Tag - Lphi

Before the opening bell, financial services firm Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPHI) issued guidance for the second quarter of about $0.46 per share, below Wall Street estimates of $0.57 per share. Last year, the company earned $0.02 per share in the second quarter. The stock took a beating in pre-market trading after the news was announced.

“With the recent uncertainty in the financial markets, more and more accredited and institutional investors are realizing the inherent value of life settlements as a tool for diversification while wealthy seniors are realizing they can now turn their unwanted life insurance into cash,” CEO Brian Pardo said in a statement.

The company plans to officially report its earnings with government regulators on October 15.

Shares of the small cap are down 15.42%, or $7.28, at $39.99 out of the gate.

International Absorbents, Inc. (AMEX: IAX) reported $8.3 million in revenue for the first quarter ended April 30, a 26% increase from $6.6 million in the same period a year earlier. Net income more than tripled to $0.6 million, or $0.10 per share, compared with $0.1 million, or $0.02 per share, a year earlier.

Cargo company Air T, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRT) reported a $2.5 million profit, or $0.95 per share, for the fiscal year 2007, up from $2 million, or $0.77 a share, in the prior year.

Wall Street analysts dismissed a day-old rumor that Syntax-Brillian Corp. (Nasdaq: BRLC) might stop key sales to a major vendor.

DepoMed, Inc. (Nasdaq: DEPO) said it has begun dosing patients in a Phase 2 trial for the its menopausal treatment.

Electro-Optical Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: MELA) reported that accrual is 20% complete in the final blinded pivotal trial its melanoma treatment MelaFind.

Financial services company Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPHI) reported a profit of $4.7 million, or $0.49 per share, for the first quarter ended May 31, compared with $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

These are the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million: