Tag - BBX

TechTarget Inc. (Nasdaq:TTGT), Tower Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:TOBC) and Citi Trends Inc. (Nasdaq:CTRN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CSII), Medicinova Inc. (Nasdaq:MNOV), C&F  Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CFFI), Williams Controls Inc. (Nasdaq:WMCO), Cyberonics Inc. (Nasdaq:CYBX) and BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX).

United Community Bancorp (Nasdaq:UCBA), Domtar Corp. (Nasdaq:UFS) and BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Oncothyreon Inc. (Nasdaq:ONTY), ENPRO Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:NPO), Unitrin Inc. (Nasdaq:UTR), Cray Inc. (Nasdaq:CRAY), Universal Technical Institute Inc. (Nasdaq:UTI) and Talbots Inc. (Nasdaq:TLB).

Today marked the third time in four days that stock market investors chose to dismiss dreary economic data as a non-event, and this time around they did it on the biggest report of them all – the monthly Labor Department report on employment. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up nearly 5%. Some of today's small-cap gainers included BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE:BBX), DineEquity (NYSE:DIN) and . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) had an up and down session Tuesday, but in the end the bulls won the skirmish. Small caps closed up 1.46%, while the Dow and S&P 500 lagged gains. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Tween Brands (NYSE:TWB), DR Horton (NYSE:DHI) and Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Tuesday morning’s report on U.S. GDP came in as expected, clearing the way for the market to start on a positive note. The report confirms that the economy is on pace for an “official” recession moniker if fourth-quarter growth contracts as expected. 
• The Fed and Treasury announced a new TAL, which will be granted initial funding of $20B via the original $700B in TARP money. 
• The Case-Shiller Home Price Index tumbled a record 17.4% from last year and the index was down 1.9% in September from the previous month.
• Retailers were in rally mode Monday, but were struggling to stay positive, just a few days in front of Black Friday.
• Tech stocks were a drag on the market, as the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 underperformed the rest of the market and shed 1% on the day.
• Crude oil took a dive today, tumbling $3.7 a barrel, or about 6.8%
• Despite the retreat on physical energy prices, energy stocks still managed to push higher today, and actually outpaced the broad market indices.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Tween Brands (NYSE:TWB) closed up 47% today, rebounding from major losses the stock saw on Monday.
• DR Horton Inc. (NYSE:DHI) jumped 38%, riding the overall housing updraft today despite reporting larger-than-expected quarterly losses.
• Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN) soared some 32% as the second-largest U.S. homebuilder benefited from an analyst upgrade.
• Developers Diversified Realty (NYSE:DDR) reported insider buying; shares . . .

Small-cap stocks turned lower at midday as slumping technology shares weighed on investor psychology and offset optimism over yet another new government credit facility aimed to encourage consumer loan activity. In addition, fresh economic data had a predominantly gloomy tone and the market may have been ripe for a breather following two days of dramatic advances. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN), DR Horton Inc. (NYSE:DHI) and American Woodmark (Nasdaq:AMWD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Retailers were in rally mode Monday, but were struggling to stay positive today, just a few days in front of Black Friday  
• The worst performers so far are home: ent. software, specialty stores, asset management firms, distillers and vineyards, and dept. stores.  
• Consumer confidence levels actually improved more than expected, rising to 49.9, up from the forecast of 38.5 (but still low historically).  
• Homebuilders are the best performers, followed by construction materials, managed health care, building products and Internet software.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Lennar Corp. soared some 52% as the second-largest U.S. homebuilder benefited from an analyst upgrade. See (NYSE:LEN).  
• DR Horton Inc. jumped 25%, riding the overall housing updraft today despite reporting larger-than-expected quarterly losses. See (NYSE:DHI).
• American Woodmark up 18% after posting narrower-than-expected Q2 loss. See (Nasdaq:AMWD).
• Media and marketing company Alloy, Inc. up over 15% today on light volume, paring much of the losses it suffered on Monday See (Nasdaq:ALOY).  

Small Cap Losers:

• K-V Pharmaceuticals drops 24% after a bevy of law firms launch investigations into the small cap concerning losses suffered by investors who purchased stock between Feb. 15 and Nov. 12. See (NYSE:KV.A).  
• FirstFed Financial Corp. down 21% today on no fresh news. Over the weekend the savings and loan holding company declared a dividend. See (NYSE:FED).
• BankAtlantic Corp. down another 20% today following news on Friday that the SEC launched a probe into the company's handling of troubled loans and some of its officers' stock transactions. See (NYSE:BBX).  
• Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. tumbled 19% as investors backed away from the beauty retailer ahead of an earnings conference call this afternoon. See (Nasdaq:ULTA).  

Minefinders Corp Ltd. (Nasdaq:MFN), Tessera Technologies (Nasdaq:TSRA) and Hercules Offshore Inc. (Nasdaq:HERO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: SAVVIS Inc. (Nasdaq:SVVS), Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:ALY), Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ARRS), Meritage Homes Corp. (Nasdaq:MTH), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX) and Boyd Gaming Corp. (Nasdaq:BYD).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Hansen Medical Inc. (Nasdaq:HNSN), Heritage Commerce Corp. (Nasdaq:HTBK) and Insituform Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:INSU) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: IPC Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:IPCR), Align Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:ALGN), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC) and Auburn National Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:AUBN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

The Russell 2000 careened at closing Wednesday, plummeting 9.5%, or the second-lowest close in five years. The dramatic close was due to dreadful retail sales, a cautious tone from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the “beige book” report on the economy that showed activity weakening across the United States. The Russell 2000 is now down 34% for the year, while the Dow is off 35% and the S&P 500 is down 38%. Small-cap gainers today include Tufco Technologies (Nasdaq:TFCO), BankAtlantic (NYSE:BBX) and Rocky Mountain Chocolate (Nasdaq:RMCF). Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 physical markets got hammered again today, losing nearly 4.5% while sinking to the lowest level since February 2005.
• Copper prices shed some 8% today.
• The retail sales report out today marked the third consecutive negative reading for retail sales — something that has not happened in some 17 years.
• Today’s freefall represented the largest one-day decline of the year for small caps, just two days after the market put together the biggest one-day advance of 2008.
• Crude drops 5% today, settling under $75 for the first time since Sept. 2007.
• The NY Manufacturing Survey is down 24.6% to the lowest reading in some seven years, adding to the bleak tone from the retail sales figure.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Tufco Technologies (Nasdaq:TFCO) doubles stock buyback program to 200,000 shares; stock soars 40%.
• BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BBX) up 16% as regional banks . . .

Small caps have plunged over 6% this afternoon, as recession fears have gripped stocks. Already concerned about still frozen credit piping, a slew of lackluster economic data and a sobering speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanki only served to push the market lower. Small-cap gainers today include Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL), BankAtlantic (NYSE:BBX) and China Mass Media (NYSE:CMM). Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Looking at the chart picture for small caps, the market appears to be consolidating after a breathtaking bounce off the lows.
• Sectors bucking the decline were few and far between, but soft drink makers, airlines and biotechs attracted some buyers.
• Other sectors on the decline included construction and farm machinery and consumer finance.
• Commodity themes slid early today, with metal and mining stocks, coal, oil and gas drillers, steel, oil exploration and aluminum all taking a hit.
• The NY Manufacturing Survey is down 24.6% to the lowest reading in some seven years, adding to the bleak tone from the retail sales figure. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) jumps 16% after raising third-quarter revenue guidance and reaffirmed full year guidance.
• BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BBX) up 8.53% as regional banks are seeing a boost today.
• China Mass Media Intl Adv Corp. (NYSE:CMM) up nearly 7.25% on light volume.

Small Cap Losers:

• iStar Financial's (NYSE:SFI) shares tumble 30%. Last week Fitch gave a negative outlook on the small cap.
• Callaway Golf (Nasdaq:CDNS) slips 16% after Stephens Inc. analyst cut earnings estimates for companies in the sports and leisure sector.
• Jones Apparel (NYSE:JNY) shares tumble 25% to lowest level since 1995, after the retailer cut its forecast on soft consumer spending.

Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG), Westport Innovations Inc. (Nasdaq:WPRT) and Superior Bancorp (Nasdaq:SUPR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Heritage Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:HFWA), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), Bank of the Ozarks Inc. (Nasdaq:OZRK), UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA), LSB Corp. (Nasdaq:LSBX) and Gladstone Commerical REIT (Nasdaq:GOOD).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Horace Mann Educators Corp. (Nasdaq:HMN), Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (Nasdaq:EYE) and Mid Penn Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:MPB) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Sterling Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:STSA), LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LFG), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), Frontier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FTBK), Preferred Bank (Nasdaq:PFBC) and Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:YAVY).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:CY), Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:JAZZ) and Hawthorn Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:HWBK) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), Travelzoo Inc. (Nasdaq:TZOO), Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SCMP), Coleman Cable Inc. (Nasdaq:CCIX), Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (Nasdaq:ISLE) and Photon Dynamics Inc. (Nasdaq:PHTN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Virtual Radiologic Corp. (Nasdaq:VRAD), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FED) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:CALM), A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC), Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Maguire Properties REIT (Nasdaq:MPG) and WuXi PharmaTech Cayman Inc. (Nasdaq:WX).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BBX) shares are plunging after the financial services holding company reported it swung to a third-quarter loss. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company recorded a quarterly net loss of $29.6 million, or $0.52 per share, below analyst expectations of earning $0.10 per share and compared with a profit of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per share, a year earlier.

“This quarter's financial results reflect the continuing impact of the current economic environment on our business, particularly the deteriorating residential real estate market, contributing to higher non-performing asset levels, increased loan loss reserves, further valuation impairment of real estate owned and held for sale, and net interest margin compression,” CEO Alan B. Levan said in a statement. “The impact of the decline in the Florida residential real estate market has been significant.”

Levan said the company does not project market conditions to improve during the near-term and expects the negative factors to impact fourth-quarter and fiscal 2008 results.

Total interest income for the three months ended Sept. 30 declined to $94.9 million, from $95.1 million during the same period of 2006.

Delinquent loans soared to $165.4 million at the end of the third quarter, from $21.8 million in June. The firm blamed 11 poor-performing commercial real estate loans on the negative results. BankAtlantic also said it increased its reserves for bad loans and wrote down the value of its real estate property.

In morning trading, BBX shares are plunging 41.83%, or $3.20, at $4.45. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $4.45 to $14.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is the top performer as the major U.S. indices rise on news of upbeat earnings.

At 10:25 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had gained 9.11 points, or 1.13%, to 815.22. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 94.78 points, or 0.69%, to 13,766.70.

The small-cap futures were pointing north following news that Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) reported after Thursday’s close that its first-quarter earnings beat analysts’ expectations, mainly due to strong sales of the videogame “Halo.”  The Redmond, Wash.-based also raised its outlook for the full fiscal year.

Contributing to the upbeat sentiment is Countrywide Financial Corp. (NYSE: CFC), the largest mortgage lender in the United States, which announced that it will return to profitability in the fourth quarter and beat Wall Street’s expectations. The New York-based company also reported a third-quarter net loss, its first in a quarter century, due to the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector this summer.

Among small-cap companies, Callidus Software Inc. (Nasdaq: CALD) has been left behind after reporting a wider-than-expected third-quarter net loss.

In economic news, U.S. consumer confidence tumbled more-than-expected. The Reuters/University of Michigan final sentiment index fell in October to a reading of 80.9, the lowest level in more than a year. Economists were expecting to see a decline to a level of 82. The index was at 83.4 in September.

The past several years have been good to the nation's community banks. Thanks to niche-marketing skills and an influx of disgruntled big-bank customers, smaller, regional financial institutions across the country are holding their own, even as large banks consolidate and expand to gain market share.

One small bank worth watching is BankAtlantic Bancorp. (NYSE: BBX). The 55-year-old Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based company that dubs itself "Florida's Most Convenient Bank" emphasizes its reputation for above-average customer service. The bank was one of the first in Florida to offer branches with extended business hours that are open seven days a week, to attract and retain the low-cost deposits that fuel revenues and earnings. The bank has also wooed customers with a 24-hour customer service center, free checking, free online banking and other perks.
 
At first glance, the company seems troubled. Faced with high expenses due to rapid expansion, a sagging state housing market, rising problem loans, growing advertising expenses, and fierce competition, BankAtlantic has seen its bottom line take a hit. The company has posted losses for two consecutive quarters. In the first quarter of this year BankAtlantic's profits fell 12%, to $5.7 million, or 9 cents a share, due largely to a growing number of problem residential real estate development and construction loans. (In two cases, developers borrowed from BankAtlantic to buy land, with plans to sell lots to homebuilders, but Florida's housing slump caused land sales to slow, creating cash flow problems for the borrowers.) Company executives are not expecting to take large losses on either loan. The bank's non-accrual loans—those 90 days or more delinquent or are no longer accruing interest—rose from $4.4 million at the end of 2006 to $25.7 million by the end of March. The company also took a one-time charge of $2.6 million for laying off 225 of its roughly 3,000 employees in late March.

But despite the rocky patch, there have been some bright spots. BankAtlantic will save about $10 million a year from the layoffs, and expects to see the impact starting in the current quarter. It also reported an after-tax gain of $7.9 million on the February 28 sale of its securities brokerage subsidiary Ryan Beck Holdings to St. Louis-based Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF). BankAtlantick has trimmed its advertising expenses, which reached $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, to an average of $6.4 million a quarter. And, the bank also has initiated a program to reduce back-office expenses at stores (as it calls its branches).