CHE), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC), Avocent Corp. (Nasdaq:AVCT), CSG Systems International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSGS) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks closed slightly lower Tuesday, but did stage an impressive bounce off four-month lows. A massive slide in crude oil prices helped offset sluggish economic data, ongoing concerns about financial systemic risk and an overseas rout in equities that underscored a lack of confidence in U.S. instruments and sparked a historic slide in the U.S. dollar. At the end of a tumultuous session, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) fell 2.15, or 0.32%, to 662.35.

The dramatic recovery rally off fresh move lows in the Russell formed a decent bullish reversal pattern on daily charts while providing some immediate validation of the March bottom by showing there are investors who see value in that zone. The sudden influx of volatility also fits with bottoming action that was forged back in January and March when the market started to trade in frantic fashion, whipsawing both longs and shorts. Just how wild was today’s session in small caps? Some of the most astounding days of the last 12 months saw the Russell trade in a 20-handle range. Today’s range was more than 26 handles; the last time we saw sessions this crazy at major turning points was back in mid-March at the lows and back in late January (also at the lows).

Once again, small caps paced the rally over the Dow and S&P 500, which is a little bit of a caution sign since the Dow/Russell spread has been collapsing during the big overall market decline off the June highs. However, small caps weren’t the only leaders today as tech stocks were mildly firm, with the Nasdaq up slightly. Also, there was some rotation into the buy-side on pharmaceuticals, with the AMEX Pharmaceuticals Index rising 1.1%.

Crude oil futures collapsed some $6 dollars a barrel, the largest one-day decline in 17 years. In an interesting twist, crude oil traders blamed the slide on worries about the U.S. economy and the fragile stock market, while stock market traders pointed to the collapse in crude oil prices as the primary motivator for today’s recovery. “Regardless of which side is wagging the dog’s tail, the market is doing what it needs . . .

Small caps have been on a rollercoaster ride in Tuesday’s trading, falling in morning trading on soft economic data, a global rout in equities and a record-low U.S. dollar, but rebounding in afternoon trading after crude oil plunged more than $8. Continuing worries over the health of the American economy prompted a widespread sell-off in stocks, which sent oil dropping. At 1:10 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 6.5, or 0.98%, at 671.

In a highly volatile session, crude oil has fallen $8.14 from its intraday high to $137.04 a barrel in recent trading.

In testimony this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress that the U.S. economy is faced with "numerous difficulties.” Bernanke’s comments came on the heels of the Fed and Treasury’s announcement that it would financially support Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) if necessary. The Fed chairman said that the financial markets remain under “considerable stress” and that consumer spending was likely to be “restrained” in coming quarters.

On the inflation front, the PPI headline figure came in at plus 1.8%, which was well ahead of the forecast for a rise of 1.3% and the year-over-year figure was a sobering plus 9.2%, the largest rise since June 1981. On the consumer spending ledger, the news was also dour, with June retail sales up just 0.1%, well down from the median forecast for a rise of 0.4% as car sales notched their biggest drop in more than two years. Even when excluding autos, June sales were up just 0.8%, which also missed the forecast for a rise of 1%.

Retail sales in May were strong, and although this month’s figure missed the estimate, it was still a decent number. The problem is that May and June sales were temporarily boosted by government stimulus checks and the strength is seen as temporary from most analysts. “Despite recent strength, consumers are slowly and grudgingly succumbing to job losses, high energy prices, the housing meltdown and the financial market turmoil,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said in an email.

The U.S. dollar was dumped en masse as global investors elected to steer clear of financial uncertainty. The greenback has recovered some losses during . . .

Edge Petroleum Corp (Nasdaq:EPEX), CSG Systems International Inc (Nasdaq:CSGS) and Coldwater Creek Inc (Nasdaq:CWTR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: FCStone Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCSX), Dycom Industries Inc (Nasdaq:DY), United Community Banks Inc (Nasdaq:UCBI), City Bank (Nasdaq:CTBK), Ardea Biosciences Inc (Nasdaq:RDEA) and Apex Silver Mines Ltd (Nasdaq:SIL).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks fell hard this morning, pulled down by soft economic data, a global rout in equities, record lows in the U.S. dollar and a sobering outlook from central bank leaders. At 10:02 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 13.92, or 2.09%, at 650.59, the lowest level seen since March.

In Senate testimony this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will address the economy and monetary policy. In a release of the advance text, Bernanke said that the financial markets remain under “considerable stress” and that consumer spending was likely to be “restrained” in coming quarters. The immediate response to the Bernanke text headlines was that stock markets extended the morning slide.

The stock market was already taking a beating in after-hours trading before a fresh batch of economic data came out on the weak side ahead of the opening. On the inflation front, the PPI headline figure came in at plus 1.8%, which was well ahead of the forecast for a rise of 1.3% and the year-over-year figure was a sobering plus 9.2%, the largest rise since June 1981. On the consumer spending ledger, the news was also dour, with June retail sales up just 0.1%, well down from the median forecast for a rise of 0.4% as car sales notched their biggest drop in more than two years. Even when excluding autos, June sales were up just 0.8%, which also missed the forecast for a rise of 1%.

Retail sales in May were strong, and although this month’s figure missed the estimate, it was still a decent number. The problem is that May and June sales were temporarily boosted by government stimulus checks and the strength is seen as temporary from most analysts. “Despite recent strength, consumers are slowly and grudgingly succumbing to job losses, high energy prices, the housing meltdown and the financial market turmoil,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, . . .

Qiao Xing Universal Telephone Inc (Nasdaq:XING), Cardiome Pharma Corp (Nasdaq:CRME) and Stewart Enterprises Inc (Nasdaq:STEI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Berkshire Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:BERK), Brookfield Homes Corp (Nasdaq:BHS), CSG Systems International Inc (Nasdaq:CSGS), Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co Ltd (Nasdaq:QXM) and China Architectural Engineering Inc (Nasdaq:CAEI).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

CSG Systems International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSGS) is up almost 12% today after the company announced ahead of the opening it had extended its contract with Comcast through 2012. CSG Systems provides customer interaction management solutions. The products and services provided to Comcast are consistent with the previous contract, CSG Systems said.

“Under the new agreement, we can continue to deliver technology, solutions and service to Comcast, while also providing Comcast the flexibility to adjust the scope of the relationship based on market demands and business needs,” said Peter Kalan, CEO of CSG Systems, in a statement.

In addition, the company said the Comcast agreement will help it achieve its previous guidance estimates for 2008.

In today’s trading, shares of CSG Systems are at $12.90 at 10:36 a.m. ET, up $1.40 from Friday’s close.

Despite a slowed U.S. economy, outsourcing of select business services continues to grow at a healthy pace due to the cost and efficiency advantages they provide. Keeping trot at that pace are EPIQ Systems (Nasdaq:EPIQ) and CSG Systems (Nasdaq:CSGS), two providers of business software and services that are poised for double-digit earnings growth this year.

EPIQ Systems provides software and services to the legal profession. The company’s software streamlines processing for bankruptcies, litigation, financial transactions and regulatory compliance. EPIQ’s clients include law firms, corporate legal departments, bankruptcy trustees and other professional advisors. The company operates from nine locations worldwide, serves over 1,000 clients and counts 39 of the top 50 global law firms among its customers. EPIQ’s electronic discovery business segment provides processing, search and review services utilizing the company’s proprietary eDataMatrix software for analyzing, filtering and de-duplicating documents. Its bankruptcy trustee segment supplies software that allows bankruptcy trustees to administer large caseloads simultaneously. The settlements and claims segment offers back-office administration support services that include notifying claimants and creditors and administering funds related to settlements.

Electronic documents are transforming the legal profession by streamlining discovery and litigation processes. According to a 2007 survey, electronic discovery revenues increased 51% in 2006 to $2 billion, rose 33% in 2007 to $2.7 billion and are forecast to grow 28% in 2008 to $3.4 billion. Due to the complexity and volume of documents generated for most legal cases, law firms are eagerly embracing electronic evidence management systems. EPIQ also addresses a large market for bankruptcy filings, estimated at more than 1 million filings per year. Bankruptcy filings have increased in each of the last seven quarters.  

Although EPIQ’s 2007 revenues of $174 million were below prior-year revenues of $224 million, this was because deferred revenues of $59 million were recognized in 2006. Per-share earnings were also lower at $0.21 in 2007 versus $1.05 in 2006. EPIQ is off to a strong start in 2008, however, with first-quarter revenues up 25% year over year to $43.9 million from $35.1 million and non-GAAP net income up 54% year over . . .