Tag - Bmi

Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SVNT), Beverly National Corp. (Nasdaq:BNV) and United America Indemnity Ltd. (Nasdaq:INDM) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Digimarc Corp. (Nasdaq:DMRC), Matrixx Initiatives (Nasdaq:MTXX), Ames National Corp. (Nasdaq:ATLO), Ambassadors Group Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), RadiSys Corp. (Nasdaq:RSYS) and Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI).

Small-cap stocks reversed morning losses and climbed into positive territory, sparked by talk that the “mark-to-market” accounting rules might be suspended to provide additional relief to banks and financial institutions to weather the current crisis. In addition, solid action for tech stocks and gains for retailers amid same-store sales reports provided further bullish fodder. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Badger Meter Inc. (NYSE:BMI), Dynamics Research Corp. (Nasdaq:DRCO) and Mainland Services Inc. (Nasdaq:MNLU).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Even though individual store results were spotty, the S&P Retail Index was up about 2.5% at midday, clearly outpacing the general market.  
• Retail stocks provided a surprising source of strength today, despite a bevy of mostly disappointing monthly sales reports.  
• Outside of the recovery bounce in financials, the stock market also found support from tech shares.  
• The KBW Banking Index rallied about 6% off the early low and briefly traded in positive territory.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Badger Meter Inc. rose 20% as the liquid flow specialist received an earnings-related boost. See (NYSE:BMI).  
• Dynamics Research Corp. rallied 21% as the technology management firm updated guidance. See (Nasdaq:DRCO).  
• Mainland Services Inc., an oil exploration firm, jumped 37% to the highest point since November. See (Nasdaq:MNLU).  
• Kelly Services Inc. jumped 50% on ultra light volume without any apparent fresh news after hitting a new low Wednesday. See (Nasdaq:KELYB).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Gartner Inc. fell 22% as the IT firm beat the earnings estimate, but presented a gloomy 2009 outlook. See (NYSE:IT).
• Life Time Fitness Inc. slumped 13% as the operator of workout facilities released preliminary earnings news. See (NYSE:LTM).  
• Corporate Executive Board Co. fell 17% as the executive networking firm announced earnings after the close Wednesday. See (Nasdaq:EXBD).   

Small-cap stocks reversed morning losses and climbed into positive territory, sparked by talk that the “mark-to-market” accounting rules might be suspended to provide additional relief to banks and financial institutions to weather the current crisis. In addition, solid action for tech stocks and gains for retailers amid same-store sales reports provided further bullish fodder. At 12:10 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 9.15, or 2.04%, at 457.62.

Bank stocks were an early drag on the market, with Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) sinking to 25-year lows, but bank and other financial shares rallied off the morning lows as the accounting rule talk made the rounds. There is hope that next week’s announcement from the Obama Administration about the stimulus plan may include changes or suspension of the “mark-to-market” rules. The KBW Banking Index rallied about 6% off the early low and briefly traded in positive territory.

Outside of the recovery bounce in financials, the stock market also found support from tech shares, which were supposed to be an eyesore today following downgraded revenue projections from Internet enabler Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO). After trading lower in pre-market activity, Cisco moved into positive territory today, providing a spark for tech stocks in general. Also, semiconductor shares were on a roll into mid-session, also lifting tech shares.

Retail stocks also provided a surprising source of strength today, despite a bevy of mostly disappointing monthly sales reports. The standard-bearer for the upside was probably Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) as the world’s largest retailer and discount provided topped the monthly same-store sales forecast, providing hope to investors that consumer spending might not be as awful as feared. Even though individual store results were spotty, the S&P Retail Index was up about . . .

Dynamics Research Corp. (Nasdaq:DRCO), Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI) and Citi Trends Inc. (Nasdaq:CTRN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: RightNow Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:RNOW), Cubic Corp (Nasdaq:CUB), EnerSys (Nasdaq:ENS), Horace Mann Educators Corp. (Nasdaq:HMN), MedCath Corp. (Nasdaq:MDTH) and Shutterfly Inc. (Nasdaq:SFLY).

Small-cap stocks started out the final week of this year’s trading on a somber note, as familiar worries about the economy, spending and the credit crisis sparked selling from a holiday-reduced pool of investors. A decline in financial, retail and homebuilder shares was more than enough to cancel out gains for commodity stocks, especially since much of the rise in commodities was fueled by safe-haven and risk bid flows—and not by improved fundamentals. Today's small-cap percentage gainers are Linn Energy LLC (Nasdaq:LINE), Northwest Pipe Co. (Nasdaq:NWPX), and BPZ Resources (NYSE:BPZ).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

•    Yields on six-month bills were going for about 5% back in August 2007; today’s high yield was 0.25%.  
•    The Treasury auctioned off $27 billion in six-month bills Monday, and the result was the lowest yield in history on auctions that date back to the 1930s.  
•    Much of the rise in commodities was fueled by safe-haven and risk bid flows—and not by improved fundamentals.  
•    A decline in financial, retail and homebuilder shares was more than enough to cancel out gains for commodity stocks.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Linn Energy LLC gapped higher and was showing a gain of 19% after a bullish article in Barron’s. See (Nasdaq:LINE).
• Northwest Pipe Co., which makes welded steel pipes, was up 13.2% to $37.65. See (Nasdaq:NWPX).  
• Flow-measurement product maker Badger Meter up 11% to $33.64. See (NYSE:BMI)
• BPZ Resources, formerly known as BPZ Energy, up 10.5% to $5.39 after announcing increases in oil reserves at the Corvina Field. See (NYSE:BPZ)  


Small Cap Losers:

• Among today's other 52-wk lows: Skilled Healthcare Group, Minerals Technologies Inc. and Dionex Corp. See (NYSE:SKH, NYSE:MTX, and Nasdaq:DNEX)
• Real estate investment trust Macerich Company down 15% to $17.23. See (NYSE:MAC).   
• Riverbed Technology, Inc. down 13% to $9.93 after Wedbush Morgan downgrade to "Hold" from "Buy" See(Nasdaq:RVBD)  
• ATC Technology Corp., a vehicle remanufacturing and logistics company, hit a new year-low of $12.37. See (Nasdaq:ATAC) 

Northwest Pipe Co (Nasdaq:NWPX), United Security Bancshares (Nasdaq:USBI) and Harris Stratex Networks Inc (Nasdaq:HSTX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Badger Meter Inc (Nasdaq:BMI), Trina Solar Ltd (Nasdaq:TSL), Lacrosse Footwear Inc (Nasdaq:BOOT), American River Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB), Ultralife Corp (Nasdaq:ULBI) and JMP Group Inc (Nasdaq:JMP).

Small-cap stocks extended the morning slide into midday action, with losses in financial, homebuilder, technology and retail stocks more than offsetting gains in energy and mining shares. Today's small-cap percentage gainers are Linn Energy LLC (Nasdaq:LINE), Northwest Pipe Co. (Nasdaq:NWPX), and Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• Although today’s slide in small caps looks ugly from a performance standpoint, it really does very little to alter a relatively tame, sideways chart structure.  
• Technology shares failed to gain traction, even though tech stocks were decent performers overnight in Asia on a burst of M&A activity.  
• Ongoing concerns about the economy and credit crunch weighed on financial and bank stocks, with small banks and financial firms dominating the list of percentage losers.  
• Losses in financial, homebuilder, technology and retail stocks were more than offsetting gains in energy and mining shares. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Linn Energy LLC gapped higher and was showing a gain of 19% after a bullish article in Barron’s. See (Nasdaq:LINE).
• Northwest Pipe Co., which makes welded steel pipes, was up 13.2% to $37.65. See (Nasdaq:NWPX).  
• Flow-measurement product maker Badger Meter up 11% to $33.64. See (NYSE:BMI)
• BPZ Resources, formerly known as BPZ Energy, up 10.5% to $5.39 after announcing increases in oil reserves at the Corvina Field. See (NYSE:BPZ)  

Small Cap Losers:

• Among today's other 52-wk lows: Skilled Healthcare Group, Minerals Technologies Inc. and Dionex Corp. See (NYSE:SKH, NYSE:MTX, and Nasdaq:DNEX)
• Real estate investment trust Macerich Company down 15% to $17.23. See (NYSE:MAC).   
• Riverbed Technology, Inc. down 13% to $9.93 after Wedbush Morgan downgrade to "Hold" from "Buy" See(Nasdaq:RVBD)  
• ATC Technology Corp., a vehicle remanufacturing and logistics company, hit a new year-low of $12.37. See (Nasdaq:ATAC) 

Gibraltar Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:ROCK), MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. (Nasdaq:MWIV) and Integral System Inc..(Nasdaq:ISYS) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: General Maritime Corp. (Nasdaq:GMR), Knot Inc. (Nasdaq:KNOT), Capital Bank Corp. (Nasdaq:CBKN), Ducommun Inc. (Nasdaq:DCO), Perry Ellis International Inc. (Nasdaq:PERY) and Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI).

Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO),Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI) and Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: ASA Ltd. (Nasdaq:ASA),Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN),Valhi Inc. (Nasdaq:VHI),Hallwood Group Inc. (Nasdaq:HWG),Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT) and Universal Forest Products Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPI).

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

During midday trading, the Russell 2000 is one of few indices in the green, up 0.77%, however trading remains volatile, with the market popping back off a 3% mid-morning slide fairly quickly. Today’s small-cap gainers are Encore Acquisiton (NYSE:EAC), Targanta Therapeutics (Nasdaq:TARG) and China TechFaith (Nasdaq:CNTF). Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The industrial production report released this morning pegged output down 2.8%; the forecast was for -0.8%.
• The best performing areas today are coal, education services, agriculture products, footwear companies, food retail firms, airlines, gas utilities and steel stocks. 
• On the downside, life health insurers, gold, paper products, auto manufacturers, asset mngt. firms, and Internet retail stocks were all taking a hit. 
• Crude oil extends slide after inventory data, dips below $70.
• The credit crisis is forcing many European firms valued at >$1.5B to end their publicly traded status, Bloomberg reports.
• The CBOE Volatility Index (a good indicator of the level of fear in the markets) hits a record high.
• The market continues to slide after the Philly Fed diffusion index fell to -37.5 in Oct. from +3.8 in Sept., its largest 1-month decline ever. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG) is up 49% on light volume, bouncing off a test of move lows.
• Encore Acquisition (NYSE:EAC) jumps 24% on Q3 operating results and authorization for the repurchase of an additional $40 million in stock.
• Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPI) is up 21%, basically trying to recover losses from Wednesday’s big decline.
• Deltek Inc. (Nasdaq:PROJ) announced preliminary results. Shares . . .

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (Nasdaq:SRZ) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI), Independence Holding Co. (Nasdaq:IHC), Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC), Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN), Amcore Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) and Interoil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks resumed the slide into the midday time frame, unable to sustain a morning bounce as recession fears were rekindled by dour manufacturing data. At 11:44 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 3.66, or 0.73%, at 498.45 at the lowest point since last Friday’s erosion to five-year lows. However, trading remains volatile, with the market popping back off a 3% mid-morning slide fairly quickly.

In what has become a familiar refrain lately, the Russell started out the day in positive territory and rallied to a gain of 3.2% shortly after the opening as employment and inflation indicators came in tame. However, when the industrial production report showed manufacturing activity posted the largest decline in nearly 34 years the market started to fray at the edges, but was still in positive territory. However, even if investors were willing to shrug off the output data due to quirks like Hurricane Gustav and a strike at aircraft maker Boeing, the 10:00 a.m. ET release of the Philly Fed survey (which is an October number) was the lowest figure in some 18 years and investors gave up the fight.

The market continues to fret about the possibility for a deep recession in the United States and a slowdown around the world, which would damage profits for both domestic and export-related businesses. And even though today’s unemployment claims report was not as bad as feared (461,000 versus the 470,000 forecast), it is still a historically large number of people filing for unemployment insurance and the number of people on the unemployment line only stands to get worse in coming months. While analysts argue that employment will lag the recovery in stocks and the overall economy, it’s still uncomfortable to get in front of that trend at this stage of the market dynamic.

Looking at sector action today, the best performing areas were coal, education services, agriculture products, footwear companies, food retail firms, airlines, gas utilities and steel stocks. On the downside, life health insurers were getting . . .

Surveillance and targeting is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the DoD budget. The U.S. military is increasingly deploying unmanned vehicles and remote weapons stations to fight the "war on terror," and Axsys Technologies (Nasdaq:AXYS) and Argon ST (Nasdaq:STST) are on the front lines, providing the advanced optics and control systems vital to this transformation.

Axsys Technologies designs and manufactures precision optical systems for defense, aerospace, homeland security and commercial applications. Its technologies are deployed in weapons systems, long-range surveillance cameras and high-precision telescopes. Axsys’ principal customers are the U.S. military, the U.S. Border Patrol and large defense contractors who integrate its tools into larger platforms. The company’s Surveillance Systems Group produces high precision camera systems used in ground, marine and aerial vehicles. Its Imaging Systems Group builds optical and control subsystems deployed in larger systems such as visible and infrared lenses, scanning systems, laser-positioning devices, motion control components and imaging optics. Axsyx participates in large-scale U.S. defense department programs such as the MRAP vehicle, Apache helicopter, Stryker vehicle, M1A2 Abrams tank and thermal weapons.

Axsys ended 2007 with record contract backlog of $140.2 million. During the first six months of 2008, the company’s sales rose 49% year over year to $116.7 million from $78.5 million, and earnings improved 64% year over year to $11.2 million, or $1.02 per share, from $6.8 million, or $0.64 per share. Margins improved because of faster growth in the higher-margin surveillance systems segment. Axsys contract backlog increased to a record $174.1 million at the end of the June quarter as a result of new lens orders from DoD remotely operated weapons and thermal weapons programs. The company recently increased its full-year 2008 guidance and is targeting sales in a $237 million to $241 million range and per-share earnings in a $2.09 to $215 range. This compares with 2007 sales and per-share earnings of $171.6 million . . .

Argan Inc (Nasdaq:AGX), Allos Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:ALTH) and American Ecology Corp (Nasdaq:ECOL) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Augusta Resource Corp (Nasdaq:AZC), Finish Line Inc (Nasdaq:FINL), Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:IDIX), Badger Meter Inc (Nasdaq:BMI), BSD Medical Corp (Nasdaq:BSDM) and Parlux Fragrances Inc (Nasdaq:PARL).

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

Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) CEO Richard Meeusen said the maker of flow measurement products is experiencing higher commodity and freight costs, but has been able to offset those challenges through the strength of the markets it serves and a strong performance of its technology products. Meeusen made the comments during a midday conference call with analysts and investors.

“We’re very pleased with this record-setting [second quarter] and remain optimistic about our long-term opportunities,” Meeusen said.

Before Monday’s opening, Badger Meter posted second-quarter net sales of $74.7 million, up 20% from $62.2 million a year earlier. Wall Street analysts expected sales of $70.3 million.

“Obviously we’re pleased with the second-quarter results, especially when you compare the results with other companies both inside and outside our segment that are struggling in these difficult economic times,” Meeusen said. “Our business can be somewhat volatile on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Nevertheless, we believe that our focus on long-term results can generate good growth in both sales and earnings from year to year.”

The Milwaukee-based company’s quarterly net earnings jumped 27% to $7 million, or $0.48 per share, versus $5.5 million, or $0.38 per share, a year ago. Wall Street expected earnings of $0.43 per share.

At Monday’s close, BMI was up 10.72%, or $5.50, to $56.80.

Rex Energy Corp. (Nasdaq:REXX), AgFeed Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:FEED) and Badger Meter, Inc. (AMEX:BMI) were among the new 52-week highs established during Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC), Adept Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADEP) and CP HOLDRS (NYSE:HCH) were also among the 52-week small-cap highs.

Here are Wednesday's 52-week small-cap highs:

Here are the day’s biggest percentage gainers and losers, along with top volume leaders, among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:


• EnerNOC Inc. (Nasdaq:ENOC), up 35% to $12.69.
• POZEN Inc. (Nasdaq:POZN), up 28% to $13.50 on news its migraine drug has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Badger Meter, Inc. (AMEX:BMI), up 20% to $50.00 on news it doubled its first-quarter profit.


• The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE:TLB), down 29% to $9.16 on news two banks have cut off credit.
• Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:HCSG), down 24% to $15.57 on news of a decline in first-quarter profit.
• Porter Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:PBIB), down 10% to $16.18.


• POZEN Inc. (Nasdaq:POZN) 12,816,300 shares traded.
• The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE:TLB) 9,262,700 shares traded.
• Cheniere Energy, Inc. (AMEX:LNG) 6,207,000 shares traded.

Shares of Badger Meter Inc. (AMEX:BMI), which makes liquid flow measurement and control technology, are rising on news after the close on Tuesday that first-quarter profit more than doubled. The Milwaukee, Wis.-based company reported that earnings for the three months ended March 31 were $6.02 million, or $0.41 per share, compared with net income of $2.57 million, or $0.18 per share, a year earlier.

At 10:56 a.m. ET, the stock had gained $5.82, or 14%, to $47.50.

Small-cap stocks gapped higher on the opening, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) extending overnight gains on the coattails of good news in the tech sector. The tone for today’s early action was clearly established yesterday afternoon when after-market stock trading hit the ground running following better-than-expected earnings from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC).

The market appears to be focused on earnings news at this stage. When stepping back from the expectations, the numbers are generally weak, but that has been priced into both market valuations and psychology, which helps fuel gains when the numbers are slightly better than forecast.

Although Housing Starts data slumped to a 17-year low in March, the market basically shrugged it off as no surprise — after all, it’s a known fact that the housing market is in the midst of a severe pullback. In addition, U.S. CPI data rose 0.3% in March, which was in line with expectations. It might be painful to fill up the gas tank right now, but food prices are beginning to stabilize, which kept the inflation data from . . .

Badger Meter, Inc. (AMEX: BMI) reported after Monday’s close that its third-quarter profit swelled to $6 million, or $0.41 per share, above analyst estimates of $0.34 per share and compared with $3.9 million, or $0.28 per share, a year earlier. The maker of flow measurement technology’s third-quarter revenue rose to $62.8 million, below Wall Street expectations of $63.4 million and compared with $60.2 million during the same period of 2006.

“We continued to build momentum in the third quarter,” CEO Richard Meeusen said in a statement. “This was our second consecutive quarter of record-breaking sales, earnings and earnings per share that surpassed previous records not only for the third quarter, but for any quarter in our history.”

The firm said sales growth of its mobile water meter systems soared and were the largest contributor to the Badger Meter’s revenue boost.

In midday trading, BMI shares are down 1.36%, or $0.49, at $35.51. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $21.20 to $36.97.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNTA) reported the FDA’s review of its blood clotting drug M-Enoxaparin is probably going to be lengthier than previously projected.

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