Tag - Ezpw

CardioNet Inc. (Nasdaq:BEAT), United Online Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD) and Prospect Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:PSEC) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT), EV Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:EVEP), Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq:GSOL), Ezcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW), AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAG) and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI).

Cabot Corp. (Nasdaq:CBT), Ezcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW) and Fuqi International Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: China Fire & Security Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CFSG), NutriSystem Inc. (Nasdaq:NTRI), Orion Marine Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ORN), Isramco Inc (Nasdaq:ISRL), Orthovita Inc. (Nasdaq:VITA) and Startek, Inc. (Nasdaq:SRT).

DryShips Inc (Nasdaq:DRYS), Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW) and Ciena Corp (Nasdaq:CIEN) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Geron Corp (Nasdaq:GERN), Palm Inc (Nasdaq:PALM), Danvers Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:DNBK), Elbit Imaging Ltd (Nasdaq:EMITF), Clean Energy Fuels Corp (Nasdaq:CLNE) and First Busey Corp (Nasdaq:BUSE).

Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), Tempur Pedic International Inc. (Nasdaq:TPX) and Forestar Group Corp.(Nasdaq:FOR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Heartland Payment Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:HPY), Targa Resources Partners LP (Nasdaq:NGLS), Ezcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW), Agree Realty Corp. (Nasdaq:ADC) and DivX Inc.(Nasdaq:DIVX).

Small-cap stocks got hammered today as worries about the economy amid rising unemployment and fresh profit warnings in the technology sector sparked a wave of selling. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are InterOil (NYSE:IOC), ICT Group (Nasdaq: ICTG) and Synaptics Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNA).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Decliners are leading advancers five to one on the Russell 2000.  
• President-elect Obama this morning said his stimulus plan will likely be at the high end of expectations, which helped pull stocks off the lows.  
• Intel issued a warning about revenue, which sent chills through the tech sector and kept concerns about the recession on the front burner.  
• Before the opening, the ADP National Employment Survey reported that 693,000 private sector jobs were lost in December, a record high for the survey which started in 2001.

Small Cap Gainers:

• InterOil said it commenced drilling into the Antelope reservoir, following the confirmation of gas and condensate at the top of the reef announced on Dec. 31. Shares are 15.7% higher at $17.45. (See NYSE:IOC)  
• Customer management outsourcing firm ICT Group is up 12.7% at $6.64 after Tuesday's announcement of a "refocusing" of its resources. (See Nasdaq:ICTG)  
• Synaptics Inc. is up 7.3% to $20.38 after news this morning of an upgrade by Lazard Capital. (See Nasdaq:SYNA)  
• Avocada company Calavo Growers, Inc. is up 6.6% to $12.51 after reporting record 4Q and FY2008 results before the opening. (See Nasdaq:CVGW)  

Small Cap Losers:

• Shoe, accessory and apparel maker Steven Madden Ltd. is down 12.5% to $19.95 after a downgrade by CL King. (See Nasdaq:SHOO)  
• The Knot, Inc., a lifestage media company that provides multiplatform media services to the wedding and newlywed markets in the U.S., is down 14% to $7.75. (See Nasdaq:KNOT)  
• Payday lending companies EZCorp and First Cash Financial Services are down by double-digit percentages amid expectations the incoming administaration will tighten regulations on the industry. (See Nasdaq:EZPW, Nasdaq:FCFS)

Crosstex Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:XTXI), Landec Corp. (Nasdaq:LNDC) and Atlas Pipeline Holdings L P (Nasdaq:AHD) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD), American Capital Ltd. (Nasdaq:ACAS), Perry Ellis International Inc. (Nasdaq:PERY), Pyramid Oil Co. (Nasdaq:PDO), Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW) and WuXi PharmaTech Cayman Inc. (Nasdaq:WX).

Small-cap stocks remained sharply lower into mid-session, but were up from the extreme morning lows. Losses were stirred by worries over the economy, a revenue warning from key tech player Intel Corp and news of a big fraud from a major Indian outsourcing firm.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers are InterOil (NYSE:IOC), ICT Group (Nasdaq:ICTG) and AK Steel (NYSE:AKS).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Looking at the chart picture, the Russell 2000 finished Tuesday near a test of logical resistance at 514.50 but appears set to retreat from that zone early today.  
• The ADP National Employment Report showed a startling drop in jobs of 693,000, way above the forecast for a decline of 480,000.  
•The Dow is expected to open about 125 points lower, while the Russell 2000 is seen down about 1.2%, near 508.50.  
• U.S. stocks are expected to open lower, pulled down by declines in Europe and a private employment survey this morning that came in weaker-than-expected.

Small Cap Gainers:

• InterOil said it commenced drilling into the Antelope reservoir, following the confirmation of gas and condensate at the top of the reef announced on Dec. 31. Shares are 15.7% higher at $17.45. (See NYSE:IOC)  
• Customer management outsourcing firm ICT Group is up 12.7% at $6.64 after Tuesday's announcement of a "refocusing" of its resources. (See Nasdaq:ICTG)  
• AK Steel is 7.1% higher at $11.96 after Goldman Sachs upgraded the firm to "Buy" from "Neutral." (See NYSE:AKS)  
• Finish Line Inc. is up 6.5% at $5.73 after reporting a narrower 3Q loss after the close Tuesday. (See Nasdaq:FINL)  

Small Cap Losers:

• Shoe, accessory and apparel maker Steven Madden Ltd. is down 12.5% to $19.95 after a downgrade by CL King. (See Nasdaq:SHOO)  
• The Knot, Inc., a lifestage media company that provides multiplatform media services to the wedding and newlywed markets in the U.S., is down 14% to $7.75. (See Nasdaq:KNOT)  
• Payday lending companies EZCorp and First Cash Financial Services are down by double-digit percentages amid expectations the incoming administaration will tighten regulations on the industry. (See Nasdaq:EZPW, Nasdaq:FCFS)

Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS) and James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: A. Schulman Inc. (Nasdaq:SHLM), Ezcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW), Axsys Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:AXYS), VistaPrint Ltd. (Nasdaq:VPRT), GenTek Inc. (Nasdaq:GETI) and Gymboree Corp. (Nasdaq:GYMB).

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Zhongpin Inc. (Nasdaq:HOGS), Fuel Systems Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:FSYS), TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI), Ezcorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW), True Religion Apparel Inc. (Nasdaq:TRLG) and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq:CLNE).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Axsys Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:AXYS), Citizens & Northern Corp (Nasdaq:CZNC) and Marten Transport Ltd (Nasdaq:MRTN) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW), OceanFirst Financial Corp (Nasdaq:OCFC), First Bancorp Inc (ME) (Nasdaq:FNLC), CryoLife Inc (Nasdaq:CRY), American CareSource Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:XSI) and Hawaiian Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:HA).

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

Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW), Republic Banc KY (Nasdaq:RBCAA) and Eurand NV (Nasdaq:EURX) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Stepan Co (Nasdaq:SCL), Vivus Inc (Nasdaq:VVUS), NN Inc (Nasdaq:NNBR), Almost Family Inc (Nasdaq:AFAM), America's Car-Mart Inc (Nasdaq:CRMT) and Safety Insurance Group Inc (Nasdaq:SAFT).

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

Excel Technology Inc (Nasdaq:XLTC), CAI International Inc (Nasdaq:CAP) and PC-Tel Inc (Nasdaq:PCTI) 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:

Exactech Inc (Nasdaq:EXAC), Vivus Inc (Nasdaq:VVUS) and Finish Line Inc (Nasdaq:FINL) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW), Diamond Foods Inc (Nasdaq:DMND), Eresearchtechnology Inc (Nasdaq:ERES), Cyberonics Inc (Nasdaq:CYBX), Allos Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:ALTH) and Pegasystems Inc (Nasdaq:PEGA).

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

Acacia Research- Acacia Technologies (Nasdaq:ACTG), Horizon Lines, Inc. (NYSE:HRZ) and SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:SIRF) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

EZCORP, Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW), Bottomline Technologies (Nasdaq:EPAY) and Viad Corp. (NYSE:VVI)  are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Friday's biggest percentage losers among small caps

Richard Moroney, editor of Upside Stocks, applies quantitative analysis to the search for growth and value-oriented small-cap stocks, most recently choosing small caps EZCORP, Inc. (Nasdaq:EZPW) and Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (AMEX:NGS) as “buys” through his proprietary Quadrix system.

According to the advisor, who is also well-known for the blue chip, large-cap-oriented Dow Theory Forecasts, now might be a particularly good time for investors to consider small-cap stocks. After completing a rigorous analysis of stock performance and valuations, he says, "As the price/earnings ratios of small stocks have contracted, those of the fastest growers have contracted the most."

He says that since last Sept. 30 (when the S&P SmallCap 600 was within 5% of its all-time high), the median P/E ratio for all stocks in the index has dropped to 16.8 from 19.4, a 13% decline.

"Among the one-fifth of S&P 600 stocks with the highest expected five-year profit growth, the median P/E has dropped to 22.7 from 29.9 — a 24% decline." His conclusion? "Investors' reluctance to pay up for growth stocks represents an opportunity, provided you're selective."

It is this "selectivity" that is the key to success, according to Moroney. "You should not limit your search to companies with just the very best expected growth rates, partly because such consensus forecasts are not very accurate."

Rather, the advisor says the current environment argues in favor of a focus on both growth and value. "With the overall outlook for corporate prospects deteriorating, you should consider redoubling your search for attractively valued growers," . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) has trimmed some of its earlier losses but is still deep in negative territory.

At 11:51 a.m. ET, the small-cap index was down 10.86 points, or 1.64%, to 652.04. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had retreated 59.51 points, or 0.50%, to 11,891.58.

Stocks small and large have pared some of their earlier losses but are still down on news that JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has purchased Bear Stearns (NYSE:BSC) for just $2 per share, according to an announcement on Sunday.

In an effort to keep other investment banks from going bankrupt, which is what would have happened to Bear Stearns, the U.S. Federal Reserve gave JPMorgan $30 billion in special financing to complete the deal. That’s a risky and desperate move because if something goes wrong, it will be the Fed — not JPMorgan — that will absorb the losses.

The U.S. Central Bank also lowered its discount rate, the rate at which it lends funds to commercial banks, to 3.25% from 3.50%, on Sunday.

Two of the biggest players in the so-called specialty consumer finance segment are small caps EZCORP, Inc. (Nasdaq: EZPW) and First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCFS). Many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and a new lending segment, specialty consumer finance, has evolved to meet the needs of this group of customers. Americans with no savings and bad credit ratings have few choices when they need to borrow money. Most are forced to rely on the services of specialty consumer lenders. These lenders generally offer more flexible underwriting and payment terms but charge higher interest rates and fees.  

Cash advance, which entails borrowing against a future paycheck, is the largest specialty finance segment. The number of cash advance stores nationwide grew to 24,000 last year and is forecast to nearly double to 40,000 locations over the next decade. Pawnshops are another familiar specialty lending segment. There are approximately 15,000 pawnshops across the United States, most of which are owned by mom-and-pop operators. Because this market is very fragmented, opportunities exist for a large player to consolidate the market through acquisitions.

EZCORP offers non-recourse loans collateralized by personal property (pawn loans) and also sells merchandise forfeited from its pawn lending operations. The company also owns a network of cash advance locations that provide short-term, non-collateralized loans (payday loans) and fee-based credit services to customers seeking loans (signature loans).

At June 30, 2007, EZCORP was providing pawn loans at 295 U.S. and three Mexican EZPAWN locations and payday loans at 390 EZMONEY and 80 EZPAWN locations. In the nine months ended June 30, EZCORP’s revenues grew 17% year-over-year to $268 million and net earnings jumped 33% to $26.7 million, or $0.62 per share, from $20.1 million, or $0.48 per share, in the same period one year ago. The company’s management is forecasting a 28% increase in full-year 2007 earnings.

Shares of Travelzoo Inc. (Nasdaq: TZOO) plunged $6.18, or nearly 17%, to $30.70 on heavy volume in after-hours trading after the New York-based Internet media company missed analysts’ earnings and revenue estimates for the first quarter ended March 31. Travelzoo posted net income of $4.1 million, or $0.25 per share, on revenue of $19.7 million. Five analysts polled by Thomson First Call were, on average, expecting earnings of $0.32 per share on revenue of $20.4 million. Travelzoo Chairman and CEO Ralph Bartel said the company invested nearly $7 million in subscriber acquisition and marketing during the quarter.

Shares of Anadigics Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAD) sunk $1.35, or 10.3%, to $11.80 on heavy volume in after-hours trading after news the company missed analysts’ earnings estimates for the first quarter ended March 31. The Warren, N.J. supplier of wireless and broadband communications solutions posted a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.02 per share, on sales of $49.6 million for the quarter. Ten analysts polled by Thomson First Call, on average, estimated earnings per share of $0.06 on revenue of $50.3 million. For the second quarter ended June 30, Anadigics predicted net income per share on a GAAP basis to be about $0.01 to $0.02, which on a pro forma basis, excluding non-cash stock compensation expense, approximates $0.09 to $0.10 per share. Analysts are expecting earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter.

Hutchinson Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: HTCH) fell $1.60, or 7.2%, to $20.51 in active after-hourse trading after the firm reported a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.14 per share, on revenue of $170.7 million for its fiscal second quarter ended March 25. Ten analysts polled by Thomson First Call were expecting, on average, earnings per share of $0.09 on revenue of $184 million. The Hutchinson, Minn.-based supplier of suspension assemblies for disk drives cited market conditions. Hutchinson president and CEO Wayne M. Fortun said that suspension assembly pricing is becoming more competitive.