Tag - MEI

 Methode Electricians Inc (Nasdaq:MEI), Spreadthrum Communications Inc (Nasdaq:SPRD), Celldex Therapeudics Inc (Nasdaq:CLDX) and Dragonwave Inc (Nasdaq:DRWI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Comtech Telecommunications (Nasdaq:CMTL), Nash Finch Co (Nasdaq:NAFC), Airmedia Group Inc (Nasdaq:Inc), Dynamex Inc (Nasdaq:DDMX) and Darling International Inc (Nasdaq:DAR).

Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI), CPEX Pharmaceutical Inc (Nasdaq:CPEX), World Heart Corp (Nasdaq:WHRT) and Duoyan Global Water Inc (Nasdaq:DYP) are among the biggest percentage Gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: National SEC group Inc (Nasdaq:NSEC), Naugatuck Vally Financial Corp (Nasdaq:NVSL), Heartland Payment Systems (Nasdaq:HPY), Keithley Instruments (Nasdaq:KEI) and Mako Surgical Corp (Nasdaq:MAKO).

Oxford Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:OXM), Zumiez Inc. (Nasdaq:ZUMZ) and China Natural Gas Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Shiloh Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:SHLO), Methode Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq:MEI), Calavo Growers Inc. (Nasdaq:CVGW), CryoLife Inc. (Nasdaq:CRY), DrdGold ADR (Nasdaq:DROOY) and Orion Marine Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ORN).

Targacept Inc. (Nasdaq:TRGT), Oneida Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ONFC) and United Community Bancorp (Nasdaq:UCBA) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Innospec Inc. (Nasdaq:IOSP), Gaming Partners International Corp. (Nasdaq:GPIC), Summit Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMF), MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MKTX), Superior Well Services Inc. (Nasdaq:SWSI) and Methode Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq:MEI).

Littelfuse Inc (Nasdaq:LFUS), Par Technology Corp (Nasdaq:PTC) and MedQuist Inc (Nasdaq:MEDQ) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cadiz Inc (Nasdaq:CDZI), John Bean Technologies Corp (Nasdaq:JBT), CAI International Inc (Nasdaq:CAP), Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI), Female Health Co (Nasdaq:FHCO) and Lannett Co Inc (Nasdaq:LCI).

Bancorp Bank (Nasdaq:TBBK), America's Car-Mart Inc (Nasdaq:CRMT) and Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Sonic Corp (Nasdaq:SONC), Measurement Specialties Inc (Nasdaq:MEAS), Codorus Valley Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:CVLY), Align Technology Inc (Nasdaq:ALGN), FGX International Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq:FGXI) and Financial Institutions Inc (Nasdaq:FISI).

Ocean Power Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT), Cabela's Inc. (Nasdaq:CAB) and Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq:GSOL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Consolidated Water Co Ltd (Nasdaq:CWCO), Cougar Biotechnology Inc (Nasdaq:CGRB), Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI), Cascade Bancorp (Nasdaq:CACB), ATC Technology Corp (Nasdaq:ATAC) and Agree Realty Corp (Nasdaq:ADC).

Small-cap stocks extended the morning slide into midday trading, with financial, tech and homebuilder shares overpowering gains in energy and commodity names. Analyst downgrades for key companies in the financial and technology arenas played a role in magnifying worries about consumer spending and the never-ending credit crisis. At 12:21 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 11.08, or 2.36% at 457.35.

On the banking/financial front, analysts downgraded JP Morgan Chase and Co. (NYSE:JPM) and the firm was one of the major drags on large-cap indices, sinking some 6.8% and spreading selling in financial firms throughout the market. Analysts also downgraded Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL), which tumbled nearly 4% and sparked a slide throughout the technology arena. The tech-laden Nasdaq 100 was down 2.2% at mid-session, about double the percentage losses seen in the S&P 500 and Dow.

The Treasury Department announced it was reviewing information from the auto industry and providing regular updates to the White House, which kept enthusiasm for some kind of bailout for U.S. automakers running high. Even though the overall market was falling today, shares in General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM) were up 5.5%, while Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) was up 3.6%.

Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:RSTI), Brookfield Homes Corp (Nasdaq:BHS) and Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Houston Wire & Cable Co. (Nasdaq:HWCC), Spartech Corp. (Nasdaq:SEH), CoBiz Financial Inc.(Nasdaq:COBZ), Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:OUTD), Palm Harbor Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:PHHM) and Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD).

Ansoft Corp. (Nasdaq:ANST), Power Medical Interventions, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMII) and Reis, Inc. (Nasdaq:REIS) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE:MEI), Transcat, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRNS) and Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:OWW) are also among the top small-cap percentage gainers.

Here are Monday's biggest percentage gainers:

quotesThe Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) posted the largest percentage gain as the major U.S. rallied on news of a plan to ease the pain on subprime borrowers. The small-cap index added 21.31 points, or 2.78%, to 786.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) moved up 174.93 points, or 1.30%, to 13,619.89.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 is off 0.06%, while the Dow has climbed 9.18% and the S&P 500 has advanced 6.41%.

The bulls completely dominated today on news that the U.S. government is introducing measures to prevent struggling borrowers with subprime adjustable-rate mortgages from entering foreclosure.

The plan, unveiled by the Bush Administration after the start of trading, will freeze the rates on some subprime mortgages with adjustable rate loans that are set to shift to higher rates, forcing many homeowners into foreclosure. The interest rates on more than one million mortgages will reset higher in 2008, potentially overwhelming borrowers who are currently struggling to make their monthly payments.

Stocks opened strong as investors anticipated news of the relief plan, which has yet to be voted on by the U.S. Congress, with the rally gaining speed after President Bush’s press conference.

As if on cue, the statistics reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association today showed the dire state of the U.S. housing market.

Shares of Methode Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEI) are leaping on news before the start of trading that the maker of component devices for original equipment manufacturers saw its fiscal second-quarter profit jump 79.6%.

Net income for the fiscal quarter ended Oct. 27 was $8.8 million, or $0.24 per share, compared with a net income of $4.9 million, or $0.13 per share, during the same three months of fiscal 2007. Two analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of $0.19 per share.

Revenues also outpaced Wall Street’s forecast, rising 22.8% to $133.2 million from $108.5 million a year ago. Analysts were projecting revenues of $123.9 million.

“We continued to gain momentum with our European and Asian sales and profits during the second quarter,” said president and CEO Donald Duda in a statement. “While our North American automotive operations also had increased sales and profits, customer price increases significantly added to the results.”

Chicago-based Methode Electronics sells technology that conveys signals through sensors, interconnections and controls. The company’s end markets are in the automobile, networking equipment, data communication systems, consumer electronics and industrial equipment industries.

At 3:48 p.m. ET, shares of Methode Electronics (MEI) had gained $3.06, or 27%, to $14.48. The 52-week high of $18.90 was reached on July 24, while the 52-week low of $10.27 was set on Aug. 8.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is posting strong gains as investors react to the U.S. government’s plan to provide help to homeowners. At 2:39 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 17.16 points, or 2.24%, to 782.80. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 107.87 points, or 0.80%, to 13,552.83.

The U.S. government and the lending industry have agreed to freeze the rates on some subprime mortgages to help cash-strapped borrowers and alleviate the prolonged slump in the housing sector. Some borrowers will be allowed to move to more favorable Federal Housing Administration mortgages.

The plan will affect borrowers with adjustable rate loans that are set to shift to higher rates, forcing many homeowners into foreclosure.

The relief comes just in time: the Mortgage Bankers Association reported today that 5.59% borrowers are now at least 30 days late making their mortgage payments, the highest percentage in more than 20 years. The trade group also said that the foreclosure process has been on 0.78% of mortgages in the three months ended Sept. 30, more than twice the rate a year ago.

Home prices began to stagnate in the second half of 2006 and the slump shows no signs of slowing down. The subsequent wave of foreclosures swelled the inventory of unsold homes, feeding the vicious cycle.

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

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Methode Electronics, Inc. (MEI), up 31% on news that fiscal second-quarter profit beat expectations.
• Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (FLE), up 23% on news of a narrower fiscal second-quarter loss.
• Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU), up 26% on news it will borrow up to $185 million for the construction of a polysilicon production plant.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc. (ISSC) down 20% on news of a wider fiscal fourth-quarter loss.
• Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ) down 13% on news of an analyst downgrade.
• China Natural Resources Inc. (CHNR), down 12%.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices are posting modest gains on news of an agreement to help struggling homeowners.
 
At 10:55 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 10.47 points, or 1.37%, to 776.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had gained 39.99 points, or 0.30%, to 13,484.95.

The interest rates on some subprime mortgages will stay put for five years to help cash-strapped homeowners make their payments and avoid foreclosure, according to news reports this morning.

The details of the Bush Administration’s plan to ease the burden on homeowners have not been made public yet, but an announcement is expected soon.

That news is helping the bulls and calming investors who worry that the prolonged slump in the U.S. housing sector could lead to a sharp slowdown in economic growth or a recession.

Elsewhere, U.S. retailers posted mixed sales in November. Among the big players, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reported a 1.5% increase in U.S. same-store sales, a figure towards the higher end of its previously announced expected range.

Among small-cap retailers, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: BONT) said that its total sales for the month increased 7.1% to $393.1 million, compared with $367 million a year earlier.

In economic news, the number of unemployment claims for the week ended Dec. 1 was 338,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 353,000, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Economists were expecting to see a slightly larger decline.