Tag - Anen

Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL), Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DTG) and Rentrak Corp. (Nasdaq:RENT) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Anaren Inc. (Nasdaq:ANEN), BioScrip Inc. (Nasdaq:BIOS), American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq:AGNC), Spectrum Control Inc. (Nasdaq:SPEC), ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:CKSW) and Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:NOVN).

Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX), Caribou Coffee Co Inc. (Nasdaq:CBOU) and Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. (Nasdaq:BGFV) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Anaren Inc. (Nasdaq:ANEN), Lancaster Colony Corp (Nasdaq:LANC), Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (Nasdaq:ISLE), Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:GSBC), Diedrich Coffee Inc. (Nasdaq:DDRX) and Orion Marine Group Inc. (Nasdaq:OMGI).

Corriente Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:ETQ), Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE) and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) managed to end Monday in the green, rising 1.28% at closing. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were TransGlobe Energy Corporation (NYSE:TGA), RXi Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:EAT) and Anaren Inc. (Nasdaq:ANEN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Existing home sales came in at an annual rate of 4.74M units, above the forecast of 4.4M. Sales were up 6.5%, compared with a slide of 9.4% in Nov.
• Leading indicators came in at +0.3%, better than the projection for -0.3%. This marked the first rise in leading indicators since June 2008.
• For the New Year, the Russell is now down 9.9%, while the Dow is off 7.5% and the S&P 500 is down 7.3%.
• Commodities in general rose slightly on the day, with the Commodity Research Bureau Index up 0.6%. 
• The biggest percentage movers today were dominated by small banks and financial institutions (the KBW Banking Index tumbled 1.7%). 
• Looking at the chart picture for small caps, the market is basically waffling up and down in the range set on Obama’s inauguration day.
• The market will get more information on the housing sector via Thursday’s . . .

Small-cap stocks eked out a modest advance Monday, enduring an up and down session in which better-than-expected economic data and enthusiasm about M&A activity dueled with bank worries and job loss jitters. In the end, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 5.70, or 1.28%, at 450.06. For the New Year, the Russell is now down 9.9%, while the Dow is off 7.5% and the S&P 500 is down 7.3%.

On the data front this morning, reports on existing home sales and leading indicators both beat the forecast for a rare upbeat showing out of economic data. The National Association of Realtors said that existing home sales rose 6.5% in December to an annual rate of 4.74 million units, well ahead of the projection of 4.40 million. As for leading indicators, the Conference Board said that an index of economic indicators rose 0.3% in December, which also was a much better showing than the forecast for a drop of 0.3%. It also marked the first rise in leading indicators since June.

The market will get more information on the housing sector via Thursday’s new home sales report, but the bulk of homes sold in America come via existing home sales, so today’s report was truly a ray of sunshine for a market that is teetering back on the verge of the bear market lows from November. The Russell is now down more than 13% from the January peak and last Friday generated the lowest weekly close since those bear market lows were carved out in November and the second-lowest weekly finish in more than five years. There is a large segment of market watchers who believe that the economic collapse started in the housing arena and the recovery won’t start until home prices stabilize and start to work higher. That camp got a rare positive signal today.

In addition to the economic data, a massive acquisition in the pharmaceutical arena was announced this morning before the open, with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) — the world’s largest pharma firm — announcing plans to buy Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) for $68 billion, the largest deal in that sector for years. Pfizer shareholders didn’t care much for the news because the company will cut dividends to help pay for the purchase, and PFE shares retreated some 10%. From an overall market standpoint, . . .

Anaren Inc (Nasdaq:ANEN), Teekay Offshore Partners LP (Nasdaq:TOO) and Willis Lease Finance (Nasdaq:WLFC) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.           

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

Shares of Anaren, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANEN) are sliding ahead of the opening bell after the microwave and radio frequency components maker said after Wednesday’s close that results slipped from the year-ago period, as the firm continued to grapple with execution issues on several production and development programs. A $400,000 increase in R&D expense and a restructuring charge of $255,000 related to personnel reductions at its Salem, New Hampshire subsidiary also contributed to the fallen results.

Shares lost 9%, or $0.90, to $9.28 ahead of the bell. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Anaren, click ANEN. 

Maguire Properties Inc (Nasdaq:MPG), First Horizon National Corp (Nasdaq:FHN) and United Security Bancshares (AL) (Nasdaq:USBI) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Superior Bancorp (Nasdaq:SUPR), Anaren Inc (Nasdaq:ANEN), AMERICAN RIVER Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB), ATMI Inc (Nasdaq:ATMI), Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc (Nasdaq:SHO) and CoBiz Financial Inc (Nasdaq:COBZ).

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

Small-cap stocks endured another sizable decline Monday, pulled down by tension over the health of the financial arena at a time when the economy is already struggling with rising unemployment, slumping housing markets and soaring energy costs. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) shed 10.45, or 1.55%, to 664.50, the third lowest daily close since mid-March.

The closing slide in small caps was a stark difference from this morning as the market appeared poised to begin the week with a relief rally. Stock index futures jumped some 1.6% during overnight action as investors embraced a plan by government authorities to shore up the balance sheet — and market confidence — in government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE). However, that overnight rally failed to gain traction relatively quickly once the market opened today, and a wave of selling swept through banking stocks, especially within the regional banking sector and smaller banks, which took a toll on small-cap index products. Despite opening up amid 20%-plus gains this morning, FNM and FRE eventually closed down 4.2% and 5.8%, respectively.

Elsewhere on the banking front, National City Corp. (NYSE:NCC) plunged 17% after trading was halted briefly on concerns about unusual trading activity. NCC was downgraded by analysts, and the stock dropped anchor, as the unsettling tide of selling coursed through financials a day after IndyMac Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:IMB) failed, becoming the third-largest U.S. bank failure on record.

There was some sense that investors are beginning to fret about all the special bail-out programs needed to avert systemic risk on the financial landscape. After all, there are only so many rabbits that magicians at the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department can pull out of their hats. What’s more, there are some concerns that these recovery efforts could flood the debt market with so much paper that supply issues could hamper funding, or even that the world could balk at “being the buyer of last resort for U.S. government debt,” as noted in a research report . . .

First Horizon National Corp (Nasdaq:FHN), ATMI Inc (Nasdaq:ATMI) and Endwave Corp (Nasdaq:ENWV) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American Independence Corp (Nasdaq:AMIC), Maguire Properties Inc (Nasdaq:MPG), FCStone Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCSX), Anaren Inc (Nasdaq:ANEN), Pyramid Oil Co (Nasdaq:PDO) and DineEquity Inc (Nasdaq:DIN).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Anaren Inc. (Nasdaq:ANEN) is off 12% to a 52-week low today after announcing that its fourth-quarter earnings would fall below previous estimates. Anaren said net income for the quarter ended June 30 is expected to be below the previous estimate of $0.12 to $0.16 per share. Wall Street is expecting $0.20 per share. The East Syracuse, N.Y.-based microwave components provider expects net sales to be between $30 million and $33 million. The company said net income was impacted by poor yields on several production programs, a cost over-run on a development project and restructuring costs at the Anaren Ceramics subsidiary. The company will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Aug. 6.

In today’s trading Anaren shares are at $9.55 at 11:14 a.m. ET, down $1.28 from Friday’s close. During the past year, shares have ranged from today’s low of $9.51 to a high of $19.

Headwaters Inc. (NYSE:HW), Corus Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:CORS) and BioScrip Inc. (Nasdaq:BIOS) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:LFG), Hutchinson Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:HTCH) and Anaren, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANEN) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Wednesday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks edged slightly higher this morning, bouncing off an overnight dip when this morning’s GDP report came in above expectations, and allowed investors skittish about a potential glut of recession headlines to breathe a sigh of relief. At 9:59 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 2.74, or 0.38%, at 721.66.

The Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Survey, out at 9:45 a.m. ET, was slightly above expectations at 48.3 and appeared to have very little impact on equity market trading.

After a recent lull in economic data, the numbers charge kicked into gear this morning, with GDP, ECI, Chicago Purchasing, and even ADP’s employment survey coming out. Although GDP was an important number, it’s just a warm-up for the FOMC announcement this afternoon. And just to prove the old axiom of “no rest for the weary,” the market will have to navigate through ISM Manufacturing numbers, Personal Income data and vehicle sales Thursday, then the big employment release Friday morning.

Let’s begin with the aforementioned GDP release. When it came out slightly better than forecast (up 0.6%), it missed the “official” recession gauge by being in positive territory (if you’re curious, the true official recession definition requires two consecutive negative-growth quarters). It’s worth noting that although GDP averted negative growth territory, we’ve still seen two quarters of extremely sluggish growth and the U.S. economy is clearly struggling as consumers deal with . . .

Shares of Anaren, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANEN) are losing ground in after-hours trading after the wireless company that manufactures microwave and radio frequency components guided below analyst expectations for its first fiscal quarter.

For the three months ending Sept. 30, the East Syracuse, NY.-based company said it expects net earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.13-$0.16, well below the $0.29 predicted by a single analyst surveyed by Thomson Financial.

Anaren said it expects net sales to be in the range of $30 million to $32 million for the first quarter, in the range of the consensus of two analysts polled by Thomson Financial of $30.60 million.

Anaren attributed the lowered guidance to an expected decline in demand for wireless infrastructure products, an increase in demand for consumer component products and a decrease in sales for its Space & Defense segment as a result of an anticipated decline in sales of counter-improvised explosive device related components.

For the fourth quarter the company recorded net income of $4.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, up 20% from $3.6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share a year earlier.

Worldwide use of wireless communications is expanding rapidly.

According to a telecommunications industry report, in 2006, the U.S. corporate, government and educational sectors spent nearly $9 billion on deploying wireless networks. Expenditures are estimated to be growing 25% per year. Spending in the international market was estimated at $28 billion last year and is estimated to be growing 33% annually. A report issued by The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association indicates that wireless carriers spent $33 billion on capital investments and expenditures last year and are increasing spending at a 14% annual rate.

Carrier investments are driven by explosive growth in the number of wireless users; in June 2006 (the latest period for which data were available), there were approximately 219 million wireless subscribers in the United States, up 25 million, or 13% from a year earlier.

Increasing demand for wireless networks is attributable to the improved security of wireless data transmissions, the introduction of new, more advanced technologies, greater accessibility and affordability of wireless mobile devices, and expanding capacity of wireless networks, making wireless an acceptable alternative to land lines.

The advantages of wireless communications versus traditional land line networks include:

• Mobility. Mobile communications allow data to be transmitted from remote staff and locations not accessible by land lines. As a result, data collection costs are reduced, access to data and data controls improves and worker productivity climbs. 
• Capacity. Current technology allows wireless transmissions with capacity, quality and reliability superior to land line and comparable to fiber optic networks.
• Cost. Wireless networks are much less expensive than land lines to deploy and operate. In addition, wireless equipment costs are declining as a result of technology advances and production volume increases. In addition, wireless networks bypass local service providers, eliminating recurring monthly fees.
• Deployment. Wireless networks eliminate the need for negotiating rights of way, infrastructure engineering and additional FCC licensing. They can be deployed quickly and inexpensively.

Two small caps that are benefiting from wireless demand are WPCS International Inc. (Nasdaq: WPCS) and Anaren, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANEN).

Datalink Corp. (Nasdaq: DTLK) slashed its second-quarter earnings outlook to a loss of between $0.03 and $0.05 per share. Previously, the computer storage company had expected earnings-per-share of between $0.02 and $0.07. Wall Street analysts are expecting earnings-per-share of $0.06.

Electronics and microwave components company Anaren, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANEN) announced that accounting mishaps at its Chinese subsidiary may cause the company to restate its second and third quarter results.

These are the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million: