Tag - Gra

Skillsoft ADR (Nasdaq:SKIL), MAXXAM Inc (Nasdaq:MXM) and PHI Inc (Nasdaq:PHIIK) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Zhongpin Inc (Nasdaq:HOGS), Ryland Group Inc (Nasdaq:RYL), Dillard's Inc (Nasdaq:DDS), W.R. Grace & Co (Nasdaq:GRA), West Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:WTBA) and Ship Finance International Ltd (Nasdaq:SFL).

Small-cap stocks remained solidly lower into midday trading, as a sharp reduction in non-farm payrolls and the highest unemployment rate in 15 years took a toll on the investor psyche. Energy and commodity stocks were the primary bearish influence, although a pullback in homebuilder and retailer shares also weighed on the market.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers are W.R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA), Thoratec Corp. (Nasdaq:THOR) and Jefferies (NYSE:JEF).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Many experts are expecting the unemployment rate will continue to ratchet higher in December and January.   
• With plenty of somber news in the air today, it was interesting to see that financial stocks were holding up reasonably well.   
• Big losses were seen in oil exploration and oil production, broadcasting, gold stocks, oil and gas drillers, power products, metal and mining shares, forest products, coal and oil and gas storage.   
• The Commodity Research Bureau Index was down 2.3% this morning, setting fresh bear market lows while tumbling to the lowest point since August 2002.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• W.R. Grace & Co. will pay up to $140M over time into a fund for individuals injured by the company’s asbestos-containing Zonolite attic insulation. Shares climb 16%. See (NYSE:GRA).   
• Thoratec Corp. climbs 15% as the firm said its trial heart pump device was a noted improvement. See (Nasdaq:THOR).   
• Jefferies up 14% despite rumores that Moody's may downgrade the firm. See (NYSE:JEF).   
• Asbury Automotive Group up 10% on very light volume. See (NYSE:ABG).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Patriot Coal Corp. is off 15%, swayed not only by the commodities fall, but also by news that Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) would cut lending to coal mining companies in an environmental move. See (NYSE:PCX).   
• Exco Resources Inc. is off 17% as the oil and gas firm also was pulled under with the energy decline. See (NYSE:XCO).   
• Tecumseh announces share recapitalization plan; motion to remove directors fails. Stock is down 1.5%. See (Nasdaq:TECUA).  
• Orbitz Worldwide falls 13% as online travel sites slump on lower traffic. See (NYSE:OWW).

Collective Brands Inc (Nasdaq:PSS), Insulet Corp (Nasdaq:PODD) and DineEquity Inc (Nasdaq:DIN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Duff & Phelps Corp (Nasdaq:DUF), YRC Worldwide Inc (Nasdaq:YRCW), W.R. Grace & Co (Nasdaq:GRA), Brown Shoe Company Inc (Nasdaq:BWS), Crescent Banking Co (Nasdaq:CSNT) and OfficeMax Inc (Nasdaq:OMX).

Small caps closed up about 2% today, outperforming the Dow for the day yet still lagging the big-cap index for 2008, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) off 41%, the Dow down 35% and the S&P 500 down 41%. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are QC Holdings (Nasdaq:QCCO), Polypore International (NYSE:PPO) and Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The ADP headline figure suggested the nation lost 250,000 payroll jobs in November, which was below the forecast for a decline of 200,000.
• The ISM Non-Manufacturing Survey came out at 10:00 a.m. ET, with the headline figure at 37.3%, which was way below the forecast of 42.8%.
• The ability to rally after a bad reading on the ADP Employment Survey ahead of Friday’s big monthly employment report was a positive sign. 
• Yields on Treasury products were higher as demand clearly was more focused on riskier fare today.
• The weekly MBA Mortgage Application index jumped 112% today to the highest level since mid-February, encouraging the rally.
• The ISE Homebuilders Index jumped 10% and small-cap homebuilders were among the best performers in the group.
• Crude slipped $0.17 a barrel to $46.79 and notched 3-1/2-year lows during the U.S. trading session despite a drop in inventory levels.
• Banks, brokerages and other financial firms were clearly a source of strength for stocks today.
• Energy stocks were a drag on stocks for most of the day, and the Energy Select Sector SPDR was basically flat right before the close. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• QC Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:QCCO) jumped 54% on a volume spike without any apparent fresh news from the payday loan firm.
• Polypore International Inc. (NYSE:PPO) jumped 31% as the lithium-ion battery company announced that one of their subsidiaries received a $2.3 million contract.
• Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN) closed up about 26% . . .

Small-cap stocks vacillated back and forth in positive and negative territory into the midday time frame, with support from a pocket of upbeat earnings, an optimistic outlook from major PC-maker Hewlett-Packard and strong energy shares countering a soft tone in financials, tech stocks and ongoing concerns about the fragile global economy.  Today’s small-cap gainers are DHT Maritime Inc. (NYSE:DHT), Tetra Technologies Inc. (NYSE:TTI) and Zones, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZONS). 

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The slip back below 450 raised caution flags for the Russell going into the afternoon, especially with all these wild last hour moves we’ve been seeing in stocks lately.
•  JP Morgan: Commodity prices – especially agriculture products – should outperform energy and industrial raw material products in 2009.
• The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up more than 2% at mid-session.  
• Energy stocks were among the best performers so far today as crude oil prices reversed overnight losses.

Small Cap Gainers:

• DHT Maritime Inc., a tanker ship operator, jumped 17% after releasing earnings numbers today. See (NYSE:DHT).  
• Tetra Technologies Inc. jumped 15% as the oil and gas services company tries to mount a comeback after sinking to fresh lows last week. See (NYSE:TTI).  
• Reseller of IT products Zones, Inc. up 8.3% after announcing merger agreement with Zones Acquisition Corp. See (Nasdaq:ZONS).
• Two Warren Resources executives buy 65,000 shares late last week; shares are up over 7% today. See (Nasdaq:WRES).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Saks slides to loss in Q3 on weak margins, charges; shares dive 24%. See (NYSE:SKS).
• Las Vegas Sands Corp. slumped 16% as the embattled casino operator hovers near record lows even though auditors recently removed doubts about the firm maintaining as a “going concern.” See (NYSE:LVS).  
• Central Vermont Public Services Corp. is down 10% following news it would announce a public stock offering. See (NYSE:CV).  
• W.R. Grace & Co. continues to slide today, making a new 52-week low of $3.30 from a 52-week high of $30. Last week the company was considering a bankruptcy reorganization plan. See (NYSE:GRA).  

With asphalt additives, sealants and duct-tape supreme, Chase Corp. (AMEX: CCF) is keeping the edgy infrastructure in the United States from cracking up. There’s a lot to do and Chase is doing its share. Through acquisitions and efficient operations, Chase is forging a foundation of profit and revenue growth.

That’s what happens when you’re exploiting niches in an industry in need. Bridgewater, Mass.-based Chase, founded in 1946, has eight core product lines. These include the asphalt additives and joint sealants for paving roads and bridges, tapes for natural gas and oil pipeline repair, and tapes for electrical and telecom wire repair. It also makes coatings for printed circuit boards, durable papers for radio-frequency identification tags, custom printed labels and packaging materials. The company also has a smaller electronic manufacturing services division.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2008 ended Nov. 30, Chase reported this month an 11% gain to revenues to $34.6 million, compared to the same period the previous year. Diluted earnings per share increased 32% to $0.41, up from $0.31. The quarter’s success followed a similar 2007, when revenues increased to $127.5 million, up from $108.4 in 2006. Earnings per share were $1.22 in 2007, up from $0.77.

Chase’s power stroke is coming from highway and bridge construction products, and pipeline expansion and upgrades. Federal money earmarked for highways is driving spending on transportation infrastructure, and last summer’s bridge collapse in Minnesota also is likely to mark additional spending on repair and maintenance of bridges, says Robert Damron, analyst at 21st Century Equity Research, in an October report as he initiated coverage with a “strong buy” rating.

Higher energy costs also are spurring expansion and upgrades of national gas and oil pipelines, says Damron, the sole analyst covering the company. Management is consolidating and integrating many separately-run companies to increase cross-selling opportunities and reduce duplicate costs.