Tag - Brnc

Polypore International Inc. (Nasdaq:PPO), Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT) and USANA Health Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:USNA) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: GrafTech International Ltd. (Nasdaq:GTI), Atlas America Inc. (Nasdaq:ATLS), Bronco Drilling Co Inc. (Nasdaq:BRNC), 3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC), Unifirst Corp. (Nasdaq:UNF) and TNS Inc. (Nasdaq:TNS).

Bronco Drilling Co Inc. (Nasdaq:BRNC), LMI Aerospace Inc. (Nasdaq:LMIA) and Men's Wearhouse Inc. (Nasdaq:MW) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: National Western Life Insurance Co. (Nasdaq:NWLI), Santander Bancorp (Nasdaq:SBP), Hanesbrands Inc. (Nasdaq:HBI), Steak n Shake Company (Nasdaq:SNS), Hexcel Corp. (Nasdaq:HXL) and Hingham Institution for Savings (Nasdaq:HIFS).

ICO Inc. (Nasdaq:ICOC), Alloy Inc. (Nasdaq:ALOY) and Animal Health International Inc. (Nasdaq:AHII) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Deltek Inc. (Nasdaq:PROJ), Trico Marine Services Inc. (Nasdaq:TRMA), Bronco Drilling Co Inc. (Nasdaq:BRNC), First Financial Northwest Inc. (Nasdaq:FFNW), Smart Balance Inc. (Nasdaq:SMBL) and Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

AgFeed Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:FEED), Zoran Corp. (Nasdaq:ZRAN) and Bronco Drilling Co Inc. (Nasdaq:BRNC) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.   

Also included among the results: i2 Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:ITWO), Zhongpin Inc. (Nasdaq:HOGS), Sigma Designs Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGM), Advanced Battery Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:ABAT), China Finance Online Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:JRJC) and BancTrust Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:BTFG).   

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:           

Omega Flex Inc (Nasdaq:OFLX), Pegasystems Inc (Nasdaq:PEGA) and Kensey Nash Corp (Nasdaq:KNSY) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

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

Bronco Drilling Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRNC) reported this morning that it will be acquired by Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. (NYSE: ALY) for $$437.8 million, or $16.33 per share.

The purchase price represents a 21.8% premium over the closing price of Bronco Drilling’s stock on Jan. 23 of $13.41, and an 18.2% premium over the past 10 days’ average closing stock price of Bronco Drilling.

Based on the closing stock price of Allis-Chalmers on Tuesday, the merger will result in a combined company with an implied enterprise value of approximately $1.4 billion.
 
Shares of Bronco Drilling (BRNC) gained 14.69%, or $1.97, to $14.69 out of the gate. Shares of Bronco Drilling have been trading in the range of $11.21 to $19.21 for the past 52 weeks.

Jack Adamo and his research team analyze an average of 645 insider transactions per day filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC. The raw data are fed into Adamo’s proprietary InsideXpert database system, where the information is corrected, compiled and organized.
 
Each stock that passes the screening process is then reviewed by analysts to determine its suitability as an investment holding in his Jack Adamo’s Insiders Plus newsletter. Notably, Adamo’s picks have had a compounded annualized gain of 16.7% for the six years that his newsletter has been published, versus a compounded gain of 1.7% for the S&P 500 over the same period.
 
The advisor’s latest addition to his buy list – being added to his “speculative” portfolio – is small-cap oil and gas firm Bronco Drilling Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRNC). “Although land-based drillers are very out of favor right now, Bronco is on solid ground,” says Adamo.
 
The advisor explains, “The company is an exclusively land-based contract driller of domestic oil and gas wells. The majority of its drilling is for natural gas, which is usually deeper and harder to reach than oil.” Despite, its out-of-favor status, Adamo offers his bullish appraisal.
 
Adamo cites two reasons for the sector being out of favor. First, the biggest finds are now under the sea. “Particularly in the U.S., most of the big, accessible deposits on land are played out,” Adamo says. “Still, there are plenty of pockets of economically viable deposits to be found, especially in natural gas.”
 
The second reason these drillers are out of favor now, Adamo contends, is that natural gas prices are low, and some producers, mostly the smaller ones, are holding off on new drilling until pricing firms. Day rates, he notes, have fallen 12% year-to-date.

Shares of Magal Security Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: MAGS) are lower despite news this morning that the Israeli maker of computerized security systems has partnered with a Brazilian company to provide consultants. The stock is down $0.13, or 1%, to $10.31.

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Stratasys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSYS), which manufactures rapid prototyping systems and devices has been included in Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 index after the close on June 14, according to changes announced after Tuesday’s close.

Medivation, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDVN) announced its Alzheimer’s drug Dimebon significantly improved symptoms over one year and was more effective than a placebo used in a clinical trial.

Neurochem Inc. (Nasdaq: NRMX) reported some positive preliminary data in a Phase III trial of its Alzheimer’s drug tramiprosate, but the Canadian company said it is still working on analysis. Neurochem said it will announce top-line trial results during the second quarter ending June 30.

Private equity group BBAC LLC announced it is taking Back Yard Burgers, Inc. (Nasdaq: BYBI) private for approximately $38 million.

The following are the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

The following are the most actively traded companies in pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

The following were the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

U.S. stocks have recovered some of their early losses but are still trading in negative territory.  In small cap action, Bronco Drilling Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRNC) missed earnings expectations, while Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. (Nasdaq: NSTK) widened its quarterly net loss.

At 2:22 p.m. ET the Russell 2000 was down 2.42 points, or 0.29 percent, to 829.45.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost 10.89 points, or 0.08 percent, to 13,302.08.

Oklahoma City, Ok.-based Bronco Drilling Company Inc.’s (Nasdaq: BRNC) shares sank this morning  after the land drilling services provider widely missed analysts’ first quarter earnings and revenues estimates.

For the three months ended March 31, Bronco Drilling reported net income of $11.4 million, or $0.44 per share, on revenue of $78.9 million, compared with net income of $11.3 million on revenue of $56.4 million in the 2006 first quarter.

Seven analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected earnings per share of $0.53 on revenue of $81.6 million.

The revenue increase was largely offset by an increase of expenses to $59.3 million compared with $37.1 million in the prior year first quarter. For example, the firm’s contract drilling costs climbed to $40.8 million, from $28 million in the year-ago period.

U.S. indices are falling across the board this morning as investors consolidate their positions after a week of gains.  On Wednesday the Federal Reserve will meet to discuss its interest rate policy.
 
At 9:57 a.m. ET the Russell 2000 had lost 7.06 points, or 0.85 percent, to 824.81. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 68.51 points, or 0.51 percent, to 13,244.46

In business news, shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) are rising on news the world’s largest PC maker reported second-quarter earnings above Wall Street’s expectations.  Revenues also outpaced analysts’ estimates, buoyed by strong sales of home computers and servers.