Tag - NASDAQGS:PENN

Small caps collapsed today, setting fresh intraday and closing lows. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 5%, the lowest daily close since Aug. 2003. Today’s small-cap gainers are Dineequity (Nasdaq:DIN), Penn National Gaming (Nasdaq:PENN) and Riverbed Technology (Nasdaq:RVBD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Small caps continue to be punished relative to their large-cap brethren as the bear market incites a “bigger is better” mentality.
• The Russell 2000 is now down 41% for 2008, while the Dow is off 38% and the S&P 500 is down 42%.
• Just a few weeks ago, the percentage spread favored the Russell over the Dow by more than 10 percentage points, but when the market went into collapse mode small caps suffered.
• The dollar stormed to fresh highs against the euro today, reaching the highest point since April 2006.
• Commodities have already been tanking in recent weeks, putting commodity sensitive economies like those in South America and Russia in a dire position. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Dineequity Inc. closed up 54% on surprisingly stout earnings news. See (NYSE:DIN).
• Penn National Gaming closed up nearly 5% after Q3 EPS vaulted on settlement payment, raises 2008 earnings guidance. See (Nasdaq:PENN). 
• UBS raises Riverbed Technology to “neutral” from “sell.” Shares closed up 5%. See (Nasdaq:RVBD). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Savient Pharmaceuticals paced the decliners, closing down some 73% and gapping lower on heavy volume. See (Nasdaq:SVNT). 
• Sunrise Senior Living Inc. tumbled 32% to fresh 52-week lows. See (NYSE:SRZ).
• Telefonica De Argentina closed down 22% as South American ADRs continue to struggle amid pension fund troubles in Argentina and worries about the sharp drop in commodity values. See (NYSE:TAR). 

Small-cap stocks tumbled to fresh move lows early Monday, slipping to the lowest point on intraday charts since August 2003, but mounted a nice recovery rally on a stronger-than-forecast new home sales release. The early decline was fueled by steep losses in global equity trading overnight, which underscored fear of a global growth slowdown. Today’s small-cap gainers are Penn National Gaming (Nasdaq:PENN), Pilgrim’s Pride (NYSE:PPC) and ATP Oil & Gas (Nasdaq:ATPG).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Commodities in general were taking a hit this morning, pulled down by a strong tone in the U.S. dollar, which rose to the highest point versus the euro since April 2006.  
• Small caps tumbled to fresh move lows early Monday, slipping to the lowest point on intraday charts since August 2003, but mounted a nice recovery on a stronger-than-forecast new home sales release.
• Looking at the chart picture, if the Russell quickly cascades through Friday’s low this morning, then it opens the door to another leg down.  
• The strong dollar and fears of a global recession took a toll on commodities, with crude oil down more than $2 a barrel.  
• Global stock markets were on fire sale, with Japan’s Nikkei sinking 6% to the lowest close since 1982, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index collapsed 12.7%, the largest 1-day drop in 9 years.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Penn National Gaming up 12% after Q3 EPS vaulted on settlement payment, raises 2008 earnings guidance. See (Nasdaq:PENN).  
• Pilgrim's Pride gets extension on temporary waiver under its credit facilities through November 26, up 11%. See (NYSE:PPC).
• ATP Oil & Gas to buyback 10% of shares outstanding, shares gain 11%.
See (Nasdaq:ATPG).
• Sohu.com posts Q3 above the Street, guides Q4 above estimates, initiates $150M share repurchase program. See (Nasdaq:SOHU).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Natures Sunshine Products Inc. is down 36%, gapping lower, but on light volume. See (Nasdaq:NATR).  
• Timken sinks 30% on no fresh news. See (NYSE:TKR).
• Bolt Technology skids 28% on no fresh news. See (Nasdaq:BOLT)
• Seanergy Maritime Corp. is off about 27%, also on a light volume opening slide. See (Nasdaq:SHIP).  
• Ariba slides 20% despite an upgrade by Cowen and actions to streamline its sourcing and contract management processes. (Nasdaq:ARBA).   

Penn National Gaming Inc. (Nasdaq:PENN) plunged 15% to a new 52-week low after its stock was downgraded by Deutsche Bank due to the company’s reduced third-quarter guidance.

The firm reportedly cited Penn National’s revised third-quarter guidance in downgrading the stock to “hold” from “buy.”

Deutsche also lowered its price target on the company to $25 from $36.

Just before the bell on Thursday, Penn National announced it was reducing its guidance targets for the third quarter to revenue of $617 million and EBITDA of $146.3 million based on a “greater-than-anticipated impact on gaming revenue related to economic conditions, competition in certain markets and disruption caused by September hurricanes.”

The results also will reflect higher than anticipated lobbying expenses, the company said.

Previously, Wyomissing, Pa.-based Penn National had estimated revenue of $657.5 million and EBITDA of $178.6 million for the quarter while analysts were projecting revenue of $652.6 million.

By mid-morning, Penn National is at $19.86, down $3.51 from Thursday’s close, after having traded as low as $19.60 earlier in the day. Previously, the stock had ranged between $21.72 and $62.30 during the past 52 weeks.

For detailed price information and news stories on Penn National, click PENN.