Tag - ARTW

Art's-Way Manufacturing Co Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTW), Century Bancorp (Nasdaq:CNBKA) and MAG Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:MVG) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion. 

Also included among the results: United Security Bancshares (Nasdaq:USBI), Omega Protein Corp (Nasdaq:OME), Metalico Inc. (Nasdaq:MEA), Crawford (Nasdaq:CRD.B), and Lifeway Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:LWAY).           

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:   

After an impressive rally on Tuesday, small caps fell under pressure amid gloomy economic outlooks and possible downgrades, and as crude oil prices gushed higher. In Wednesday’s trading, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) fell 18.97, or 2.78%, at 663.75, while the Dow declined 236.77, or 2.08%, at 11,147.44.

After jumping nearly $2 dollars into the open to roughly $138 per barrel, crude oil futures reversed course and fell $0.40 to $135.64 a barrel. The U.S. dollar also fell against both the euro and the Japanese yen.

Prices were catapulted higher in the morning on news that crude inventory levels slipped more than anticipated. The Energy Information Administration reported this morning that U.S. oil supplies declined by 5.9 million barrels, substantially greater than Platts’ forecasted decrease of 1.9 million barrels. Additionally, Iran test fired missiles to show that they would retaliate if Israel attacks their nuclear production facilities, heightening concerns among oil traders that a conflict could cut off the transportation of crude supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a highly utilized shipping route for the transportation of crude supplies. 

The International Monetary Fund said today that it remains weary on global economic growth this year and in 2009, as the credit crisis continues to grip global markets and skyrocketing food and fuel prices crimp consumers and businesses. IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, however, stated that he is more concerned about inflationary pressures.

In a research report this morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs said that a “snap-back rally” was always possible and that on a pure valuation basis, some investors might ask whether economic risk is now adequately priced into the stock market. “We think it remains dangerous to trade against the downside equity market trend based on valuation metrics alone at this point. The market is in the process of adapting expectations to a less optimistic view of the macro environment. And what looks cheap now may not look that cheap in the near future, should fundamentals turn even less friendly going forward. In this regard, the economic environment . . .

After an impressive rally on Tuesday, small caps are under pressure midday amid gloomy economic outlooks and possible downgrades, and as crude oil prices gushed higher.
 
At 12:28 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 1.43, or 0.21%, at 681.29, while the Dow was down 16.45, or 0.14%, at 11,367.76.

After jumping nearly $2 dollars into the open to roughly $138 per barrel, crude oil futures have reversed course and are flickering between the red and black midday. A barrel of light sweet crude oil rose $0.11 to roughly $136 per barrel midday for the August contract. Today’s mild fluctuations come on the heels of consecutive sharp pullbacks this week in the commodity.

Prices were catapulted higher in the morning on news that crude inventory levels slipped more than anticipated. The Energy Information Administration reported this morning that U.S. oil supplies declined by 5.9 million barrels, substantially greater than Platts’ forecasted decrease of 1.9 million barrels. Additionally, Iran test fired missiles to show that they would retaliate if Israel attacks their nuclear production facilities, heightening concerns among oil traders that a conflict could cut off the transportation of crude supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a highly utilized shipping route for the transportation of crude supplies.  

The International Monetary Fund said today that it remains weary on global economic growth this year and in 2009, as the credit crisis continues to grip global markets and skyrocketing food and fuel prices crimp consumers and businesses. IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, however, stated that he is more concerned about inflationary pressures.

In a research report this morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs said that a “snap-back rally” was always possible and that on a pure valuation basis, some investors might ask whether economic risk is now adequately priced into the stock market. “We think it remains dangerous to trade against the downside equity market trend . . .

Arts-Way Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTW) is trading up more than 25% today after the Armstrong, Iowa-based farm machinery manufacturer announced a 34.9% increase in second-quarter revenues. For the quarter ended May 31, revenue was $7.7 million compared with $5.7 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net income was $0.89 million, or $0.45 per share, compared with $0.56 million, or $0.28 a share, for a year earlier. The company said the improved earnings were due to better operating margins in spite of challenges in the agricultural sector.

The company also announced today its board of directors had voted to approve a two-for-one stock split of common stock. Each shareholder of record as of July 23 will receive one additional share for every outstanding share held on record date, the company said in a statement.

In today’s trading, Arts-Way is trading at $24.42, up $5.02 from Tuesday’s close. Trading volume soared to more than 92,000 shares, up from the average 7,000.

DRAXIS Health Inc. (Nasdaq:DRAX), Arts-Way Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTW) and FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FTGX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:NXTM), Vineyard National Bancorp (Nasdaq:VNBC) and Gencor Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:GENC) are also among the top small-cap percentage gainers.

Here are Friday's biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

There may be “nothing new under the sun,” but many of the best investments over the past five years have been in renaissance sectors: energy, precious metals and agriculture come readily to mind.

Although Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Nasdaq: ARTW) isn’t the newest thing under the sun, it’s a company that's experiencing nothing short of a renaissance. The Armstrong, Iowa-based microcap, named for founder Arthur Luscombe, has existed since 1956, manufacturing and selling portable and stationary animal-feed processing equipment used to mill and mix feed grains into custom animal feed rations. Adjunct businesses include pressurized vessels and tanks and modular buildings for “animal containment and various laboratory uses.”

Farm-equipment manufacturing is notoriously cyclical, as are most businesses tethered to commodities. Art's-Way is affected by factors peculiar to the farm equipment field, including fluctuations in farm income resulting from changes in commodity prices, crop damage caused by weather and insects, and government farm programs, as well as general systematic factors like GDP growth and interest rates.

For the most part, these factors have been cycling to Art's-Way's favor. Interest rates have been cycling down over the past six months, thanks to the Federal Reserve's continual efforts to stimulate a droopy (though still growing) economy. Meanwhile, incomes have been cycling in the opposite direction. In February 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture pegged net-farm income for the year at $66.6 billion, up from $59 billion in 2006. By August 2007, the USDA raised its projection to a record $87.1 billion.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are pointing down sharply and the small-cap index will likely open lower.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), the largest American bank by assets, weighed down stocks after reporting its first quarterly loss in a decade.  The New York City-based bank swung to a fourth-quarter loss of $9.83 billion, or $1.99 per share, compared with a profit of $5.13 billion, or $1.03 per share, a year earlier.  The firm was forced to book pretax write-downs and credit costs of approximately $18.1 billion due to subprime mortgage woes.

In other negative news, the Commerce Department said sales at U.S. retailers fell 0.4% in December, which was more than economists were expecting. Purchases excluding automobiles also declined 0.4%, which again was greater than economists expected.

Also weighing down futures is the Labor Department’s announcement that producer prices fell 0.1% during December. Core producer prices, excluding food and energy, grew 0.2%, which was in line with economists’ expectations.

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Manatron Inc. (MANA), up 32.3%.
• Lifecore Biomedical Inc. (LCBM), up 30.5%.
• Vignette Corp. (VIGN), up 10%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Hibbett Sports Inc. (HIBB), down 22.3%.
• Coldwater Creek Inc. (CWTR), down 15.3%.
• Arts Way Mfg Inc. (ARTW), down 12.2%.

Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq: SEED), Ninetowns Internet Technlgy Grp Co Ltd. (Nasdaq: NINE) and VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIAP) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq: SNIC), China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN) and Document Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: DOCX) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

NovaStar Financial Inc. (NYSE: NFI), Servotronics, Inc. (AMEX: SVT) and Idaho General Mines Inc. (AMEX: GMO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Hospital holding company Dynacq Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: DYII) swung to a third-quarter profit on a dramatic revenue swell. For the three months ended May 31, the Houston, Tex.-based company announced net income of $2.6 million, or $0.17 per share, from $0.8 million, or $0.05 per share, a year earlier.

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

Local.com Corp. (Nasdaq: LOCM) reported it received a patent for geography-based Web searching.

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

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) cut its second-quarter guidance to between $0.07 and $0.10 per share, down from between $0.15 and $0.19 per share. The St. Louis-based company cut its view because of less-than-expected sales over the last two months.

Terremark Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: TMRK) delayed filing its annual report with the SEC, citing delays in collection and compilation of certain financial information.

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