Tag - Sonc

American Greetings Corp. (Nasdaq:AM), Universal Travel Group (Nasdaq:UTA) and Sonic Corp. (Nasdaq:SONC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (Nasdaq:APL), OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OGXI), Bridgford Foods Corp. (Nasdaq:BRID), International Assets Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:IAAC), Spire Corp. (Nasdaq:SPIR) and Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX).

Bancorp Bank (Nasdaq:TBBK), America's Car-Mart Inc (Nasdaq:CRMT) and Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Sonic Corp (Nasdaq:SONC), Measurement Specialties Inc (Nasdaq:MEAS), Codorus Valley Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:CVLY), Align Technology Inc (Nasdaq:ALGN), FGX International Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq:FGXI) and Financial Institutions Inc (Nasdaq:FISI).

Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:HALO), Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:SWHC) and Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), Focus Media Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq:FMCN), Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ACUR), Sterling Construction Co Inc. (Nasdaq:STRL), Sonic Corp. (Nasdaq:SONC) and AgFeed Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:FEED).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher in a relatively tame session, with morning pressure from concerns about sloppy sales at Wal-Mart countered by optimism for massive infrastructure spending projects in the months ahead. Perhaps the story lines simply balanced out each other, or perhaps the market was taking a little “breather” ahead of Friday’s big jobs report. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq:PODD), Diamond Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) and Immucor Inc. (Nasdaq:BLUD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Advancers are leading decliners 1,024 to 764 on the Russell 2000.
• Apparel firms were also under stress, and automakers took a step back today after seeing solid upside moves earlier this week.  
• On the downside, hypermarkets and supermarkets were taking a hit (spurred by the WMT news).  
• Other areas showing strength included home entertainment software, coal, health care facilities, oil refiners, metal and mining stocks and construction firms.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Medical device maker Insulet Corporation is up 12.3% to $9.77 after an upgrade by Canaccord Adams. (See Nasdaq:PODD)  
• Snack company Diamond Foods Inc. is up 9.8% to $20.42 after an upgrade by BMO Capital Markets. (See Nasdaq:DMND)  
• Blood-testing equipment maker Immucor Inc. is up 6.8% in pre-market trading to $25.10 after reporting a 7% gain in Q2 profits after the close Wed. (See Nasdaq:BLUD)  
• Shares in Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell were up 6.9% to $21.92 in pre-market trading after news it is in talks with Wyeth.

Small Cap Losers:

• Construction and lifting equipment maker Manitowoc Co. is down 13.2% to $8.25 after narrowing its FY2008 profit estimate toward the low end of previous guidance. (See NYSE:MTW)  
• J. Crew Group Inc. is down 17.5% to $9.65 after announcing before the opening that it now expects to report a loss in Q4, versus previous expectations for a profit. (See NYSE:JCG)  
• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. was down 22.4% to $6.81 shortly after the opening. (See Nasdaq:ULTA)  
• Restaurant chain Sonic Corp. last night reported a 47.5% drop in profit for Q1. Shares are down 10.4% to $10.22 in pre-market trading. (See Nasdaq:SONC)

Small-cap stocks hovered near steady levels into mid-session trading, up from the morning lows amid optimism over the fiscal stimulus plans that were put into greater detail today by President-elect Obama. The stimulus cheer helped offset gloom over sloppy retail sales from discount giant Wal-Mart, which put an early pall on the morning activity. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq:PODD), Diamond Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) and Immucor Inc. (Nasdaq:BLUD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Advancers are leading decliners 1,024 to 764 on the Russell 2000.
• Apparel firms were also under stress, and automakers took a step back today after seeing solid upside moves earlier this week.  
• On the downside, hypermarkets and supermarkets were taking a hit (spurred by the WMT news).  
• Other areas showing strength included home entertainment software, coal, health care facilities, oil refiners, metal and mining stocks and construction firms.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Medical device maker Insulet Corporation is up 12.3% to $9.77 after an upgrade by Canaccord Adams. (See Nasdaq:PODD)  
• Snack company Diamond Foods Inc. is up 9.8% to $20.42 after an upgrade by BMO Capital Markets. (See Nasdaq:DMND)  
• Blood-testing equipment maker Immucor Inc. is up 6.8% in pre-market trading to $25.10 after reporting a 7% gain in Q2 profits after the close Wed. (See Nasdaq:BLUD)  
• Shares in Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell were up 6.9% to $21.92 in pre-market trading after news it is in talks with Wyeth.

Small Cap Losers:

• Construction and lifting equipment maker Manitowoc Co. is down 13.2% to $8.25 after narrowing its FY2008 profit estimate toward the low end of previous guidance. (See NYSE:MTW)  
• J. Crew Group Inc. is down 17.5% to $9.65 after announcing before the opening that it now expects to report a loss in Q4, versus previous expectations for a profit. (See NYSE:JCG)  
• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. was down 22.4% to $6.81 shortly after the opening. (See Nasdaq:ULTA)  
• Restaurant chain Sonic Corp. last night reported a 47.5% drop in profit for Q1. Shares are down 10.4% to $10.22 in pre-market trading. (See Nasdaq:SONC)

Small-cap stocks pushed lower this morning, pulled down by renewed worries about consumer spending after the world’s largest retailer posted disappointing December sales. In addition, tech stocks and commodities were on the defensive this morning following losses in overseas trading.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq:PODD), Diamond Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) and Immucor Inc. (Nasdaq:BLUD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Tech stocks and commodities were on the defensive this morning following losses in overseas trading.  
• Small-cap stocks pushed lower this morning, pulled down by renewed worries about consumer spending after the world’s largest retailer posted disappointing December sales.  
• The Dow was expected to open down 90 points, while the Russell 2000 was seen down 0.7%, near 493.50.  
• Crude oil stabilized after Wednesday’s 12% hit, but other commodities were down, which could weigh on companies involved in mining and other raw goods businesses.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Medical device maker Insulet Corporation is up 12.3% to $9.77 after an upgrade by Canaccord Adams. (See Nasdaq:PODD)  
• Snack company Diamond Foods Inc. is up 9.8% to $20.42 after an upgrade by BMO Capital Markets. (See Nasdaq:DMND)  
• Blood-testing equipment maker Immucor Inc. is up 6.8% in pre-market trading to $25.10 after reporting a 7% gain in Q2 profits after the close Wed. (See Nasdaq:BLUD)  
• Shares in Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell were up 6.9% to $21.92 in pre-market trading after news it is in talks with Wyeth.

Small Cap Losers:

• Construction and lifting equipment maker Manitowoc Co. is down 13.2% to $8.25 after narrowing its FY2008 profit estimate toward the low end of previous guidance. (See NYSE:MTW)  
• J. Crew Group Inc. is down 17.5% to $9.65 after announcing before the opening that it now expects to report a loss in Q4, versus previous expectations for a profit. (See NYSE:JCG)  
• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. was down 22.4% to $6.81 shortly after the opening. (See Nasdaq:ULTA)  
• Restaurant chain Sonic Corp. last night reported a 47.5% drop in profit for Q1. Shares are down 10.4% to $10.22 in pre-market trading. (See Nasdaq:SONC)

thinkorswim Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SWIM), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ciena Corp. (Nasdaq:CIEN), Sonic Corp. (Nasdaq:SONC), Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:IDEV), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), NetScout Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:NTCT) and Exide Technologies (Nasdaq:XIDE).

Sonic Corp. (Nasdaq:SONC) CEO Cliff Hudson said the struggling restaurant operator is not providing a more conservative outlook to investors because the company is changing management, has a higher energy focus at the market level and a renewed focus on customer service and store-level performance. Hudson made the comments during a morning conference call with analysts and investors.

“With the personnel issues we’re talking about — the change — and the level of focus at the unit level, we should start seeing an impact at a relatively quick fashion in one degree or another,” Hudson said. “This is part of what gives us some optimism and there are signs already of a positive impact. We’ll continue to measure that and report on it over time but the fact is that we’re already seeing some positive impact.”

Sonic said late Tuesday that it expects 2008 earnings of between $1.00 and $1.02 per share, which is lower than Wall Street’s expectation of earning $1.05 per share.

“We are currently working through our annual business plan process and anticipate providing our fiscal year 2009 outlook in early September,” CFO Steve Vaughan said.

The Oklahoma City-based company also said it anticipates same-store sales, or sales at stores at least a year, to grow in a range of 2% to 4%.

After Tuesday’s close, Sonic posted third-quarter net income of $17.2 million, or $0.28 per share, down 17% from $20.6 million, or $0.31 per share, a year ago. The . . .

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: