Tag - Twin

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:SWHC), Solutia Inc. (Nasdaq:SOA) and Famous Daves of America Inc. (Nasdaq:DAVE) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Talbots Inc. (Nasdaq:TLB), SL Industries Inc (Nasdaq:SLI), China Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:CMED), AFC Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:AFCE), Twin Disc Inc. (Nasdaq:TWIN) and Vocus Inc. (Nasdaq:VOCS).

ENGlobal Corp. (Nasdaq:ENG), Banco Macro SA (Nasdaq:BMA) and Nortel Inversora SA (Nasdaq:NTL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Twin Disc Inc. (Nasdaq:TWIN), Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq:ABCB), Hiveld Steel Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:HSVLY), Ardea Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEA), Insulet Corp. (Nasdaq:PODD) and Southwest Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:OKSB).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks gave back a sizable chunk of Monday’s big rally early on today, pressured by concerns that corporate profits are already sloppy and will be further strained by a weak economy going forward. Today’s small-cap gainers are Hexcel (NYSE:HXL), Jakks Pacific (Nasdaq:JAKK) and Drybulk (NYSE:OCNF).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Pharma could be one of the better-performing sectors to watch today, and has seen a few strong performers in the small-cap arena in recent days as well.  
• Commodities in general were likely to be on the defensive as the U.S. dollar was soaring against the euro, climbing 1.25%.  
• The lift small caps enjoyed Monday from the energy sector appeared on the wane today, with crude oil prices slipping on concerns about demand
• With no economic reports on tap today, the market will focus on the wave of quarterly earnings coming in.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Hexcel reported third-quarter profit that surged 91% on sales for defense programs and wind turbine blades. See (NYSE:HXL).  
• Jakks Pacific reports 14% increase in Q3 bottom-line on tax benefit and higher sales, reaffirmed full-year guidance. See (Nasdaq:JAKK).  
• OptionsXpress posts Q3 net income that beat the Street, but edged down from a year-ago.  See (Nasdaq:OXPS).  
• JDA Software Group posts third-quarter results that handily beat the Street. See (Nasdaq:JDAS).  
• Drybulk shipper OceanFreight declares $0.77 dividend for Q3, shares jump 21%. See (Nasdaq:OCNF).

Small Cap Losers:

• Highveld Steel & Vanadium Corporation Ltd. is down 15% to fresh move lows. See (Nasdaq:HSVLY).  
• Avigen plunges 70% after intermediate trial for treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis failed. See (Nasdaq:AVGN).
• Net Servicos de Comunicacao saw the top-line increase on lower subscription rates, operating costs jumped 26%, SG&A increased 37%. (Nasdaq:NETC).  
• ENGlobal expects to report Q3 results below the consensus on Wall Street. See (NYSE:ENG).
• Twin Disc said fiscal Q1 earnings plunged due to lower volumes, unfavorable product mix and higher material costs. See (Nasdaq:TWIN).  

Twin Disc, Inc. (Nasdaq:TWIN) CEO Michael Batten said demand for the boat equipment maker’s commercial and high-end pleasure craft marine products continues to increase. Batten said the company does not see any weakness in the European mega yacht market. Batten made the comments during an afternoon conference call.

“The final three months should be another good quarter and we remain optimistic about the fiscal year 2009,” Batten said.

There is continuing high-wealth demand from the United States and Europe, but Batten said the fastest growth rate is coming from Russia, China, the Middle East and India. The firm has continued demand for mega yacht products in the United Kingdom and Italy. Mega yacht demand is fairly recession proof, Batten said.

“You’re dealing with people who are exceedingly wealthy and they’re not going to be terribly affected by what’s happening in terms of normal economy,” Batten said. “Yes, a terrible market crash might give some pause but you’re talking about people that can afford to buy a $50 million to $100 million yacht. You’re pretty well insulated.”

The chief executive also said the firm is also looking at acquisition targets that would complement the company’s manufacturing and distribution segments.

“We’re looking at all the areas. We’re not targeting one particular area . . .

Transcat, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRNS), Volterra Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:VLTR) and Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSYS) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Zoran Corp. (Nasdaq:ZRAN), Mexco Energy Corp. (AMEX:MXC) and Twin Disc, Inc. (Nasdaq:TWIN) are also among the top small-cap percentage gainers.

Here are Tuesday's biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices are deep in the red amidst recession fears and an interest rate cut.
 
At 10:19 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had fallen 8.88 points, or 1.32%, to 664.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was down 230.13 points, or 1.90%, to 11,869.17.

Stocks small and large are posting declines due to fears of a U.S. recession and sell-offs on some overseas exchanges.

Increased worries of an economic recession motivated the U.S. Federal Reserve to make an emergency cut in the federal funds rate to 3.50% from 4.25%.

The Fed has not moved to lower its target rate between meetings since September 2001, in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Its next regularly scheduled meeting is on Jan. 29 and 30.

“The Committee took this action in view of a weakening of the economic outlook and increasing downside risks to growth,” the Fed said in a statement. “While strains in short-term funding markets have eased somewhat, broader financial market conditions have continued to deteriorate and credit has tightened further for some businesses and households.”

The Russell 2000 opened with a large drop, losing more than 3% right of the bat, with the Dow posting a slightly smaller loss. But stocks trimmed those numbers and the roles reversed, the Dow now posting a deeper decline.

Shares of Twin Disc Inc. (Nasdaq: TWIN) have rolled into negative territory on news the manufacturer of marine and off-highway power transmission equipment saw its fiscal fourth-quarter profit decline.

The net income for the three months ended June 30 was $5 million, or $0.83 per share, a drop of 14% compared with a net income of $5.66 million, or $0.95 per share, during the same period of 2006, the Racine, Wis.-based company reported before the opening bell.

Analyst estimates were not available.

Twin Disc said that the profit decline was primarily attributed to an after-tax restructuring charge at its Belgian operation, which shaved off $1.75 million, or $0.29 per share.

Shares of Racine, Wis.-based Twin Disc, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWIN) set a new 52-week high in intraday trading on news the manufacturer of off-highway power transmission equipment reported record financial results in the fiscal 2007 third quarter ended March 30, 2007.