Tag - CRRC

Arthrocare Corp (Nasdaq:ARTC), United Community Bancorp (Nasdaq:UCBA) and Northern States Financial Corp (Nasdaq:NSFC) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Courier Corp (Nasdaq:CRRC), ValueClick Inc (Nasdaq:VCLK), iStar Financial Inc (Nasdaq:SFI), Tejon Ranch Corp (Nasdaq:TRC), Apex Bioventures Acquisition Units (Nasdaq:PEX.U) and Lincoln Bancorp (Nasdaq:LNCB).

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

SemGroup Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq:SGLP), Northern States Financial Corp (Nasdaq:NSFC) and Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co Inc (Nasdaq:GAP) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Community Valley Bancorp (CA) (Nasdaq:CVLL), Global Partners LP (Nasdaq:GLP), Courier Corp (Nasdaq:CRRC), Great Northern Iron Ore Properties (Nasdaq:GNI), Virtusa Corp (Nasdaq:VRTU) and Lincoln Bancorp (Nasdaq:LNCB).

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

SemGroup Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq:SGLP), TeleTech Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:TTEC) and ValueClick Inc (Nasdaq:VCLK) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Courier Corp (Nasdaq:CRRC), Northern States Financial Corp (Nasdaq:NSFC), Hawthorn Bancshares Inc (Nasdaq:HWBK), Cornerstone Progressive (Nasdaq:CFP), China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd (Nasdaq:NPD) and C&F  Financial Corp (Nasdaq:CFFI).

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

SemGroup Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq:SGLP), TeleTech Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:TTEC) and Insteel Industries Inc (Nasdaq:IIIN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: ValueClick Inc (Nasdaq:VCLK), Courier Corp (Nasdaq:CRRC), Citizens Holdings Co (Nasdaq:CIZN), Texas Capital Bancshares Inc (Nasdaq:TCBI), Meridian Bioscience Inc (Nasdaq:VIVO) and Lakeland Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:LBAI).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Book manufacturer and specialty publisher Courier Corporation (Nasdaq:CRRC) is down more than 15% today after announcing ahead of the opening it had a net loss for the third quarter. The North Chelmsford, Mass.-based company reported a net loss for the quarter ended June 28 of $12.4 million, or $1 per share, compared with a profit of $6.7 million, or $0.53 per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Revenues were $73.4 million, unchanged from a year ago. Courier said the net loss was the result of a non-cash impairment charge of $23.9 million, or $1.25 per share, the product of weak performance at Creative Homeowner, one of its subsidiaries.

In today’s trading, Courier shares are down $3.45 at $18.96 at 9:42 a.m. ET, a 52-week low for the company.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures have fallen and the small-cap index will open lower.

Consumer prices rose 0.3% in December, the U.S. Labor Department reported this morning. That’s above economists’ projected increase of 0.2% but below November’s 0.8% jump.

However, for all of 2007 inflation has added 4.1%, the highest rate since 1990.

December inflation for all items excluding food and energy was 0.2%, following an increase of 0.3% in November.

Elsewhere, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported that fourth-quarter net income declined to below analysts’ expectations due to about $1.3 billion in writedowns for subprime-mortgage investments.

The news comes a day after rival Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) declared the largest loss in its history, also due to the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• VistaCare, Inc. (VSTA), up 20% on news it will be acquired by Odyssey HealthCare Inc. (ODSY) for about $147.1 million.
• Charlotte Russe Holdings, Inc. (CHIC), up 12% on news of a rise in first-quarter sales.
• Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (LPHI), up 11%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPKI), down 22% on news it has lowered its fourth-quarter guidance.
• Courier Corp. (CRRC), down 17% on news of a decline in fourth-quarter profit and revenue.
• Stereotaxis, Inc. (STXS), down 12% on news of fourth-quarter guidance below expectations.

A good page-turner does not lack for suspense. So it is with Courier Corp. (Nasdaq: CRRC), the country’s third largest book manufacturer. Its consistent growth, financial strength and strategic market selection soothe investors, but macro forces raise a few goose bumps.

Courier’s plot is to focus on markets with above-average growth. Its characters are in two divisions: book manufacturing for other publishers, which dominates sales at 82% in 2006, and specialty publishing of its own properties.

As a manufacturer, Courier made and distributed more than 175 million books last year, focusing on the growth segments of education, religion and specialty trades. The company’s strongest category is education, where Courier has distinguished itself by growing sales at virtually twice the industry’s pace over the past 10 years: 11.5% versus 6.0%. A push toward higher education standards, a need for new textbooks and a strong trend toward four-color printing are all to Courier’s benefit. 

As specialty publisher, Courier has three main segments with more than 10,000 titles. Dover Publications’ subjects range from paper dolls to Milton’s Paradise Lost. Creative Homeowner’s yield includes information on beading, crochet and faux flower design; magazines on plumbing, crown molding and landscapes; and home plans for those seeking curb appeal and/or living on a hillside. Research and Education Association (REA) makes test preparation materials, including software. Each of these three businesses has been added since 2000, with Creative Homeowner the newest addition in April of 2006.

Courier’s tactics have paid off. Ten years ago, the company earned $0.42 per share and its revenues were $131 million. This year, it expects earnings between $2.15 and $2.20 per share, and total sales between $303 million and $307 million. The five-year return on Courier is 17.2%, compared with a decline of 1.7% for the publishing industry. 

Book maker and specialty publisher Courier Corp. (Nasdaq: CRRC) announced during a morning conference call it expects sales of between $89 million and $93 million for the fourth quarter ending September 30. The North Chelmsford, Mass.-based company’s guidance is 7% to 11% above last year’s fourth-quarter revenue of $83.4 million. Courier also said it expects earnings per share to be between $0.86 and $0.91 per share.

Courier expects annual sales to be in the range of $303 million to $307 million, compared with $269 million in 2006. The company expects annual earnings per share of between $2.15 and $2.20, compared with earnings per share of $1.90 in 2006.

Before the start of trading, Courier announced revenue of $73.4 million for the third quarter ended June 30, up from $70.4 million in the same period in 2006. Record education sales and the inclusion of Creative Homeowner – which was acquired by Courier in April 2006 – were key factors, according to a release. Courier reported a net income of $6.7 million, or $0.53 per share, compared with $6.1 million, or $0.48, in the year-ago period.

Wall Street analysts were expecting revenue of $70.4 million and earnings per share of $0.54.

“For years, I’ve been touting the merits of our market-focused strategy and our steady move toward a balanced portfolio of businesses that span both the manufacturing and publishing side of the book business,” CEO Jim Conway said during a conference call this morning. “Focus and balance don’t automatically go together, but they do at Courier. This past quarter was a perfect illustration of why it’s a good idea.”