Tag - Ande

In Vermont, the general store is as common as muddy back roads. These local hangouts are commonly the closest available option for bread, milk, and coffee - as well as any fresh produce that may have been grown by local farmers.

They are sort of a potpourri of variety - selling everything from food to Frisbees, and even a few bags of cat food too. If I could buy stock in them I would - because they always have customers and are always open when I need something.

RC2 Corp. (Nasdaq:RCRC), Destination Maternity Corp. (Nasdaq:DEST) and AirTran Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AAI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc. (Nasdaq:PFCB), Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN), GMX Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:GMXR), Diedrich Coffee Inc. (Nasdaq:DDRX), Perry Ellis International Inc. (Nasdaq:PERY) and Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE).

Small-cap stocks were holding ground into mid-session, buoyed by hope for a White House rescue for automakers and by a bounce in tech stocks, real estate investment trusts, homebuilders and gold stocks, which helped counter ongoing weakness in the financial arena. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Prologis (NYSE:PLD), Exelixis (Nasdaq:EXEL) and TechTeam Global (Nasdaq:TEAM).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Michigan sentiment survey came in better than expected at 59.1, above the forecast of 55.0.  
• Much of the investor focus today will be on trying to decipher just what the Senate’s rejection of the automaker bailout will mean to the market.  
• The Nasdaq traded in positive territory briefly about 30 min. after the open, and small caps jumped nearly 10 handles off the morning low.  
• Bernard Madoff, former Nasdaq chairman, was arrested and charged with running a fraudulent hedge fund that may have racked up $50B in losses.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Real estate investment trusts (REITS) were on a serious roll today, with small-capper Prologis jumping 26%, reversing a big slide from Thursday. See (NYSE:PLD).
• Bristol-Myers, biotech Exelixis team up on cancer; Exelixis stock is up 18.5%. See (Nasdaq:EXEL).  
• TechTeam Global up 16% on light volume. See (Nasdaq:TEAM). 
• The Andersons raised to "buy" from "hold" by BB&T; shares pop 15%. See (Nasdaq:ANDE).  


Small Cap Losers:

• Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. NV tumbled 17% and has now given back the recent advance tied to plans from President-elect Obama to initiate a massive infrastructure project.  
• DryShips cancels its acquisition of four Panamax drybulk carriers. Shares fall 15% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:DRYS).  
• Wunderlich Securities initiates coverage on Warren Resources with a "hold," shares dip 4%. See (Nasdaq:WRES).  
• Ciena down another 3.31% in pre-market after seeing a dramatic loss Thursday on a Q4 Loss. See (Nasdaq:CIEN). 

Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE), CBL & Associates REIT (Nasdaq:CBL) and Primeenergy Corp. (Nasdaq:PNRG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Forrester Research Inc. (Nasdaq:FORR), EnerSys (Nasdaq:ENS), Dolan Media Co. (Nasdaq:DM), Gladstone Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:GAIN), Nanosphere Inc. (Nasdaq:NSPH) and Sonesta International Hotels Corp. (Nasdaq:SNSTA).

Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE), CNB Financial Corp.  (Nasdaq:CCNE) and Blue Coat Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:BCSI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Signet Jewelers  (Nasdaq:SIG), J Crew Group Inc. (Nasdaq:JCG), Thomas & Betts Corp. (Nasdaq:TNB), Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF), Capitol Bancorp Ltd. (Nasdaq:CBC) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX).

Small-cap stocks took a dive on the opening as the optimism that drove a sterling three-day rally abated amid a backlash from sobering economic data and a fresh batch of downbeat corporate forecasts. However, tech stocks were surprisingly firm today, which helped the overall market bounce off the morning lows. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Qimonda (NYSE:QI), American Railcar Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:ARII) and Holly Corp. (NYSE:HOC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Weekly inventory data later this morning could spark a move in energy markets.  
• Crude oil prices jumped higher into the stock market open, rising about $1.7 a barrel on hope that the China rate cut would help bolster demand from that key customer.  
• The U.S. dollar was up against the euro this morning, rising about 0.8% and was flat against the yen.  
• Japan’s massive auto manufacturing firm, Toyota, saw its credit rating lowered for the first time in a decade.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Qimonda up 40% after closing Inotera share deal with Micron. See (NYSE:QI).  
• American Railcar Industries Inc. is up 10% as the railcar manufacturer continues to climb off 52-week lows forged last week. See (Nasdaq:ARII).  
• Holly Corp. to replace LandAmerica Financial Group in the S&P SmallCap 600. Shares of Holly are trading 6% higher. See (NYSE:HOC).  
• Forest Oil up 5% after completing $200M asset sales. See (NYSE:FST). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Andersons Inc. was down 27% as the agriculture company revised earnings downward. See (Nasdaq:ANDE).  
• Conn’s Inc. was off 13% as the specialty retailer reported earnings. See (Nasdaq:CONN).
• Thomas & Betts lowers 4Q earnings forecast; shares tumble 11%. See (NYSE:TNB).
• Kayne Anderson is down another 10% today after giving an update on leverage ratios earlier this week. See (NYSE:KYN).  

Small-cap stocks took a dive on the opening as the optimism that drove a sterling three-day rally abated amid a backlash from sobering economic data and a fresh batch of downbeat corporate forecasts. However, tech stocks were surprisingly firm today, which helped the overall market bounce off the morning lows. At 10:02 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 3.44, or 0.78%, at 439.74.

Market watchers were hip deep in data overload this morning as various government and private offices release reports early ahead of the Thanksgiving Day holiday in the United States. Amid this smorgasbord of information, the headliner appeared to be durable goods report, which showed a jolting decline of 6.2%, the largest drop in more than two years and well beyond the consensus forecast for a drop of 2.7%. The durables data base can be a little volatile, especially with huge orders for aircraft involved, but in this report orders for almost every category were down, and orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft were off 4%. Shipments of finished goods were also down, which is a troubling sign for U.S. manufacturers and their likely hiring plans.

Another gloomy report on manufacturing came from today’s Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Survey, which was at 33.8, well below the 38 forecast and at the lowest point in 26 years. Meanwhile, new home sales were at an annualized rate of 433,000 units, down from the forecast of 440,000. The Michigan sentiment survey came in at 55.3, which was below the projection of 57.9 and at the lowest point since 1980.

Speaking of hiring (or the lack thereof), the weekly claims report came in at 529,000, which was in line with the forecast of 530,000. Even though the number of people filing for unemployment insurance fell 14,000 from last week, it should be noted . . .

Shares of The Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE) are up more than 10% in pre-market trading today after the company announced after Wednesday’s close its full-year earnings would top previous estimates. For the full year, the Maumee, Ohio-based agriculture and transportation company expects earnings per share between $5 and $5.40 per share, up from prior guidance of $4.40 to $4.80. Wall Street is expecting earnings per share of $4.61 for 2008. The company said the lifted guidance is due to its Plant Nutrient Group’s continued positive performance. The company will report its second-quarter earnings on Aug. 7.

Ahead of today’s opening, shares are at $46.60, up $4.44 from Wednesday’s close. The stock has ranged from $32.25 to $52.67 during the past year.

Barring a last minute stunner Monday, small-cap stocks appear set to finish the first half of 2008 with a whimper as the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed out this week’s trading at the lowest level since early April while notching the largest one-week point decline since February. For the day, the Russell dipped 0.28, or 0.04%, to 698.14, walking a tightrope between rising crude oil and safe-haven money flows away from stocks versus oversold conditions and a rise in personal income data.

 

And it even took a pair of rose-colored glasses to see the good news on today’s personal income report, which clearly was tainted by stimulus checks reaching consumer wallets. The headline figure on personal income was up 1.9%, but after adjustments for the stimulus payout, the real figure was much less enticing.

 

“Perusing some of the detail, households seemed to want to escape from reality in May by stepping up their purchases of alcoholic beverages to consume in the privacy of their own (or bank-owned) homes (+1.29%), by going to the movies (+24.9%), by investing their tax rebates at blackjack tables (+2.3%) or simply boarding an airplane to get out of town (+2.7%),” Paul Kasriel, chief economist with Northern Trust, said in an email. “Come the third quarter, when the fiscal stimulus has dissipated, so will personal income and consumer spending increases,” he said.

 

Consumer sentiment as told through the Michigan survey slipped to a fresh 28-year low. With national pump prices north of $4 dollars a gallon, food prices steadily rising, home values still sinking and unemployment surging, it’s no surprise that consumers are in a dour . . .

AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ), The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE) and The Finish Line, Inc. (Nasdaq:FINL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (Nasdaq:CKEC), QC Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:QCCO), Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:LCUT), Tri-Valley Corp. (AMEX:TIV), Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Nasdaq:RBPAA) and Benihana, Inc. (Nasdaq:BNHNA).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks gyrated between positive and negative territory in the first half hour of trading as record-high crude oil prices, safe-haven flow away from stocks and steep declines in global markets overnight countered a decent personal income report. The market was oversold after Thursday’s collapse, and price action could be choppy ahead of the end of the quarter. At 10:03 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 1.62, or 0.23%, at 700.04.

The Michigan sentiment survey slipped to 56.4, which was slightly below the forecast of 57, but the number was not enough of a surprise to spark a big move in stocks.

The personal income report headline figure jumped 1.9%, which was well beyond the median forecast for a rise of 0.7%. However, when discounting the impact of the tax stimulus checks, real income was only up 0.4%. The May PCE deflator was up 0.1%, which was better than the forecast for a rise of 0.2%, which sparked a pre-opening bounce off overnight lows in stock index futures.

“Real consumer spending jumped in May, boosted by the tax stimulus checks,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said in an email. “This will allow consumer spending to rebound and keep Q2 growth positive (albeit weak). After the rebate checks are spent, ongoing job losses will weaken income growth, slow consumer spending and dampen economic growth during the second half of the year. Eventually, weak economic growth will dampen inflation — at least that’s the FOMC’s hope,” Wood said.

Despite the mild upbeat news from personal income data, the market still was on edge about crude oil prices, which climbed to a fresh record high overnight above $142 dollars a barrel. Crude prices backed off toward $140 into the stock market . . .

Small-cap stocks are expected to open steady to lower, with pressure from rising crude oil prices, slumping bank stocks and a sell-off in global equities overnight countered by a better-than-expected personal income report. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down about 0.2% in after-hours trading, which suggests a cash opening near 697.

Crude oil prices climbed to yet another record higher in overnight action, moving above $142 dollars a barrel. Although the market pulled back to around $141 dollars, it’s still unnerving to equities to go into the weekend with record highs in tow.

The personal income report came in at plus 1.9%, which was much better than the forecast for a rise of 0.7%. The May core personal consumption expenditure index was up 0.1%, (slightly below the 0.2% forecast), which sparked a recovery bounce in stock index futures from the overnight lows.

Equity markets around the world tumbled overnight, catching up with the big slide registered in U.S. stock markets Thursday. Japan shares were down 2%, Hong Kong off 1.8%, China down 5.5%, Taiwan down 3.3%, India down 4.3%, Australia down 1.3%, Singapore down 0.8% and South Korea off 2%.

Equities on the move overnight included Accenture (NYSE:ACN), which rallied after reporting strong earnings and raising full-year guidance. Also, Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE) shot up some 15% in after-hours trading as the company also raised yearly guidance. Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) was off 7% overnight as earnings missed the forecast. AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE:AKS) shot up about 3% as . . .

Home Inns & Hotel Management Inc. (Nasdaq:HMIN), (Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL) and DRDGold, Ltd. (Nasdaq:DROOY) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABAT), The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE), Rex Energy Corp. (Nasdaq:REXX), The Finish Line, Inc. (Nasdaq:FINL) and Altra Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:AIMC).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE) shares were up 15% in pre-market trading after the company raised its guidance late Thursday for fiscal year 2008 to a gain between $4.40 per share and $4.80 per share. Previous estimates were between $3.65 and $4 per share. The Maumee, Ohio-based agriculture and transportation company said it raised the guidance outlook based on a solid first half of the year. Ahead of the bell Friday, shares were at $37.98, up $5.05 from Thursday’s close.

SeaChange International (Nasdaq: SEAC), Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: SOLF) and China Finance Online Co. (Nasdaq: JRJC) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million: