Tag - Ll

Anybody who has ever owned a home or commercial building knows about deferred maintenance. It’s all the things that need to be done to keep a property 'up to snuff' - and many owners hate to do it.

 

Homeowners are constantly looking for ways to save money - especially in today's economy when housing prices have plummeted. But because the market value of a building is lower now than five years ago doesn't mean maintenance deserves a vacation.

UQM Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:UQM), Lumber Liquidators Inc. (Nasdaq:LL) and TNS Inc. (Nasdaq:TNS) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cleveland BioLabs Inc. (Nasdaq:CBLI), Avis Budget Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR), Evercore Partners Inc. (Nasdaq:EVR), Emergency Medical Services Corp. (Nasdaq:EMS), Stein Mart, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMRT) and Evolving Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:EVOLD).

Also included among the results: Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Alon USA Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:ALJ), DXP Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:DXPE), DrdGold ADR (Nasdaq:DROOY), Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq:ABCB) and SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq:SIVB).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Friday, lifted by a rise in commodity markets, which in turn provided a lift to commodity-themed stocks. Energy markets were a key component on the commodity rise, with crude oil prices up 6.6%, helping offset weakness in financial shares. Volume was extremely light Friday as many market participants took advantage of Thursday’s Christmas holiday to carve out a four-day weekend. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 6.28, or 1.34%, at 476.77, and is now down 38% for 2008. The Dow is off 36% for the year, while the S&P 500 is down 41%.

Today’s light volume, limited range affair was remarkably similar to Wednesday’s session, which saw the thinnest one-day range since the whole stock market collapse kicked into gear back in mid-September. On a weekly basis, this was also the tightest range seen in several months.

When looking at sector activity today, commodities were a recurring upside theme, with metals and mining firms, gold stocks, aluminum, oil and gas drillers ranking among the best performing sectors. The U.S. dollar was down modestly against the euro, but this appeared to be more a push for commodity markets than simply a value play based on foreign exchange movement. The Commodity Research Bureau Index was up about 1.3% on the day, with energy, grains and metals leading the way. Gold prices were up 2.7% to a weekly high, and grain markets took flight amid concerns about . . .

Stocks tumbled yet again today, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closing down 3.65%, losing nearly 10% in the first two days after the U.S. presidential election. Today’s small-cap gainers are inVentive Health (Nasdaq:VTIV), Global Crossing (Nasdaq:GLBC) and Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• For the year, the Russell is now off 35%, while the Dow is down 34% and the S&P 500 is down 38%.
• Goldman Sachs is predicting that a jolting 300,000 people lost their jobs last month (the consensus forecast is minus 180,000). Goldman also is looking for the unemployment rate to jump to 6.4%, up 0.3% from last month.
• Monthly confidence survey today among corporate CEOs read that 66% of CEOs expect employment to fall in coming months.
• Among S&P sector groups, only homebuilders managed a 1% rise, but there were 10 sectors generating declines greater than 10%.
• Commodities got hammered today, with copper slumping 5%.
• Crude oil fell to 19-month lows yet airline stocks stayed negative; when those two trade in tandem, recession is dominating psychology.
• Energy stocks were a major drag on the market, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund sinking nearly 7%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• inVentive Health Inc. jumped 38% as the provider of commercialization services to pharmaceutical and health care firms reported a jump in third-quarter revenues. See (Nasdaq:VTIV).
• Global Crossing Ltd. rallied 19% as the IP solutions provider also got an earnings-related lift. See (Nasdaq:GLBC).
• Lumber Liquidators' income rose 48% in Q3; shares closed up 18.8%. See (NYSE:LL). 
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group reports rise in Q3 profit, reaffirms FY08 . . .

Small-cap stocks extended the morning slide into midday trading, as pressure from a weak economy continues to take a toll on commodity, retail and financial stocks, overshadowing even aggressive rate cuts out of Europe overnight. Today’s small-cap gainers are Lumber Liquidators' (NYSE:LL), Global Cash Access (NYSE:GCA) and American Equity's (NYSE:AEL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Thomson-Reuters October same-store sales index was off 0.7%, and they pegged today’s retail returns as the worst monthly results in a decade.  
• Energy exporters that depend on demand from big consumers were taking a beating, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund down 5.5%. 
• The IMF said that developed economies were on track for a full-year contraction for the first time since World War II.  
• The malaise continued to bruise commodity markets, with crude oil prices tumbling toward $60 a barrel, or the lowest prices since March.  
• The Russell 2000 is down 2% in midday trading.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Lumber Liquidators' income up 48% in Q3; shares soar 18%. See (NYSE:LL). 
•  Global Cash Access Holdings reports successful Q3 results; shares climb 25%. See (NYSE:GCA).  
• American Equity's Q3 2008 operating income increases 41%; shares pop over 33%. See (NYSE:AEL).   
• Global Crossing Ltd. rallied 19% as the IP solutions provider also got an earnings-related lift. See (Nasdaq:GLBC).
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group reports rise in Q3 profit, reaffirms FY08guidance. Shares up 18%. See (NYSE:SCR).  

Small Cap Losers:

• LandAmerica dives 33% on delayed third-quarter earnings. See (NYSE:LFG).
• Georgia Gulf Corporation slips to loss in Q3; shares down 28%. See (NYSE:GGC).  
• SRA International down 26% on Cowen & Co. downgrade. See (NYSE:SRX).  
• Playboy Enterprises sees sharp ad sales drop, shares tumble 22%. See (NYSE:PLA).  

inVentiv Health Inc. (Nasdaq:VTIV), Global Crossing Ltd. (Nasdaq:GLBC) and Lumber Liquidators Inc. (Nasdaq:LL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Capella Education Co. (Nasdaq:CPLA), CastlePoint Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:CPHL), RGC Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:RGCO), American Apparel Inc. (Nasdaq:APP), Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (Nasdaq:SCR) and Volcano Corp. (Nasdaq:VOLC).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:BPAX), Asta Funding Inc (Nasdaq:ASFI) and Perfect World Co Ltd (Nasdaq:PWRD) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Great Florida Bank (Nasdaq:GFLB), Western Refining Inc (Nasdaq:WNR), Lumber Liquidators Inc (Nasdaq:LL), Ambac Financial Group (Nasdaq:AKT), Sequenom Inc (Nasdaq:SQNM) and LaBranche & Co Inc (Nasdaq:LAB).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Lumber Liquidators, Inc. (NYSE:LL) was the only company with a market capitalization under $750 million to establish a new 52-week high during Friday's trading.

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

Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB), Lumber Liquidators, Inc. (NYSE:LL) and UFP Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPT) were among the new 52-week highs established during Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

TNS, Inc. (NYSE:TNS) was also among the 52-week small-cap highs.

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