Tag - Aray

World Heart Corp. (Nasdaq:WHRT), Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY) and TechTarget Inc. (Nasdaq:TTGT) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AAR Corp. (Nasdaq:AIR), RSC Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:RRR), Winn Dixie Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:WINN), Kadant Inc. (Nasdaq:KAI), Exterran Partners L P (Nasdaq:EXLP) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX).

Spartech Corp. (Nasdaq:SEH), Chindex International Inc. (Nasdaq:CHDX) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY), Synutra International Inc. (Nasdaq:SYUT), Plexus Corp. (Nasdaq:PLXS), Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE), Limelight Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:LLNW) and School Specialty Inc. (Nasdaq:SCHS).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) gave up early gains today to slip for the fourth consecutive week, finishing off the first month of the year with a sizable loss of 11.2%. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Horizon Lines (Nasdaq:HRZN), Accuray (Nasdaq:ARAY) and Clearwater Paper (NYSE:CLW).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The GDP report headline figure came in at minus 3.8%, which was much better than expected.
• Even though the number beat the projection, it was still the worst showing for the U.S. economy since 1982.
• The Chicago headline figure came in at 33.3, which was below the forecast of 34.9.
• The Goldman Sachs Analyst Index, a survey of Goldman’s equity analysts across a range of sectors, fell to an all-time low in January.
• The Dow fell 8.8% in January, while the S&P 500 was off 8.5%. This marked the worst start to the year in history for the stock market.
• Looking ahead to next week, we’ll see another full slate of reports starting out with the ISM Manufacturing Survey on Monday and then heading into the main event – Friday’s big monthly employment release.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Horizon Lines posted a surprise adjusted Q4 profit; shares rocketed 19%. See (NYSE:HRZ).
• Accuray climbed 26% after Q2 profit met estimates. See (Nasdaq:ARAY). 
• Clearwater Paper closed up over 11% after announcing Q4 and . . .

Small-cap stocks finished out the week with a whimper, as talk that a delay in the whole “bad bank” concept was in the mix as lawmakers struggle to define the concept. An upside surprise on GDP provided a brief bullish spark, but details within the report tainted any bullish interpretation of the news. And since GDP was still the worst showing since 1982, maybe any bullish slant on the number would have just been market spin anyhow.

For the day, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) lost 9.72, or 2.14%, to 443.53 and for the week, the Russell gave up early gains to slip for the fourth consecutive week and finished off the first month of the year with a sizable loss of 11.2%. Meanwhile, the Dow fell 8.8% in January, while the S&P 500 was off 8.5%. This marked the worst start to the year in history for the stock market.

The market started out the day with a modest upside surprise when the quarterly GDP report showed a smaller-than-expected contraction in the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter. The GDP headline figure came in at minus 3.8%, which was quite a bit better than the consensus forecast for a decline of 5.3% and some of the whisper numbers approaching 6%. The upside surprise on GDP helped provide a brief bid for stocks into the opening today, but news didn’t have legs. According to Northern Trust economist Asha Bangalore, some of that was likely due to the devil in the details.

“The minus sign for GDP growth was not a surprise but a larger decline was widely expected,” Bangalore said in an email. “The increase in inventories (+$6.2 billion vs. -$29.6 billion in Q3), which was largely unexpected, offset the weakness in demand and trimmed down the headline reading.” 

In other economic news today, the market seemed to recoil off a reading on Midwest manufacturing activity as the Chicago Purchasing Manager’s survey set a new cycle low at 33.3, which was below the forecast of 34.9. Data on the employment cost index was basically in line with expectations and tends to grab more attention . . .

Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY), RG Barry Corp. (Nasdaq:DFZ) and China Biotics Inc. (Nasdaq:CHBT) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: CyberSource Corp. (Nasdaq:CYBS), Overstock.com Inc. (Nasdaq:OSTK), Colony Bankcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:CBAN), Abaxis Inc (Nasdaq:ABAX), Saia Inc. (Nasdaq:SAIA) and Acxiom Corp. (Nasdaq:ACXM).

Small-cap stocks pushed lower, pressured by concerns about corporate profits, worries about late holiday spending results and ongoing jitters about the economy and the credit crisis. Losses were limited by optimism about stimulus plans for 2009 and persistent bargain hunting from market watchers who believe the bottom has already been made.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Fuel Systems Solutions (Nasdaq:FSYS), American Capital Agency (Nasdaq:AGNC) and Flow International (Nasdaq:FLOW).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

•Even though chipmakers were higher in European trading, tech stocks were underperforming both the Dow and small caps.  
• Citigroup analysts said that they remain underweight on utilities, autos and real estate investment trusts.
• The greenback remained down against the euro, which could underpin various commodity markets today.  
• Copper prices rose 4% in London trading, bolstered by a dip in the U.S. dollar vs. the euro & by news of a jump in China imports during November.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Fuel Systems Solutions up 5.13% in pre-market after analysts initiate coverage on Friday of the small cap with a "buy." See (Nasdaq:FSYS).  
• American Capital Agency up 3% in pre-market after declaring a $1.20 Q4 dividend. See (Nasdaq:AGNC). 
• Flow International 2% higher today after an analyst last week upgraded the small cap from "buy" to "strong buy," citing new 10Q financial reports. See (Nasdaq:FLOW).  
• Rackspace Hosting Inc. opened higher on light volume after taking a big hit Friday. See (NYSE:RAX).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Grey Wolf Inc. gapped lower and tumbled 40% to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:GW).  
• Brown Shoe Company Inc. fell 10%, giving part of a huge rally from Friday. See (NYSE:BWS). 
• Accuray down 7% after swinging to a Q1 loss on Friday. See (Nasdaq:ARAY).
• Ruby Tuesday announces multiple store closures and $70 million anticipated loss in 2009; shares dip 4.4%. See (NYSE:RT).  

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (Nasdaq:GMCR) and USANA Health Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:USNA) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Arthrocare Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq:AGNC), Fuel Systems Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:FSYS), Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY) and Gencor Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:GENC).

Insight Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT), Gaiam Inc. (Nasdaq:GAIA) and Talbots Inc. (Nasdaq:TLB) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Dialysis Corporation of America (Nasdaq:DCAI), Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY), Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc. (Nasdaq:GRIF), Ames National Corp. (Nasdaq:ATLO), Syniverse Hldg Inc. (Nasdaq:SVR) and Live Nation Inc. (Nasdaq:LYV).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Novatel Wireless Inc (Nasdaq:NVTL), Accuray Inc (Nasdaq:ARAY) and Hickory Tech Corp (Nasdaq:HTCO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.     

Also included among the results: Investors Title Co (Nasdaq:ITIC), StellarOne Corp (Nasdaq:STEL), ImmunoGen Inc (Nasdaq:IMGN), Palm Harbor Homes Inc (Nasdaq:PHHM), American Woodmark Corp (Nasdaq:AMWD) and Toreador Resources Corp (Nasdaq:TRGL).    

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:  

Shares of Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq:ARAY) are slipping in pre-market trading after the radio surgery system provider for the treatment of solid tumors reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that missed consensus estimates by a long shot. However, muting the stock’s slide in pricing action was that the company issued fiscal 2009 revenue guidance below to above the mean forecast on Wall Street.

Shares dipped 8%, or $0.57, to $7.00 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and news stories on Accuray, click ARAY. 

DrdGold (Nasdaq:DROOY), Accuray Inc (Nasdaq:ARAY) and 012 Smile Communications Ltd (Nasdaq:SMLC) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.       

Also included among the results: Insulet (Nasdaq:PODD), SORL Auto Parts Inc. (Nasdaq:SORL), Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT), Quest Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:QELP), China Sunergy Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:CSUN) and Comverge Inc. (Nasdaq:COMV).           

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:   

The Russell 2000 (IWM) jumped earlier and higher than the other major U.S. indices as upbeat financial news sparked a rally. The small-cap index soared 17.81 points, or 2.56%, to 713.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) added 207.53 points, or 1.67%, to 12,650.36.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has declined 6.88%, while the Dow has let go 4.63% and the S&P 500 has retreated 6.12%.

Wall Street made a remarkable turn around today and posted strong gains following news midway through the session on news that bond issuer MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBIA) will retain its top rating despite posting a record quarterly loss.

News reports quote MBIA’s CEO Gary Dunton as saying he is confident his company will maintain its AAA rating as it takes measures to raise capital.

That calmed investors and allowed the bulls to take center stage.

According to other news reports this afternoon, major rating agencies will hold off on downgrading the Armonk, N.Y.-based company, which primarily guarantees municipal bonds.

A downgrade will make it difficult for MBIA to find clients and will lower the value of many of the bonds that it insures. In turn, that will lead to a wave of write-offs at banks and other financial institutions and make it more difficult for the issuers of municipal bonds to raise capital.

Shares of Accuray Inc. (Nasdaq: ARAY) have descended to a new 52-week low on news after the close on Wednesday that the maker of robotic radio surgery equipment reported fiscal second-quarter profit that disappointed Wall Street, while lowering its full-year guidance.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company, which manufactures a robotic system used for the treatment of solid tumors, reported that net income for the three months ended Dec. 29 was $2.3 million, or $0.04 per share, below the $0.09 per share forecasted by five analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. A year earlier Accuray suffered a loss of $0.45 per share.

Revenues for the second quarter soared 98% to $52 million from $26.3 million a year earlier.

“Accuray continues to experience record-setting growth, with our fourth consecutive quarter of increasing revenue and backlog,” said president and CEO Euan Thomson in a statement.

However, Accuray had to lower its forecast for the fiscal 2008 year to a range of between $210 million and $230 million, down from a previous estimate of revenue between $250 million and $270 million.

The company chief attributed the revision to the tightening of credit markets in the United States.

Jim Oberweis, Jr. -- through both his Oberweis Funds and his The Oberweis Report financial newsletter -- is a long-standing specialist in small cap stocks.

Well known for his Oberweis Microcap Fund, which recently re-opened to new investors, the advisor has also stepped into the global investing arena – last year launching the Oberweis China Opportunity and just recently unveiling the Oberweis International Opportunities Fund.

Whether domestic or global, his stocks are chosen based on one enduring strategy, which focuses exclusively on seeking high growth at a reasonable valuation. Indeed, he explains, “Our investment approach, which we call the Octagon Strategy, hasn’t changed one iota in 20 years.”

In addition to several technical and financial criteria, the advisor has three basic fundamental requirements for all of the stocks he considers. First, Oberweis notes, companies must be growing revenues at 30% or faster—“These are turbo-charged companies,” he says.” In addition, they must be prosperous and growing earnings at 30% or better. Finally, he adds, they must be cheap in relation to their rate of growth.

Oberweis points out that the stock’s p/e can’t be greater than half the rate of growth. As a result, he observes, a company growing at 50% a year, has to have a p/e multiple of 25 or less.

In his latest The Oberweis Report, he uncovers a trio of intriguing medical plays that are paving new ground in developing markets -- robotic surgery, molecular prediction, and dermatology. All three stocks, he notes, are only appropriate for risk-oriented investors.