Tag - Irbt

Celera Corp. (Nasdaq:CRA), iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq:IRBT) and NetGear Inc. (Nasdaq:NTGR) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American River Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB), Medicinova Inc. (Nasdaq:MNOV), Vasco Data Security International Inc. (Nasdaq:VDSI), MasTec Inc. (Nasdaq:MTZ), Whitney Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:WTNY) and Northeast Community Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:NECB).

Famous Daves of America Inc. (Nasdaq:DAVE), Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:TCBI) and Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq:IRBT), Vitran Corp Inc. (Nasdaq:VTNC), NetGear Inc. (Nasdaq:NTGR), Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. (Nasdaq:MCRI), Spire Corp. (Nasdaq:SPIR) and Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. (Nasdaq:GIFI).

iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) said this morning that it received a $3.75 million research and development contract from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, the nation’s lab for military automotive technology. Work under this contract will result in the delivery of two iRobot Warrior 700 platforms.

Shares were halted in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and news stories on iRobot, click IRBT.

iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) said this morning that it received an order totaling $5.8 million under its current xBot contract with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation.

Shares gained 5%, or $0.75, to $15.45. For detailed price information and news stories on iRobot, click IRBT. 

Robot maker iRobot Corporation (Nasdaq:IRBT) is up 13% after reporting a narrower loss in its second-quarter earnings. After the close on Wednesday, iRobot said its net loss for the quarter ended June 28 was $4.5 million, or $0.18 per share, compared with $4.8 million, or $0.20, for the same quarter a year ago. Revenues were $67.2 million, versus $47 million for the period a year earlier.

“The company performed well in a difficult environment. The second quarter and first half results demonstrate the resiliency of our business in an unstable economic market,” he added,” said CEO Colin Angle in a statement.

In today’s trading, shares of the Burlington, Mass.-based company are at $15.07 at 10:26 a.m. ET, up $1.74 from Wednesday’s close.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are lower and the small-cap index will open with a decline following the latest economic news.

The consumer price index added 0.4% in January, the U.S. Labor Department reported this morning. That exceeds economists’ forecast and comes as a worrying sigh that inflation is rising while economic growth remains lackluster.

The core inflation index, which excludes the price of food and energy, gained 0.3%. That’s also above what economists were expecting.

The Russell 2000 exhibited an up-and-down, limited-range return to action Tuesday before closing up 0.82 at 702.34. Resistance should be seen at 712, 721 and 730; support is pegged at 694, 688 and 680.

Look for some potentially volatile events today. In the afternoon, the 2:00 p.m. ET FOMC Minutes also could spark some action for stocks.

iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) issued revenue guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year above the consensus on Wall Street, but still saw shares slide due to the overall bearish sentiment plaguing the broader market.

For the fourth quarter of 2007, the robot maker said it expects revenues in the range of $98 million to $100 million and revenue for the full year 2007 in the range of $248 million to $250 million. Four analysts polled by Thomson Financial were on average forecasting revenues of $90.93 million for the fourth quarter, while five analysts polled by Thomson Financial were on average forecasting revenues of $239.63 million for the fiscal year. 

The small cap expects GAAP earnings per share between $0.79 and $0.81 in the fourth quarter and between $0.33 and $0.35 for the full year, including the anticipated income tax valuation reversal. For the fourth quarter last year, the company recorded a loss of $0.08 and earnings of $0.14 for fiscal 2006.

Six analysts polled by Thomson Financial are on average projecting earnings of $0.07 per share, while seven analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are on average projecting earnings of $0.47 per share for the fiscal year.

The Burlington, Mass.-based company attributed its expectations to a successful holiday season for its new iRobot Roomba 500 Series robot. The company said its government and industrial robots business also contributed strongly to the quarter.

iRobot noted that there were two one-time events in the fourth quarter that impacted fourth-quarter and full-year profitability: an anticipated income tax valuation reversal of at least $8 million, and estimated litigation and settlement costs of approximately $1.6 million associated with the company’s resolution of a lawsuit against Robotics FX that announced last month.

iRobot will announce actual fourth-quarter and full-year 2007 financial results on Feb. 19.

Shares of iRobot (IRBT) edged down 0.51%, or $0.10, to $19.75 at 10:21 a.m. ET. Shares of iRobot have been trading in the range of $12.76 to $24.30 for the past 52 weeks.

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) got a boost in pre-market trading after the robot maker said it was awarded a $286 million contract from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

Under the terms of the contract, the Army could order up to 3,000 military robots, spare parts, training and repair services over the next five years.

Until now, the company says the Army has deployed robots in limited numbers and only to explosive ordnance device (EOD) specialists. The contract broadens the Army’s deployment of robots on a larger scale to general infantry forces for a variety of missions in addition to EOD.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are higher but the small-cap index will be weighed down by news of a decline in U.S. housing starts.

Housing starts in November declined 3.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.187 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Economists were expecting a slightly steeper decline.

November housing starts are 24.2% below the revised annual rate of 1,565,000 units in November 2006.

The same report also showed that building permits, a sign of future construction, fell 1.5% to an annual rate of 1,152,000. That decline is in line with economists’ projections.

The numbers tell us that the housing situation remains dire and the sector remains in a slump.

Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. (Nasdaq: MFLX), BioSphere Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: BSMD) and 1st Independence Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIFG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) are popping today after the robot maker said it was granted in part a request for preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against former employee Jameel Ahed and his company, Robotic FX, Inc.

The outcome prohibits use of critical features incorporated in the design of a knock-off version of iRobot’s “PackBot” robot.

While the precise terms of the order were issued under seal because they specify the trade secrets not to be infringed, iRobot stated in a press release that U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner found that iRobot is likely to succeed in its claim that Ahed “misappropriated iRobot’s trade secrets and used such trade secrets in the development of Robotic FX’s robot tracks.”

Adding to positive news surrounding iRobot, the company said it will join forces with multi-national defense technology company, Metal Storm Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTSX), to pursue opportunities within Global Defense and Security sectors.

Together the companies plan to combine robot platforms with scalable force response and increase mission capability to trounce improvised explosive devices used in warfare.

Shares of iRobot (IRBT) gained 12.05% or $2.03 to $18.87 at 12:35 p.m. ET. Shares of iRobot have been trading in the range of $12.76 to $24.30 for the past 52 weeks.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are lower and the small-cap index will open in negative territory on news of more credit fears.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) announced this morning that it expects additional losses of $8 billion to $11 billion after already suffering $6.5 billion in credit-related losses in the third quarter. The New York-based bank, the largest in the United States, also said that CEO Charles Prince has left. He is to be replaced by Robert Rubin, a former Treasury secretary and economic advisor to President Clinton.

Analysts are estimating that the credit problems will negatively affect Citi’s fourth-quarter results and are expecting to see a loss.

There will be little in the way of major economic news today, but a monthly national non-manufacturing index will be released at 10 a.m. ET, by the Institute for Supply Management. Economists are expecting to see a slowdown in growth.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. (MFLX), up 32% on news of a higher fourth-quarter profit.
• iRobot Corp. (IRBT), up 14% on news that a court has partially granted its
request for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against former employees.
• Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLDP), up 12% on news it is reviewing strategic options.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Novacea Inc. (NOVC), down 60% on news its prostate cancer drug did not meet expectations.
• Orbotech Ltd. (ORBK), down 13% on news of a decline in third-quarter profit decline.
• Presstek Inc. (PRST) down 11%.

Data I/O Corp. (Nasdaq: DAIO), Transcend Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRCR) and Mercury Computer Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: MRCY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is in the green as news of a surprisingly bullish housing report offset generally negative economic reports.

At 10:42 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had gained 2.41 points, or 0.30%, to 813.26. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had added 16.67 points, or 0.12%, to 13,691.92.

The small-cap futures were higher before the opening on news that Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) reported its first profit in 2007. The Schaumburg, Ill.-based telecommunications giant also announced a better-than-expected outlook for the fourth quarter.

In economic news, orders for durable goods, which are intended to last at least three years, fell 1.7% in September, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Economists were expecting a rise of 1.5% following a downwardly revised decline of 5.3% in August.

On the plus side, orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft increased 0.4% after a rise of 1.8% in August. That measure is a key barometer of business spending and today’s reading is a sign that businesses are continuing to spend money on capital equipment despite the uncertain U.S. economic environment.

Elsewhere, the number of U.S. workers applying for jobless benefits fell less than expected for the week ended Oct. 20, the U.S. Labor Department said before the start of trading. Unemployment claims declined 8,000 to 331,000, while economists were calling for a much larger drop of 17,000.

Robot maker iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) shares are soaring after the company raised its fiscal 2007 revenue outlook to a range of $240 million to $250 million, above analyst expectations of $236.14 million and from a previous range of $233 million to $243 million.

Before the opening, the Burlington, Mass.-based company reported third-quarter revenue of $63.8 million, slightly above analyst estimates of $63.46 million and from $55.05 million a year earlier. The firm swung to a quarterly loss of $1.38 million, or $0.06 per share, below Wall Street expectations of a $0.01 profit per share and from a profit of $10.04 million, or $0.43 per share, a year earlier.

“Our revenue and pre-tax loss for the third quarter were consistent with those reported in the preliminary earnings release we issued on Oct. 10,” CEO Colin Angle said in a statement. “This revenue growth was achieved in spite of the fact that production by our new contract manufacturer was slower than initially projected. The additional revenue and earnings that we anticipated achieving in the third quarter will now be realized in the fourth quarter.”

Angle said he is confident the company can meet its revenue guidance.

The company also noted that the U.S. Army froze its $280 million contract with Robotix FX, Inc., a Chicago-based robot maker being sued by iRobot for patent infringement and trade secret theft.

“Yesterday we were notified that the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation’s contracting officer has set aside the contract award to Robotic FX pending a reassessment,” Angle said.  “We are monitoring this development and will continue to aggressively work to ensure that our interests are protected.”

Robotix FX last month announced it won a contract to provide up to 3,000 robots for bomb-disposal in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In morning trading, IRBT shares are up 16.36%, or $2.53, at $17.99. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $12.76 to $26.70.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are higher and the small-cap index will likely open in positive territory.

The earnings season continues to march on, with attention this morning focused on Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT). The Schaumburg, Ill.-based telecommunications giant reported a third-quarter profit, its first in 2007, and announced a better-than-expected outlook for the fourth quarter.

In other news, orders for durable goods, which are intended to last at least three years, fell 1.7% in September, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Economists were expecting a rise of 1.5% following a revised decline of 5.3% in August.

Silver lining came in the form of a 0.4% increase in orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, after a rise of 1.8% in August. That measure is a key barometer of business spending.

At 10 a.m. ET, the U.S. Commerce Department will release the numbers on new homes sales in September. Economists are expecting to see a decline.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Transcend Services Inc. (TRCR), up 17% on news of record third-quarter earnings.
• iRobot Corp. (IRBT), up 14% on news of a higher 2007 revenue outlook.
• ZOLL Medical Corp. (PLCE), up 12%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Spartan Motors Inc. (SPAR), down 19% on news of a decline in third-quarter profit.
• Heelys Inc. (HLYS), down 11% on news of a lower third-quarter outlook.
• Triad Guaranty Inc. (TGIC) down 10% on news of a third-quarter loss.

Heelys, Inc. (Nasdaq: HLYS), Rick's Cabaret Int'l, Inc. (Nasdaq: RICK) and Mattson Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTSN) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Robot maker iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) said this morning that it received a delivery order totaling $8.8 million from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), on behalf of the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office in Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

The order is for 40 iRobot PackBot robots, plus spare parts and equipment.

Including this order, PEO STRI’s orders total to $45 million year to date.

iRobot said it expects to complete delivery by the end of June 2008.

Shares of iRobot (IRBT) rose $18.09, or $0.35, to 1.97% ahead of the opening. Shares of iRobot have been trading in the range of $12.76 to $26.70 for the past 52 weeks.

KMG Chemicals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KMGB), China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Hldg, Inc. (AMEX: KUN) and Allot Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: ALLT) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) are losing ground in pre-market trading today after the developer and marketer of robots said this morning that it expects revenues originally anticipated to be recognized in the third quarter to be shifted into the fourth quarter because of slower-than-anticipated production from its new contract manufacturer.

Specifically, the company said its third quarter results will be impacted by initial production delays experienced on its iRobot Roomba 500 Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot.  As a result, iRobot expects to recognize revenue of between $63 million and $64 million for the third quarter. Five analysts polled by Thomson Financial were projecting revenues of $68.01 million.

Additionally, the firm said delayed revenue coupled with unanticipated litigation expenses associated with legal action against a former employee will result in a pre-tax loss of $1 million to $1.5 million for the third quarter. Six analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of $0.17 per share.

The company, however, reaffirmed its full year outlook and reiterated its expectations for revenues of between $233 million and $243 million and pre-tax income of between $3 million and $5 million.

Shares of iRobot (IRBT) slid $1.13, or 5.73%, to $18.60 in pre-market trading. Shares of iRobot have been trading in the range of $12.76 to $24.98 for the past 52 weeks.

Trio-Tech International (AMEX: TRT), iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) and HireRight, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIRE) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) are down sharply this morning after it was reported Friday night that the company’s competitor, Robotic FX, was awarded a $280 million deal from the Pentagon to provide robots for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
iRobot previously provided the Department of Defense with battlefield robots.

Shares of iRobot (Nasdaq: IRBT) tumbled 23.3%, or $5.50, to $18.12 in Monday morning trading.

In the movie “I, Robot,” most of the androids in the Will Smith flick are good, serving their human masters even to the detriment of their own safety. But one robot develops a sense of self-preservation that worries Smith’s character, a cop who doesn’t trust the technological wonder to do no harm.

At the company iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) (which takes its name from the same Isaac Asimov book), an army of automated autonomous robots serves the military selflessly, to the point of letting themselves be blown up in order to prevent improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from doing the same to U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It’s the domestic robots that are not serving shareholders so well. The better-known consumer division at the Massachusetts company, which produces the Roomba robotic vacuum series, currently accounts for about 60% of the company’s revenues. The Roomba is a disc-shaped vacuum-cleaner robot on wheels that can slip under sofas while cleaning the floor.

Shares of optical process control sensors supplier CyberOptics Corporation (Nasdaq: CYBE) are trading higher on news this morning that net income for the quarter ended March 31 was $1.15 million, or $0.13 per share, what Wall Street was expecting, compared with $1.46 million, or $0.16 per share, in the first quarter of 2006.  Shares are up $0.29, or 2.14%, to $13.87.

The Dow gained despite news of disappointing economic data, while the Russell 2000 fell for the second day.  Among small caps, shares of II-VI Incorporated (Nasdaq: IIVI) dropped due to an earnings forecast that missed expectations, while news of a partnership with Boeing raised shares of iRobot Corporation (Nasdaq: IRBT).

The Russell 2000 lost 1.19 points, or 0.14 percent, to 826.36.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new record close, adding 34.54 points, or 0.27 percent, to 12,953.94.

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) climbed in after-hours trading today after the Burlington, Mass.-based robot provider announced it has inked a deal with The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA).

The two firms plan to jointly develop and deliver a new, next-generation small unmanned ground vehicle to military, civil and commercial users. They also will jointly market the new SUGV Early robot. Boeing will provide systems integration, large-volume production and global marketing while iRobot will design, develop and manufacture the robot.

IRobot’s stock rose $1.04, or 6.9%, to $16.04 a share late today on the news. Shares have traded between $12.76 (on March 20) and $26.95 (on May 3, 2006) in the past year.

Weighing less than 30 pounds, the robot will be named SUGV Early and is designed to allow users to remotely conduct reconnaissance and secure real-time intelligence. It will be a smaller, lighter version of the iRobot PackBot, which is used in Iraq and Afghanistan to disarm improvised explosive devices and search buildings, caves and tunnels for hostile forces, according to iRobot.

After hitting a 52-week-high, Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: UCTT) saw its stock plummet by $2.85, or 14.5%, to $16.75 on heavy volume in after-hours trading today despite posting record first quarter revenue. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based manufacturer of customized equipment used to make semiconductors posted net income of $5.2 million, or $0.24 per share, on revenue of $110.8 million. Three analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting earnings per share of $0.27 on revenue of $108 million. Earlier in the day, Ultra Clean’s stock had reached a 52-week-high of $19.99.

Shares of iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) climbed $1.38, or 9.2%, to $16.38 in after-hours today after the Burlington, Mass.-based robot provider announced it has inked a deal with The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA). The two firms plan to develop and deliver a new, next-generation small unmanned ground vehicle to military, civil and commercial users.

Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: MSPD) rose $0.22, or by 10.8%, to $2.25 in after-hours trading after meeting analysts’ expectations on second quarter earnings. For its fiscal second quarter ended March 31, Mindspeed posted a net loss of $4.4 million, or $0.04 per share, on revenue of $30.8 million. Eight analysts were expecting a loss of $0.04 per share on revenue of $31.2 million. The Newport Beach, Calif., supplier of semiconductor networking solutions for communications said it expects to return to non-GAAP operating profitability in its third fiscal quarter.