Tag - SUSS

Paragon Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:PRGN), Crawford Ord Shs Class B (Nasdaq:CRD.B) and Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Nymagic Inc. (Nasdaq:NYM), North American Energy Partners Inc. (Nasdaq:NOA), VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:VIT), Celldex Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CLDX), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS).

Viad Corp. (Nasdaq:VVI), CardioNet Inc. (Nasdaq:BEAT) and Timberland Co. (Nasdaq:TBL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS), GigaMedia Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIGM), Intermec Inc. (Nasdaq:IN), Ambassadors Group Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq:SEPR) and Diedrich Coffee Inc. (Nasdaq:DDRX).

T 3 Energy Services Inc. (Nasdaq:TTES), Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS) and General Communication Inc. (Nasdaq:GNCMA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Old Second Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:OSBC), Central Pacific Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CPF), Syms Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMS), Imperial Sugar Co. (Nasdaq:IPSU), CPI International Inc. (Nasdaq:CPII) and PHI Inc. (Nasdaq:PHIIK).

Gymboree Corp. (Nasdaq:GYMB), Nymagic Inc. (Nasdaq:NYM) and US Physical Therapy Inc. (Nasdaq:USPH) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Atlas Energy Resources LLC (Nasdaq:ATN), K Swiss Inc. (Nasdaq:KSWS), United America Indemnity Ltd. (Nasdaq:INDM), Legacy Reserves Units (Nasdaq:LGCY), Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS) and Alaska Air Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ALK).

Also included among the results: Dolan Media Co. (Nasdaq:DM), Chart Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:GTLS), Sturm Ruger & Co Inc. (Nasdaq:RGR), 012 Smile Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq:SMLC), Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS) and Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY).

Shares of Susser Holdings (Nasdaq: SUSS) climbed 23.3% Thursday after the convenience store operator reported higher second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates by $0.33.
 
The Corpus Christi, Tx.-based firm earned $6.7 million, or $0.39 per share, for the second quarter, versus net income of $6.3 million, or $0.37 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Susser said earnings were driven by higher merchandise sales and margins largely attributable to last year’s acquisition of more stores.
 
Analysts had estimated earnings of $0.06 per share.
 
At 1:11 p.m., Susser Holdings has gained 24%, or $2.86, to $14.92. The stock has traded between $7.68 and $28.49 in the past year. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Susser Holdings, click SUSS.

After swooning out of the gate, the Russell 2000 has pulled off its lows of the session, but still remains besieged in the red mid-session. A spike in unemployment claims, disconcerting July retail sales, an uptick in oil prices and gloomy results from insurance juggernaut American Insurance Group (NYSE:AIG) pushed small caps lower, while a better-than-expected pending home sales report served to taper losses.

At 12:41 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) had slipped 4.67, or 0.64% to 721.23, while the Dow has given back 94.93, or 0.81%, to 11,561.14.

The Labor Department reported this morning that the weekly claims report spiked to 455,000, marking the largest weekly figure since March 2002. Adding insult to injury, the number was substantially above the forecast of 420,000 and adds to the sobering picture of a weaker labor market. The continuing claims number rose to a fresh cycle high at 3.311 million, the highest level since December 2003.

“Continuing claims, which are inversely related to job creation, jumped this week to their highest level since December 2003,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said in an email. “This is an indication that hiring has weakened.”

In other economic news, the National Association of Realtors reported this morning that pending home sales rose 5.3% to 89 from May’s reduced figure of 84.5. Economists were expecting the index to slide to 84.3. The rosier-than-anticipated report helped to pull stocks off their lows of the session. However, despite a gain during June, the number is still 12% lower than last year.

Noble International (Nasdaq:NOBL), Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS) and TXCO Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:TXCO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.         

Also included among the results: McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq:MSSR), Medifast Inc. (Nasdaq:MED), ENGlobal Corp. (Nasdaq:ENG), Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:RJET), Mediacom Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:MCCC) and 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (Nasdaq:FLWS). 

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:     

United Community Banks Inc (Nasdaq:UCBI), Medis Technologies Ltd (Nasdaq:MDTL) and Virtual Radiologic Corp (Nasdaq:VRAD) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

UCBH Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:UCBH), Lifetime Brands Inc (Nasdaq:LCUT) and Susser Holdings Corp (Nasdaq:SUSS) are also among the new 52-week lows.

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

Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: SUSS) reported this morning that it is acquiring the parent company of Town & Country Food Stores in an all-cash transaction for approximately $361 million.

Susser said the acquisition expands and diversifies its geographic footprint into West
Texas and Eastern New Mexico, and increases its retail store count by 50%.

San Angelo, Texas-based Town & Country is a privately owned convenience store operator with 140 locations serving Central and West Texas and the Texas Panhandle, and 28 locations serving Eastern New Mexico. Town & Country had total reported sales of $842 million. The company owns approximately 80% of its stores, along with a land bank of 14 undeveloped locations for future development.

Shares of Susser (SUSS) were halted in pre-market trading.

Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: SUSS) wants to take a Texas-sized bite out a growing and vulnerable market. What with re-branding, expanding, adding restaurants and hunting for acquisitions, the Corpus Christi-based convenience store and gas distributor is positioning for a feast.

Reasons for the hullabaloo are clear. Susser Holdings operates mainly in the bounding economy of south Texas, as well as north to Oklahoma, and in a developing, fragmented business. The U.S. convenience store industry is expected to increase to $559.9 billion in 2009, from $474.2 billion in 2005, for a compound annual growth of 4.2%. Small operators with 50 or fewer stores made up about 74% of all convenience stores run by retailers in 2005, according to the company’s annual report.

Susser has a history of exploiting the patchwork convenience store business, having completed nine acquisitions in the last 17 years, adding 326 retail stores and 234 motor fuel dealers. When current CEO Sam Susser joined the company in 1988, it ran five stores and had revenues of $8.4 million. Susser now has 325 stores and revenues of $1.9 billion. The company went public in October 2006, pricing 6.5 million shares at $16.50. Shares were trading Wednesday at $16.30, giving it a market capitalization of about $274 million.

To strengthen its identity, profitability and flexibility, Susser has dropped its deal with Circle K stores and has re-branded its own stores with the Stripes name. It also in 2006 agreed to a long-term contract with Valero fuel, as opposed to CITGO; Susser is the largest non-refining motor fuel distributor by gallons in Texas. Those transformations are virtually complete, with the changes coming at a whirlwind pace. Next course: Adding 18 to 22 new large format stores in 2007, each with a Laredo Taco Restaurant, and putting more of these restaurants into existing stores.

The restaurant, a high margin business, complements the strong Texas Hispanic demographic. While just offering breakfast and lunch now, Susser is trying out dinner service at select restaurants. There are more than 150 Laredo Tacos, and the company wants to put 30 to 45 more in current stores, as well as into all new outlets.