Tag - Scor

M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY) and Symyx Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR), Rockwood Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ROC), Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD), Florida Public Utilities Co. (Nasdaq:FPU), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and Kadant Inc. (Nasdaq:KAI).

Also included among the results: Dolan Media Co. (Nasdaq:DM), Chart Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:GTLS), Sturm Ruger & Co Inc. (Nasdaq:RGR), 012 Smile Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq:SMLC), Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS) and Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 2.47, or 0.55%, at 450.42. Small caps are now down 9.8% for the year, while the Dow is off 9.6% and the S&P 500 is down 7.5%. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were DuPont Fabros (NYSE:DFT), Buffalo Wild Wings (Nasdaq:BWLD) and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (Nasdaq:PFCB).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Equity markets in Europe and Asia were lower overnight, with financial and consumer product stocks on the slide, which plays into the soft initial tone.
• The retail sales report headline figure came in at plus 1%, which was well ahead of the projection for a slide of 0.7%.
• The weekly unemployment claims report showed that 623,000 workers filed for benefits last week, which was above the projection of 610,000.
• The number of people forced to file for continuing claims marked a record high; the 4-week moving average for claims was at a 26-year peak.
• Retail shares also were struggling today, despite the bullish print on headline monthly retail sales data. The S&P Retail Index was down 1.8%.
• Small-cap stocks edged higher Thursday, a nice reversal from this morning when the market appeared to be in freefall mode.
• Energy markets had a little bit of a divergence today between equities and cash, with crude oil prices closing down 5.4%, losing $1.96 a barrel to $33.98.
• Copper prices tanked in the morning, but also found some buying interest as the stock market righted the ship.

Small Cap Gainers:

• DuPont Fabros popped 37% after reporting Q4 and full-year 2008 results, and enteting into a loan agreement. See (NYSE:DFT).
• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. gapped higher and shot up some 34% as the . . .

Pacer International Inc. (Nasdaq:PACR), Terex Corp. (NYSE:TEX) and comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

Small-cap stocks plunged early Thursday, dismissing an upbeat retail sales report to focus on dreary corporate profit reports and another somber reading on the employment picture. At 10:02 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was off 9.39, or 2.10% at 438.55, while the Dow was down 2.70% and the big-cap barometer was now at the lowest point since November.

The retail sales report came in at plus 1.0%, which was quite a bit better than the forecast for a slide of 0.7%. Although the upside surprise did help lift stock index futures off the pre-market lows and might have had a brief supportive tone into the regular stock market opening, the general perception of the retail sales report was that it was a “head-scratcher.”

“This increase broke a record six-month string of declines during which spending fell at a 21.1% annualized rate,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said via email. “However, both November's and December's earlier estimated declines were revised to be modestly deeper. Despite this month's gain, retail sales have fallen at a 16.3% annualized rate over the past three months. Over the past year, retail spending has decreased by a near record 9.7%. Spending at motor vehicle dealers jumped by 1.6% despite a 7.1% decline in unit sales, which is puzzling,” Wood said.

The rise in retail sales also didn’t seem to fit with anecdotal reports on store traffic and consumer retrenchment amid a deepening recession and rising unemployment. Speaking of unemployment, the weekly claims report showed that 623,000 Americans were forced to file for unemployment benefits last week, which was a mild dip from last week’s 26-year peak, but still a larger number than forecast. The number of workers forced to remain on unemployment rolls rose to a new record high and the four-week moving average on claims was at a 26-year high. Simply put, . . .

Pacer International Inc. (Nasdaq:PACR), Terex Corp. (Nasdaq:TEX) and comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday morning's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

Also included among the results: New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (Nasdaq:EDU), Gildan Activewear Inc. (Nasdaq:GIL), Syneron Medical Ltd. (Nasdaq:ELOS), InfoSpace . . .

Insight Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT), Delta Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq:DPTR) and Macquarie Infrastructure Co LLC (Nasdaq:MIC) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc. (Nasdaq:GRIF), Chiquita Brands International Inc. (Nasdaq:CQB), Kansas City Life Insurance Co. (Nasdaq:KCLI), comScore Inc.(Nasdaq:SCOR), Fossil Inc (Nasdaq:FOSL) and Brooks Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:BRKS).

Summit Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMF), Ness Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:NSTC) and comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

ComScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR) has gained 20% today after reporting after Thursday’s close its second-quarter net income and revenue had grown. For the quarter ended June 30, revenue was $28.8 million, up about 38% from a year go. GAAP net income was $1.7 million, or $0.06 a share, compared with $1.24 million, or break-even per share, for the same quarter a year ago.

“This quarter we posted the highest levels of revenue and profitability in the company's history, exceeding our guidance in all respects for our base comScore business, which excludes the results of M:Metrics,” said Magid Abraham, president and CEO. "Our marketplace momentum continues with strong new business and growth among existing clients.”

At 10:43 a.m. ET, shares are at $22.84, up $3.76 from Thursday’s close. Shares of the Reston, Va.-based company have ranged from $17.31 to $42 during the past year.

Third Wave Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:TWTI), Luminex Corp (Nasdaq:LMNX) and Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: HireRight Inc (Nasdaq:HIRE), Apogee Enterprises Inc (Nasdaq:APOG), Sonic Corp (Nasdaq:SONC), UAL Corp (Nasdaq:UAUA), China Precision Steel Inc (Nasdaq:CPSL) and comScore Inc (Nasdaq:SCOR).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Small-cap stocks broke down Tuesday, smashing key chart support amid fretting about dour consumer confidence, rising oil prices and jagged nerves ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC announcement. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 11.89, or 1.65%, at 707.92, the lowest daily close since April 22.

The market was already wobbly coming into today’s action, and when consumer confidence plunged to a fresh 16-year low, the bulls pulled their chips off the table en masse. The headline reading on consumer confidence was at 50.4%, down from 58.1% last month and well off the median forecast of 56.4%. The plunge in consumer confidence puts consumer spending at risk, which puts any economic recovery at risk as well. After the close, ABC News released its own Consumer Comfort index (a weekly data series), which edged up for the week, but the quarterly figure was on track for the worst showing since 1992.

The confidence number completely overshadowed the Case-Shiller report, which came out early today and which showed a numbing drop of 15.3% for home prices over the same period last year. However, the number was not as bad as forecast, and there were some pundits who argued that this could be a sign that the housing market collapse is near the bottom. It’s an argument that lost power as the market lurched into . . .

Small-cap stocks edged lower on the open, pulled down by overseas equities declines and an on-going rout in the financial arena. At 10:02 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 12.36, or 1.72%, at 707.45, sinking to the lowest level since April 24.

Into the U.S. stock market opening, prices for “black gold” were off from the overnight highs quite a bit, which helped trim opening losses for equities. In overnight action, crude oil prices climbed near $139 dollars a barrel amid rumors of an attack on Iran. The rumors were denied by Iranian officials and crude oil prices gradually pulled back off the highs. By the opening, crude oil prices actually slipped into the red a tad and were bouncing back and forth around steady levels.

The consumer confidence report came out at 50.4, which was well below the forecast of 56 and down from a revised 58.1 reading last month. The figure was a fresh 16-year low and equity markets and the U.S. dollar extended losses after the soft data on confidence.

The FOMC started a two-day policy meeting today, and some traders may go into hibernation waiting for the official rate news Wednesday afternoon. Fed funds futures have priced out any chance for a rate hike from this meeting, and the market is expecting interest rate policy to move into a hold mode.

The Case-Shiller U.S. home price index came out at minus 1.4% versus minus 2.2% in March. The year-over-year decline was a whopping minus 15.3%; although the numbers are numbingly bad on face value, they were actually a touch better than feared, sparking hope that housing market declines are nearing some kind of . . .

Small-cap stocks roared out of the gate in morning trading, but a widespread sell-off began around 10 a.m. ET and erased gains. A rallying attempt shortly before noon was met with resistance and small caps have continued to decline in Friday afternoon trading. At 1:34 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) slipped 4.01, or 0.55%, at 725.74.

At 10:08 a.m. ET, the small-cap index peaked at 735.78, its highest point since early January. Bullish investors were encouraged by a better-than-expected monthly employment report, which showed a decline of 20,000 payroll jobs in April — much better than the median forecast for a loss of 80,000 jobs. In addition, the headline unemployment figure came in at 5%, which was down from 5.1% last month and well above the number cruncher’s pre-release figure of 5.2%.

Just ahead of the employment release, the Federal Reserve added liquidity into the system, which sparked a brief flurry of conspiracy theorists that perhaps the credit crunch was rearing its head again, or that the employment report would be a bearish surprise. Clearly, the latter wasn’t the case, and it’s most likely that the . . .

Small-cap stocks shot out of the gate this morning amid a wave of buying enthusiasm, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) up 2.74, or 0.37%, at 732.48 at 9:57 a.m. ET. The early peak was at 734.84, which marks the highest point since early January. Bullish investor psychology was powered by a better-than-expected monthly employment report, which showed a decline of 20,000 payroll jobs in April — much better than the median forecast for a loss of 80,000 jobs. In addition, the headline unemployment figure came in at 5%, which was down from 5.1% last month and well above the number cruncher’s pre-release figure of 5.2%.

It should be noted that the labor market is still contracting, which is a troubling sign for the economy. Still, markets tend to trade on expectations, and when the news isn’t as bad as feared, it clears the way for buying interest to emerge. However, before March lows were carved out, the market had an unsettling way of trading higher on jobs day in recent months, only to resume the downward swing in the days following the initial reaction.

Just ahead of the employment release, the Federal Reserve added liquidity into the system, which sparked a brief flurry of conspiracy theorists that perhaps the credit crunch was rearing its head again, or that the employment report would be a bearish surprise. Clearly, the latter wasn’t the case, and it’s most likely that . . .

Small-cap stocks are expected to open with a bang following a surprisingly tame employment report. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was expected to open about 0.7% higher in line with a jump in after-hours trading, which would put the index near 734.

The jobs data showed a decline in payrolls of 20,000, which was well below the forecast for a decline of 80,000. Investors also will be relieved to see that the unemployment rate eased back to 5%, down from 5.1% last month, and more importantly much better than the 5.2% median forecast.

The U.S. dollar rallied hard and fast in the immediate moments after the jobs data came out, with the euro and dollar shedding more than 100 bps together, or about 0.9%, which likely will provide a lift to equities if the dollar can hold those gains throughout the session.

In overnight action, equities markets around the world played catch up . . .

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


• iGATE Corp. (Nasdaq:IGTE), up 11% on news of a rise in fourth-quarter revenue.
• Ceragon Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:CRNT), up 8% on news that first-quarter earnings met analysts’ projections.
• SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIRF), up 5%


• Chemotherapy Inc. (Nasdaq:TOMO), down 32% on news it expects a first-quarter loss.
• China GrenTech Corp. (Nasdaq:GRRF), down 14% on news of a decline in fourth-quarter earnings.
• comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR), down 5%.

Orthofix International NV (Nasdaq:OFIX), Comscore, Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR) and eFuture Information Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:EFUT) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million.

AgFeed Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:FEED), IXYS Corp. (Nasdaq:IXYS) and Lakeland Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:LKFN) are also among the most actively traded small-cap companies in pre-market trading.

Here are the most actively traded small-cap companies in Monday's pre-market trading:

The Russell 2000 (IWM) fell as investors turned their attention to the economy. The small-cap index let go 3.85 points, or 0.55%, to 698.93, its fourth decline in the past five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) lost 64.87 points, or 0.53%, to 12,182.13.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has shed 8.76%, while the Dow has let go 8.16% and the S&P 500 has slashed 9.33%.

There was no major economic news scheduled for today and little on the corporate front and stocks small and large spent the first half of the session trading sideways.

The mood in pre-market trading was slightly bearish following news that an official from the U.S. Federal Reserve said that the economy is headed for a slowdown.

“I consider it most probable that the U.S. economy will experience slow growth, and not outright recession, in coming quarters,” said Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, in a speech in Honolulu.

Concerns about the future of the economy are what led the U.S. Congress to approve a $168 billion economic stimulus package that consists of tax rebates and business incentives. President Bush said he would sign the bill next week. Rebate checks will be mailed to households and individuals as early as late May.

Trading was volatile as the Russell 2000 seesawed up and down before falling into the red at about 12 p.m. ET, and slumping to its session low shortly before 2 p.m. ET.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) has dropped into negative territory as stocks large and small continue to move erratically. At 1:10 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had retreated 4.61 points, or 0.66%, to 698.17. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was down 69.66 points, or 0.57%, to 12,177.34.

Small-cap stocks are seesawing wildly today as there is no major economic or corporate news to give the stock market direction.

But concerns about the state of the U.S. economy are coming to the forefront following news of comments from an official at the U.S. Federal Reserve that the economy is headed for a slowdown.

“I consider it most probable that the U.S. economy will experience slow growth, and not outright recession, in coming quarters,” said Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, in a speech in Honolulu.

However, Richard Curtin, director of the Reuters/University of Michigan surveys of consumers, appears to be more pessimistic.

Curtin is quoted as saying today that the economy has entered a recession that will be more prolonged than the typical economic downturn.

The Russell 2000 has been playing with both the bears and the bulls, but at about 12 p.m. ET, it dropped to lows not seen earlier in the session.

Among the biggest losers is Brush Engineered Materials Inc. (Nasdaq: BW), which makes engineered materials for a variety of industries. The Cleveland, Ohio-based company more than halved its fourth-quarter net income due to lower production.

Also dropping are shares of comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), on news that the provider of technology for measuring online activities issued a first-quarter earnings guidance below analysts’ expectations.

Bucking the trend is OYO Geospace Corp. (Nasdaq: OYOG), despite news that the Houston-based maker of scientific instrumentation and equipment used by the global petroleum industry to acquire seismic data reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $3.3 million, or $0.54 per share, down from $7.8 million, or $1.30 per share, reported a year earlier and short of the $0.67 per share expected by Wall Street.