Tag - AFAM

"Almost Family (NASDAQ:AFAM) is making its triumphant return to our 'focus list'of buys after we sold it in January," says analyst Tracey Ryniec. Here's her latest in Zacks Elite Stocks.

"Visiting Nurse provides skilled nursing and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Personal Care includes custodial and personal care services.

"The company's acquisition strategy continues with the May 27 announcement that it was acquiring the assets of Florida-based Central Florida Health Alliance (CHFA), a two-hospital health care system with home health branches.

"CHFA's operations generated $4.5 million in revenue in the last fiscal year, but Almost Family doesn't expect it to have a material impact on its 2009 results. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The company continues to post strong earnings results despite the economic slowdown. On May 6, Almost Family surprised on estimates for the 6th straight quarter by 13.33%.

"Net income rose 118% to $5.6 million, or 68 cents per share, compared with $2.5 million, or 44 cents, in the year ago period.

"Revenue surged 77% to $69.2 million. The Visiting Nurse segment saw big gains, jumping 97% compared to a year ago with 41% of that coming from organic growth and the rest from acquired operations. Personal Care segment revenue gained 14%.

"Consensus estimates are rising for the second quarter and 2009. Second quarter estimates rose 3 cents to 67 cents in the last month.

"2009 consensus estimates jumped nearly 6% to $2.74 from $2.59 per share in the last 30 days, with 5 out of 6 covering analysts raising including one in the last week. Analysts expect year over year earnings growth of 26.04%.

"Overall, in our view, the stock has solid fundamentals. Almost Family is a Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) stock. It is attractively valued with a forward P/E of just 9.5. The company has an outstanding 1-year return on equity of 21.03%."
 

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA) and Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Smart Balance Inc. (Nasdaq:SMBL), Cabot Microelectronics Corp. (Nasdaq:CCMP), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and The9 Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCTY).

M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY) and Symyx Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR), Rockwood Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ROC), Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD), Florida Public Utilities Co. (Nasdaq:FPU), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and Kadant Inc. (Nasdaq:KAI).

Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS) and PDL BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:PDLI) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Central European Distribution Corp. (Nasdaq:CEDC), Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ARRS), Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (Nasdaq:ENER), NVE Corp. (Nasdaq:NVEC) and Bucyrus International Inc. (Nasdaq:BUCY).

Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAG) and Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), Electro-Optical Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:MELA), Scopus Video Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:SCOP), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and Ciena Corp. (Nasdaq:CIEN).

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI) and AsiaInfo Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ASIA) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Arkansas Best Corp. (Nasdaq:ABFS), YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:YRCW), Allos Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:ALTH), Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:QCOR), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and PetMed Express Inc. (Nasdaq:PETS).

Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:QCOR) and AeroVironment Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAV) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and Allegiant Travel Co. (Nasdaq:ALGT) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Zale Corp. (Nasdaq:ZLC), SeaChange International Inc. (Nasdaq:SEAC) and Herley Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:HRLY) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: FiberNet Telecom Group Inc. (Nasdaq:FTGX), DXP Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:DXPE), CryoLife Inc. (Nasdaq:CRY), Zep Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEP), Starrett LS Co. (Nasdaq:SCX) and Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

China Sunergy Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:CSUN), National Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:NCOC) and DrdGold (Nasdaq:DROOY) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ceragon Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:CRNT), Royale Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:ROYL), Hurco Cos Inc. (Nasdaq:HURC), Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:TSYS).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Small-cap stocks slipped Tuesday, pulled down by struggling financial sector shares and a profit-taking mentality following sizable gains the previous two sessions. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was off 6.12, or 0.82%, at 744.94, while the Dow was down 1.19% at 11,642.47 and the S&P 500 was down 1.21% at 1,289.59. For the year, the IWM is down 2.75%, the Dow off 12.22% and the S&P 500 down 12.19%.

Small caps made a huge move during Monday’s rally relative to large-cap shares, fueled somewhat by ideas that a sinking U.S. dollar would stand to benefit smaller, domestic companies more than large multinationals who depend on sales to foreign customers. But even on today’s pullback, small caps still outperformed the Dow and S&P 500, reflecting investor taste for riskier fare and also on thoughts that previous similar economic cycles have benefited small caps over large-cap shares. However, the Russell was trumped today by the Nasdaq 100, as tech stocks put together a solid performance.

Tech stocks — and most equity indices in general — were underpinned on dips by a slide in crude oil prices, which slipped below $113 dollars a barrel for the first time in three months and eventually settled U.S. trading right near the $113 line. Demand destruction remains a concern for the energy market, as the Energy Information Administration today reported the largest drop in U.S. demand in 26 years, which countered some bullish supply concerns tied to the Russia/Georgia conflict. Elsewhere on the commodity front, gold price tumbled 1.7%, but the Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 commodity markets was only off about 0.3%.

A recent surge in the U.S. dollar has played a key role in the decline of energy and other commodity prices, but today the greenback was relatively calm, failing to get a charge out of a surprisingly strong international trade report early this morning. The trade deficit narrowed to 56.7 billion dollars, which was better than the forecast for a deficit of 61.5 billion. Normally that would be enough to trigger more volatile response from foreign exchange traders, but with the dollar already soaring 7.5% . . .

Crawford (Nasdaq:CRD.B), Transact Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:TACT) and US Physical Therapy Inc. (Nasdaq:USPH) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.  

Also included among the results: K-Tron International Inc. (Nasdaq:KTII), NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:NPSP), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Xerium Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:XRM), Met-Pro Corp. (Nasdaq:MPR) and Farmers Capital Bank Corp. (Nasdaq:FFKT).    

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:  

K-Tron International Inc. (Nasdaq:KTII), Connecticut Water (Nasdaq:CTWS) and Omega Protein Corp. (Nasdaq:OME) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion. 

Also included among the results: NN Inc (Nasdaq:NNBR), USA Truck Inc. (Nasdaq:USAK), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), Ness Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:NSTC), US Physical Therapy Inc (Nasdaq:USPH) and China Holdings Acquisition (Nasdaq:HOL).      

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps: 

Citi Trends (Nasdaq:CTRN), Hot Topic (Nasdaq:HOTT) and Royale Energy (Nasdaq:ROYL) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.        

Also included among the results: Hoku Scientific (Nasdaq:HOKU), Computer Task (Nasdaq:CTGX), Almost Family (Nasdaq:AFAM), Synta Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SNTA), Commonwealth Bankshares (Nasdaq:CWBS) and ENGlobal (Nasdaq:ENG).       

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:  

Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), Vivus Inc (Nasdaq:VVUS) and TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Nasdaq:TSYS) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: National Presto Industries Inc (Nasdaq:NPK), LHC Group Inc (Nasdaq:LHCG), Interwoven Inc (Nasdaq:IWOV), National Research Corp (Nasdaq:NRCI), Safety Insurance Group Inc (Nasdaq:SAFT) and Herley Industries Inc (Nasdaq:HRLY).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Regional provider of home health nursing services Almost Family, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFAM), reported second-quarter results this morning that beat analysts’ estimates, pushing shares higher in pre-market trading. Revenues grew a robust 50% due in part to the firm’s Quality of Life acquisition completed in late October of 2007 and results from its Apex Home Healthcare acquisition completed in late March 2008.

Shares advanced 10%, or $3.41, to $36.98 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Almost Family, click AFAM.

Vital Signs Inc (Nasdaq:VITL), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM) and HireRight Inc (Nasdaq:HIRE) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Citizens & Northern Corp (Nasdaq:CZNC), Axsys Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:AXYS), International Assets Holding Corp (Nasdaq:IAAC), Omega Protein Corp (Nasdaq:OME), Emergent BioSolutions Inc (Nasdaq:EBS) and NATUS MEDICAL INC. (CA) (USA) (Nasdaq:BABY).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Someone once said “There’s no place like home,” which doesn’t only ring true for wanderers far from Kansas. Many of today’s elderly, disabled or ailing may not choose to spend countless months in hospitals or clinics, and they now they have the option of in-home care by companies including Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Gentiva Health Services Inc. (Nasdaq:GTIV) and LHC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG).

Home health-care providers will benefit from expanding Medicare enrollments, which are forecast to increase to 76.8 million by 2030 from 39.6 million in 2000. Rising home health-care spending, which is expected to grow nearly five-fold to $155 billion by 2017, reflects America’s patient preferences for care delivered at home, and the cost advantages of home health care. Costs for a day in a hospital or at a skilled nursing facility, for example, are estimated at $3,800 and $490, respectively, whereas a typical homecare visit costs around $100.

Almost Family, Inc. provides home health-care services in the Mid-West, East Coast and South. The company’s visiting nurse division supplies Medicare-certified home health nursing services to patients in need of recuperative care, while the personal care division provides in-home patient care on an as-needed, hourly or in-live basis. At year-end 2007, Almost Family operated 33 Medicare-certified home health agencies with 51 locations and 22 personal care locations.

The market reacted favorably to Almost Family’s June announcement that it was acquiring East Coast competitor Patient Care in a move that expanded the company’s presence in the Northeast with eight new locations; shares hit a 52-week high. The deal enables Almost Family to expand its footprint via new start-ups and will be . . .

Argan Inc (Nasdaq:AGX), Diamond Foods Inc (Nasdaq:DMND) and Parlux Fragrances Inc (Nasdaq:PARL) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW), Republic Banc KY (Nasdaq:RBCAA) and Eurand NV (Nasdaq:EURX) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Stepan Co (Nasdaq:SCL), Vivus Inc (Nasdaq:VVUS), NN Inc (Nasdaq:NNBR), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), America's Car-Mart Inc (Nasdaq:CRMT) and Safety Insurance Group Inc (Nasdaq:SAFT).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Home health service provider Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) is up 5% today to a 52-week high after the company announced Wednesday it had secured a new senior multi-bank facility. The new facility will provide up to $75 million in loans with a maturity date of July 2011, the Louisville, Ky.-based company said.

In today’s trading, shares are up $1.44 to $29.49 at 10:54 a.m. ET. Shares have ranged from $13.69 to today’s 52-week high of $29.45, reached just after the opening.

Circor International Inc (Nasdaq:CIR), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM) and Cyberonics Inc (Nasdaq:CYBX) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Chemgenex Pharma Ltd (Nasdaq:CXSP), Digimarc Corp (Nasdaq:DMRC) and Pyramid Oil Co (Nasdaq:PDO) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Westside Energy Corp (Nasdaq:WHT), Houston American Energy Corp (Nasdaq:HUSA), United States Lime & Minerals Inc (Nasdaq:USLM), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), Stoneleigh Partners Acquisition Co (Nasdaq:SOC) and National Presto Industries Inc (Nasdaq:NPK).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), Northwest Pipe Co (Nasdaq:NWPX) and Secure America Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq:HLD) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ideation Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq:IDI), GHL Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq:GHQ), Inter Atlantic Financial Inc (Nasdaq:IAN), Stoneleigh Partners Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq:SOC), Stepan Co (Nasdaq:SCL) and 2020 Chinacap Acquirco Inc (Nasdaq:TTY).

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:

With nearly 20 million Americans reaching retirement age in the next 12 years, home health-care companies are ready to pull up a seat and make themselves at home; more than 70% of home health-care patients are over 65, according to government statistics.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which tracks this data, says home health expenditures in the United States were $52.7 billion in 2006 and projects them to rise to $119 billion by 2017. Almost Family, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), already active in nine states and an aggressive acquirer, seems poised to benefit from that growth.

The Louisville, Ky.-based company, which realizes almost half of its business in Florida, blew out analysts’ expectations with its first-quarter earnings report on May 6, showing a 47.5% increase in earnings per share, to $0.44 from $0.30, compared with the consensus estimate of $0.36. The quarter ended March 31.

The stock shot up to its current low $20s level from about $19, prompting Jefferies & Co. to exercise in part its option to buy overallotment shares from the April public offering it underwrote, buying 262,500 shares at the offering price of $17.75 and bringing the total net proceeds from the share sale to $41.7 million.

Avondale Partners raised its earnings estimate for 2008 as a whole to $1.48 from $1.27 and for 2009 to $1.60 from $1.34, not taking into account any new acquisitions, which the analysts consider likely. Avondale reiterated its “market outperform” rating on the stock.

The Avondale analysts noted the company’s strong revenue growth in the most recent quarter, 22.2% to $39 million, was driven by a 30% increase in the visiting-nurse segment of the company’s business that is Medicare-certified.

Combined with strict control of expenses, this growth enabled Almost Family to lift its EBIT margin by 130 basis points, to 11.4%, and register a 43% increase in EBIT to $4.4 million, 21.6% ahead of Avondale’s expectations.

About 17% of the overall 30% gain in visiting nurse segment revenue was organic, with the rest coming from acquisitions. The acquisition on March 27 of Apex Home Healthcare Services, the market leader in Jacksonville, Fla., with $16 million . . .

Gigabeam Corp. (Nasdaq: GGBM), Fremont General Corp. (NYSE: FMT) and Enterprise Financial Services Corp. (Nasdaq: EFSC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

These are the biggest percentage gainers among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million: