Tag - Rbcn

Wilmington Trust Corp. (Nasdaq:WL), AngioDynamics Inc. (Nasdaq:ANGO) and Providence Service Corp. (Nasdaq:PRSC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.
 
Also included among the results: Radiant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:RADS), Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL), Callaway Golf Co. (Nasdaq:ELY), Electro-Optical Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:MELA), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN) and Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:AACC).

Valhi Inc (Nasdaq:VHI), Greenbrier Companies Inc (Nasdaq:GBX) and Insteel Industries Inc (Nasdaq:IIIN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: First Midwest Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:FMBI), Skechers USA Inc (Nasdaq:SKX), CVB Financial Corp (Nasdaq:CVBF), EZchip Semiconductor Ltd (Nasdaq:EZCH), Landauer Inc (Nasdaq:LDR) and Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Pricesmart Inc. (Nasdaq:PSMT), Franklin Covey Co. (Nasdaq:FC) and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Investors Title Co. (Nasdaq:ITIC), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MAPP), Trina Solar Ltd. (Nasdaq:TSL) and EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. (Nasdaq:EZCH).

MedQuist Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDQ), Seneca Foods Corp. (Nasdaq:SENEA) and Verigy Ltd. (Nasdaq:VRGY) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Starlims Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:LIMS), Corporate Executive Board Co (Nasdaq:EXBD), Neenah Paper Inc. (Nasdaq:NP), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Gainsco Inc (Nasdaq:GAN) and Emulex Corp. (Nasdaq:ELX).

Santander Bancorp (Nasdaq:SBP), Caribou Coffee Co Inc (Nasdaq:CBOU) and Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Kohlberg Capital Corp (Nasdaq:KCAP), Pulaski Financial Corp (Nasdaq:PULB), Colony Bankcorp Inc (Nasdaq:CBAN), Toreador Resources Corp (Nasdaq:TRGL), Conn's Inc (Nasdaq:CONN) and Comverge Inc (Nasdaq:COMV).

Regis Corp. (Nasdaq:RGS), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI) and Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (Nasdaq:APL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Matrixx Initiatives (Nasdaq:MTXX), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Venoco Inc. (Nasdaq:VQ), Titan International Inc. (Nasdaq:TWI), Warner Music Group Corp. (Nasdaq:WMG) and Houston Wire & Cable Co. (Nasdaq:HWCC).

China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq:DL), China Natural Resources Inc (Nasdaq:CHNR) and Zion Oil and Gas Inc (Nasdaq:ZN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: China Biotics Inc (Nasdaq:CHBT), Emulex Corp (Nasdaq:ELX), American Commercial Lines Inc (Nasdaq:ACLI), Prospect Capital Corp (Nasdaq:PSEC), Tongxin International Ltd (Nasdaq:TXIC) and Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN).

BNC Bancorp (Nasdaq:BNCN), Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL) and C&F  Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CFFI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Travelzoo Inc. (Nasdaq:TZOO), Zion Oil and Gas Inc. (Nasdaq:ZN), Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE), Famous Daves of America Inc. (Nasdaq:DAVE), AirMedia Group Inc (Nasdaq:AMCN) and Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq:SEED), Bob Evans Farms Inc. (Nasdaq:BOBE) and Applied Signal Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:APSG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hub Group Inc. (Nasdaq:HUBG), Life Partners Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:LPHI), Utah Medical Products Inc. (Nasdaq:UTMD), Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (Nasdaq:APL), Technitrol Inc. (Nasdaq:TNL) and Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN).

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Landrys Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq:LNY) and Zumiez Inc. (Nasdaq:ZUMZ) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: GMX Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:GMXR), Danaos Corp. (Nasdaq:DAC), Tempur Pedic International Inc. (Nasdaq:TPX), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE) and Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (Nasdaq:GNK).

Ameron International Corp. (Nasdaq:AMN), Portec Rail Products Inc. (Nasdaq:PRPX) and Summit Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMF) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (Nasdaq:EBS), DSW Inc. (Nasdaq:DSW), Haverty Furniture Co Inc. (Nasdaq:HVT), Robbins & Myers Inc. (Nasdaq:RBN), Alico Inc. (Nasdaq:ALCO) and Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN).

US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC), Central Jersey Bancorp (Nasdaq:CJBK) and Insight Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. (Nasdaq:BGFV), InterOil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC), Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), Switch & Data Facilities Co Inc. (Nasdaq:SDXC) and Super Micro Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:SMCI).

Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), CoBiz Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:COBZ) and PAM Transportation Services Inc. (Nasdaq:PTSI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), Bottomline Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAY), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Capitol Bancorp Ltd. (Nasdaq:CBC), AngioDynamics Inceeaspan Corp.  (Nasdaq:ANGO) and Seaspan Corp. (Nasdaq:SSW).

The market slipped to the lowest intraday and closing levels of the year and the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) is now down 9.2% for 2009, on target to eclipse January of 2008, which tumbled 6.8% and was the worst January in at least 15 years. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Rubicon Technology (Nasdaq:RBCN), Eagle Rock Energy Partners (Nasdaq:EROC) and LaBranche (NYSE:LAB).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The retail sales report came in at minus 2.7%, which was well below the projected decline of 1.2%.
• The troubling retail sales report this morning clearly sparked money flow away from stocks and into Treasury markets.
• Earlier this morning the import price series tumbled 4.2%, well below the forecast for a drop of 0.5%.
• Traders say that concerns over the appointment of Timothy Geithner to Treasury Secretary has played into the overall market malaise.
• There were no S&P sector groups up 1% on the day, but there were 10 groups with losses of 7% or more.
• Energy shares were off 4% today, while coal, metals and mining stocks were also clobbered.
• Investors took flight from riskier fare, plopping money down into Treasury markets accepting a yield in 10-year notes of only 2.2%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Rubicon Technology Inc. rallied 15% as the electronics manufacturer rose to the highest close since Oct. 24. See (Nasdaq:RBCN).
• Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P. closed up 15% after announcing hedge transactions, intention to maintain current distribution level. See (Nasdaq:EROC).
• Goldman Sachs upgrades LaBranche; shares rise 16%. See (NYSE:LAB).

Small Cap Losers:

• FNB Corp. fell 23% as the lender announced preliminary quarterly results that included a loss stoked by bad loans and non-cash charges. See (NYSE:FNB).
• Modine Manufacturing Co. tumbled 19% as the maker of heating and cooling systems for tractors fell back below the 20-day moving average. See (NYSE:MOD).
• On Assignment Inc. fell 18% as the human resources firm gave back a huge chunk of recent gains from the December lows. See (Nasdaq:ASGN).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) pushed higher Friday, gaining a boost from merger activity in the banking sector, a jump in restaurant shares and a lift from news of a rescue plan for automakers. All of those factors help offset sloppy action in commodities, and worries about retailer sales into a key shopping weekend. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Provident Bankshares (Nasdaq:PBKS), MAP Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:MAPP) and Rubicon Technology (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Tech stocks were a noteworthy source of strength Friday.
• Energy and commodity physical markets struggled today, weighed down by concerns about demand amid slumping economic conditions.
• Crude oil futures eventually closed down $2.35 a barrel, or 6%, at $33.87, the lowest close for a nearby contract since February 2004.
• Retailer shares were a source of weakness for stocks today, a gloomy note into what has been billed as the busiest shopping weekend of the entire year.
• Looking ahead to next week’s action, the market will be facing what is historically one of the slowest weeks of the year. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• M&T Bank Corporation will qcquire Provident Bankshares Corp. (Nasdaq:PBKS); shares of PBKS closed up a whopping 60% on the news.
• MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MAPP) soared 36% on unusually . . .

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Friday, gaining a boost from merger activity in the banking sector, a jump in restaurant shares and a lift from news of a rescue plan for automakers. All of those factors help offset sloppy action in commodities, and worries about retailer sales into a key shopping weekend. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 7.09, or 1.48%, at 486.26 and is now down 37% for the year. Meanwhile, the Dow is off 35% for 2088 and the S&P 500 is down 40%.

Small caps were noticeably strong relative to large caps, fueled by M&A activity in the banking area. “I think that the M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE:MTB) purchase of Provident Bankshares Corp. (Nasdaq:PBKS) has caused investors to see value in small-cap banks and the purchase came at a nice premium,” Nick Kalivas, vice president of financial research with MF Global, said in an email interview. PBKS shares jumped 60% on the news.

Kalivas also said that positive profit news from restaurant operator Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI) provided a lift to the restaurant sector, which was reflected through impressive positive breadth in small-cap eateries. Small-cap restaurants on the move today included Cheesecake Factory Inc. (Nasdaq:CAKE) which jumped 12%; Brinker International Inc. (NYSE:EAT) up 29% as the firm completed a sale of the Macaroni Grill; The Steak n Shake Co. (NYSE:SNS), up 12%; and Papa Johns International Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZA) up 8%.

In addition, Kalivas said that the general atmosphere of cheaper gasoline and a mini-wave of refinancing activity provides a supportive element to the small-cap universe.

As for today’s quadruple witching expirations of stock index futures, options and single stock futures, Kalivas said that “pinning” action (which refers to . . .

Calgon Carbon Corp. (Nasdaq:CCC), Silicon Graphics Inc. (Nasdaq:SGIC) and Oneida Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ONFC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Medicines Co. (Nasdaq:MDCO), Phoenix Co Inc. (Nasdaq:PNX), Medicines Co. (Nasdaq:MDCO) and HealthSouth Corp. (Nasdaq:HLS).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Forced liquidations, fear of a global recession and a worrisome corporate profit picture sparked another stiff sell-off in small-cap stocks, capping off a bruising week that saw the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) sink to the lowest close in more than five years. The Russell closed down 18.80, or 3.84%, at 471.12 and is now down 38% for 2008. The Dow is off 37% this year, while the S&P 500 is down 40%. Today’s small-cap gainers are Hansen Medical (Nasdaq:HNSN), Rubicon Technology (Nasdaq:RBCN) and IPC Holdings (Nasdaq:IPCR).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Today’s slump underscored the fact that the credit crisis and economic crunch we’ve been feeling in America is also very much a global problem.
• This morning, data in Great Britain revealed that the U.K. economy contracted for the first time in 16 years, which ignited the largest one-day slide in the pound since 1992. 
• Also, Argentinean officials are pondering taking over billions in pension funds, Asian equities and European bourses are at five-year lows and even commodity markets are in a scary freefall.
• Crude oil prices plunged again today, sinking 5% to 17-month lows at $64.15 a barrel.
• The Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 physical markets collapsed to the lowest point since January 2004 and is down more than 50% from the spring highs.

Small Cap Gainers:

• IPC Holdings gained 18% on no fresh news. See (Nasdaq:IPCR).  
• Rubicon Technology gained 24% at closing. See (Nasdaq:RBCN).  
• Hansen Medical closed up 30% after its bottom-line beat estimates and revenues soared in Q3. See (Nasdaq:HNSN).   
• Insituform Tech posted a 16% spike in Q3 EPS that beat the Street, as it made progress in its N. Am sewer rehabilitation operations. See (Nasdaq:INSU).

Small Cap Losers:

• Ariba Inc. closed down 22% on sloppy earnings results. See (Nasdaq:ARBA).  
• Technitrol Inc. tumbled some 35% on sloppy earnings news. See (NYSE:TNL).  
• XL Capital closed down 13% after Moody’s put the insurer on watch for downgrade on posting a Q3 loss due to bailing out Syncora Holdings. See (NYSE:XL).  

Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Dreman/Claymore Dividend & Income Fund (Nasdaq:DCS) and Stream Global Services Inc. (Nasdaq:OOO) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (Nasdaq:EXM), Quest Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:QELP), Parallel Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq:PLLL), Colfax Corp. (Nasdaq:CFX), China Digital TV Holding Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:STV) and Minefinders Corporation Ltd. (Nasdaq:MFN).

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

Biodel Inc. (Nasdaq:BIOD), Safe Bulkers Inc. (Nasdaq:SB) and Hecla Mining Co. (Nasdaq:HL) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (Nasdaq:ATPG), Britannia Bulk Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:DWT), Parallel Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq:PLLL), Flotek Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:FTK) and MAXXAM Inc. (Nasdaq:MXM).

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

Charlotte Russe Holding Inc (Nasdaq:CHIC), Western Refining Inc (Nasdaq:WNR) and Comverge Inc (Nasdaq:COMV) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Trico Marine Services Inc (Nasdaq:TRMA), Hansen Medical Inc (Nasdaq:HNSN), Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN), CPI Corp (Nasdaq:CPY), EPIQ Systems Inc (Nasdaq:EPIQ) and Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd (Nasdaq:NAK).

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

Harris Stratex Networks Inc (Nasdaq:HSTX), Deluxe Corp (Nasdaq:DLX) and CryptoLogic Ltd (Nasdaq:CRYP) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AuthenTec Inc (Nasdaq:AUTH), Shutterfly Inc (Nasdaq:SFLY), Stratasys Inc (Nasdaq:SSYS), Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN), Online Resources Corp (Nasdaq:ORCC) and Ohio Valley Banc Corp (Nasdaq:OVBC).

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

After a rocky finish to Wednesday’s trading, small-cap stocks are slightly higher midday Thursday on encouraging congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, though woes in the U.S. mortgage and housing industries continue to pressure stocks.

At 1:14 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 7.50, or 1.13%, at 671.25, while the Dow was up 63.43, or 0.57%, at 11,210.87.

Bernanke spoke before the House Financial Services Committee and encouraged the government to update its outdated financial regulation system. Bernanke, along with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, urged the government to create a safety net that would minimize a failing bank’s impact on the broader economy.

"In light of the Bear Stearns episode, Congress may wish to consider whether new tools are needed for ensuring an orderly liquidation of a systemically important securities firm that is on the verge of bankruptcy, together with a more formal process for deciding when to use those tools," Bernanke said.

Paulson added that major mortgage lenders Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) will be able to recover from this rough patch, and that he had been informed that both Fannie and Freddie have enough capital. Shares of the mortgage companies sank by midday, though, with Fannie Mae falling 10% and Freddie Mac skidding 20%. The mortgage giants’ woes dragged down many financial stocks amid worries the banking crisis is far from over.

Not helping calm investors was a RealtyTrac Inc. report early in the day that showed U.S. foreclosure filings grew 53% in June from the prior year. Bank repossessions soared the most since the company began collecting data in 2005.

SmallCapInvestor spotlight company Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN) is up more than 9% today after William Blair & Company initiated the stock after the open with an “outperform” rating. Rubicon Technology is a Franklin Park, Ill.-based company that manufactures and markets monocrystalline sapphire for LEDs and other optical uses. Analysts at William Blair said sapphire was an important component necessary for making products in several high-growth markets.

In today’s trading, shares of Rubicon are at $17.62 at 10:49 a.m. ET, up $1.47 from Wednesday’s close. The shares have ranged from $14 to $34.94 during the past year.

Synchronoss Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:SNCR), Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN) and United Online Inc (Nasdaq:UNTD) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:VNDA), Vasco Data Security International Inc (Nasdaq:VDSI) and Gulfport Energy Corp (Nasdaq:GPOR) are also among the most actively traded companies.

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

We are small-cap growth investors, so when I talk about small-cap stocks I am really focusing on small-cap growth stocks. [This year] seems to me to have a lot of similarities to 1990; that was a year where small stocks declined in the first half of the year over concerns regarding the bank crisis and the economy, and then recovered as it became clear that the bank crisis, while difficult, was being handled, and the economy had entered a short (two quarter) and relatively mild recession. I believe, given the recent actions by the Fed and the regulators, that the financial issues that currently confront us today will also turn out to be manageable — by that I mean they will not plunge us into a depression or a severe recession — and while it appears we are in a recession, I believe it will be reasonably short and mild. However, also like the 1990s, the effects of the financial crisis will cause economic growth to be quite mild for many years forward; this will cause the market, I believe, to put a premium on those companies that can deliver earnings growth.

Smaller companies tend to be less liquid as trading vehicles than larger companies and mid-sized companies, as they have fewer shares outstanding. They also can be more volatile over short-time horizons, for the same reason. However, in part because of their smaller size and fewer shares outstanding, they have the potential to grow earnings at a faster rate than larger companies. I would also say that, in my experience, management has a bigger impact, either positive or negative, on . . .

There are over 5,000 companies that meet our definition of small cap (companies under $2 billion in capitalization), thus it is really hard to make generalizations [concerning the corporate earnings outlook]. We are still finding companies that have bright prospects for earnings growth in 2008 and beyond, because they have strong product cycles, really differentiated products, have made an acquisition that is strategically significant, or some other event. I believe that in all but the most severe recessions, the future of a small company rests . . .

Mary Lisanti, president of Lisanti Capital Growth, told CNBC this morning that in the shattered market there are still small cap buys.

“[Small caps] survive and prosper by the uniqueness of the product and service that they offer,” Lisanti told CNBC. “So they tend to be recession resistant, which is counter intuitive, but it’s actually what happens at the growth end of the market.”

A normal drop in a recession for small caps is about 25% to 30%, and we’re almost at that point for small caps according to Lisanti.

Lisanti says it’s best to have a long-term time frame when investing in small caps.
 
“When you look at a year or more, I think that’s really when you’ll make your most money. Small caps tend to lead the market coming out because they have earnings growth,” she said. “So we find a lot of companies that are still growing in this market. They have cash, so they’re not impacted by the credit crisis, and they have something unique and different that they do and that’s really the trick to small caps.”

Specific small caps Lisanti favors include ICON plc (Nasdaq: ICLR), which provides outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, and Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (Nasdaq: CRZO), an oil and natural gas play. She also favors Rubicon Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: RBCN), which sells monocrystalline sapphire and other crystalline products for light-emitting diodes, radio frequency integrated circuits and optoelectronics. 

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.

Silicon may be the compound that made electronics famous, but the rising star on the scene is sapphire and Rubicon Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: RBCN) is the new leading light. Founded in 2000 and public only since Nov. 20, this Franklin Park, Ill.-based small cap is in the interesting business of growing sapphires for electronic and electro-optical circuits.

Sapphire has some great qualities that can be used in conjunction with silicon circuitry. A pure sapphire is crystal clear, made from aluminum oxide. It can be grown and cut into wafers, much the way silicon wafers are made, and has different chemical, electrical and physical properties when cut in different orientations. In different configurations, the wafers are used to make light-emitting diodes (LEDs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and blue laser diodes. Silicon circuitry can be laid on top of sapphire wafers (silicon-on-sapphire, or SOS) for electro-optical chips.

The Russian government began developing techniques years ago for growing sapphire crystals to use in military and aerospace applications. Rubicon, whose chief scientist is Russian, has refined those techniques into a proprietary process that allows it to create the largest and purest sapphire wafers on the market.

Rubicon can make crystals with fewer than 100 defects per square centimeter, compared to defect rates of 5,000 to 100,000 defects per centimeter with other manufacturing methods. It is the only manufacturer that can reliably make six-inch diameter wafers, while others are still stuck at two inches and four inches, and is expected to start producing eight-inch wafers within 18 months. Just as in silicon wafers, the larger sizes sell at higher margins but reduce the final chip costs dramatically.

ChinaEdu
www.chinaedu.com
(Nasdaq: CEDU)
Scheduled for Dec. 10
$52.4 million estimated proceeds
$214.3 million post-money valuation

Education companies have made popular IPOs in recent months and so have Chinese companies. ChinaEdu is the logical extension — an education company based in China. Talk about the bankers being on top of trends. ChinaEdu provides online programs to supplement the offerings at several Chinese universities, operates its own private online K-12 tutoring company and private elementary schools, and offers online English courses to Chinese speakers no matter where they are.

China has a high rate of basic literacy, and many Chinese people know that they need even more education to compete in a rapidly industrializing nation and a global economy. Hence, they are willing to pay extra to educate themselves and their children. ChinaEdu was formed in 1999 to provide online services at Renmin University of China. The core business contracts with campuses rather than directly with students, but acquisitions into the tutoring, elementary and vocational educational markets have brought ChinaEdu face to face with the students who use its services.

The proceeds of the deal will be split between general corporate use and capital spending, including opening a network of learning centers and construction at a private elementary school and at a language school. Some of the venture capital firms are reducing their ownership, but not all are. After the IPO is priced, the officers and directors will own about a quarter of the company and three venture investors, Tiger Global, Qing Li and The McGraw-Hill Companies, will own about another quarter. (McGraw Hill, of course, has a huge interest in education through its textbook divisions.)