Tag - Spwra

There are times when savvy investors simply can't help but make money from certain stocks.

At the turn of the 19th century it was railroads. In the 1920s, it was radio. In the 1950s, a few shares of AT&T could have left you wealthy. In the 1980s, banking deregulation led to riches for savvy investors. In the 1990s, it was the Internet...

Now, it's 2011. And most investors are simply fighting to hold onto what they have. But, right now, there are a select few stocks that will inevitably make forward-thinking investors very wealthy.

I'm talking about alternative energy stocks...

Vivus Inc. (Nasdaq:VVUS), Exide Technologies (Nasdaq:XIDE) and GigaMedia Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIGM) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Omniture Inc (Nasdaq:OMTR), Federal Mogul Corp. (Nasdaq:FDML), Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF), Ceradyne Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDN), STEC Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC) and SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA).

SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (Nasdaq:BWLD), Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), True Religion Apparel Inc. (Nasdaq:TRLG) and Zoran Corp. (Nasdaq:ZRAN).

Celera Corp. (Nasdaq:CRA), Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (Nasdaq:CETV) and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (Nasdaq:ENER) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Focus Media Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq:FMCN), Concur Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:CNQR), Sigma Designs Inc. (Nasdaq:CPHD), SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA) and DrdGold ADR (Nasdaq:DROOY).

Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT), SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA) and Neutral Tandem Inc. (Nasdaq:TNDM) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA), Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), Cheesecake Factory Inc. (Nasdaq:CAKE), Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT), East West Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EWBC) and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq:CLNE).

Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (Nasdaq:ENER), Green Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:GRNB) and SunPower Ord Shs Class A (Nasdaq:SPWRA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL), SureWest Communications (Nasdaq:SURW), Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEUS), Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX), IntegraMed America Inc. (Nasdaq:INMD) and Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:SCHN).

TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI), Collective Brands Inc. (Nasdaq:PSS) and Speedway Motorsports Inc. (Nasdaq:TRK) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Agree Realty Corp. (Nasdaq:ADC), Penn Virginia Corp. (Nasdaq:PVA), Korn/Ferry International Inc. (Nasdaq:KFY), Dorman Products Inc. (Nasdaq:DORM), SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA) and Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (Nasdaq:GNK).

Small-cap stocks edged higher on the opening, underpinned by a GDP report that wasn’t as bad as feared and by a smattering of decent earnings reports on the small-cap front that lifted the Russell relative to the large-cap indices. But those early gains were trimmed as the market remains concerned about the economy and corporate profits. At 10:03 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 0.17, or 0.04%, at 453.07.

The quarterly GDP report came in at minus 3.8%, which was quite a bit better than feared: the pre-release forecast called for a slide of 5.3%. Even though the report showed less contraction than expected in the economy, this still marked the worst showing for the U.S. since 1982. In addition, consumer spending dropped for two consecutive quarters for the first time since 1990-1991 as people struggle with sinking home values, mounting job losses and stock market devaluation. There was some concern that the “upside” surprise on GDP only delays the pain, especially as corporate layoffs have escalated in January.

While the GDP report was the primary target on everyone’s radar this morning, there were also economic releases on the employment cost index (it rose 0.6%, about what was expected); the Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Survey; and the Michigan sentiment survey. The Chicago headline figure came in at 33.3, which was below the forecast of 34.9 and which marked a new cycle low for the reading on Midwest manufacturing. The market appeared to slide after the Chicago number came out. Meanwhile, the Michigan figure was at 61.2, relatively close to the projection of 61.9.

One measure of just how ugly things have become, the Goldman Sachs Analyst Index (GSAI), a survey of Goldman’s equity analysts across a range of sectors, . . .

U.S. stocks are expected to open flat to higher, with concerns about declines in Asian equities overnight and sloppy corporate profit reports countered by a better-than-expected tally on GDP. The Dow is called flat to 15 points higher, while the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) is seen opening near steady levels at 453.25.

The GDP report headline figure came in at minus 3.8%, which was much better than expected. The consensus forecast was for a slide of 5.3%. Even though the number beat the projection, it was still the worst showing for the U.S. economy since 1982.

In overseas action, Europe was slightly lower ahead of the U.S. open, while Asian equities tumbled 1.6%, pulled down by losses in bank and tech stocks, even though Hong Kong shares were up 0.9% on hopes for rate cuts out of China.

On the U.S. corporate front, Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) and SunPower corp. (Nasdaq:SPWRA) beat the estimate and could attract buyers early today. However, as usual the bulk of the earnings news was less upbeat, with Proctor & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG) coming in near the forecast, but with sloppy sales numbers. That same theme was seen for Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON). Dow stock Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) could be on the defensive following an analyst . . .

Umpqua Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:UMPQ), Wright Medical Group Inc. (Nasdaq:WMGI) and Lance Inc. (Nasdaq:LNCE) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Conceptus Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTS), World Acceptance Corp. (Nasdaq:WRLD), GMX Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:GMXR), Luminex Corp. (Nasdaq:LMNX), SunPower Ord. (Nasdaq:SPWRA) and Franklin Electric Co Inc. (Nasdaq:FELE).