Tag - Vsec

All good things come to an end, and the curtain came down on a three-day run-up in small-cap stocks on Tuesday.

The Russell 2000 Index fell for the first time since August 10, after the index had rebounded from the recent sell-offs by nearly 9 percent.

Yet there were some rising stars to be found across many sectors, including old-line and high-tech manufacturing, biotechs and software developers and a couple of acquisitions.

Two services-related companies and a little-known Chinese coal miner were among the best-performing small-cap stocks on Tuesday. The day marked by President Barack Obama signing off on a bill resolving the federal government's debt ceiling crisis. Wall Street's response was negative, indicating disfavor about the nation's economic health.

There was little to cheer about for stocks, as the Dow Jones Industrials fell for an eighth straight day. The Standard & Poor's Small-Cap 600 has closed lower for the same number of trading sessions, while the Russell 2000 Index is on a seven-day losing skid.

 Rockwell Medical Technology (Nasdaq:RMTI), VSE Corp (Nasdaq:VSEC), Isramco Inc (Nasdaq:ISRL) and Kewaynee Scientific Corp (Nasdaq:KEQU) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: PFMG Inc (Nasdaq:PFMG), Navigators Group Inc (Nasdaq:NAVG), Broadway Financial Corp (Nasdaq:BYFC), Diamond Foods Inc (Nasdaq:DMND) and First Capital Bancorp (Nasdaq:FCVA).

Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq:HLIT), VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC) and NetSuite Inc. (Nasdaq:N) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Duff & Phelps Corp. (Nasdaq:DUF), Extra Space Storage Inc (Nasdaq:EXR), Porter Bancorp Inc.(Nasdaq:PBIB), Clayton Williams Energy Inc.(Nasdaq:CWEI), Hain Celestial Group Inc.(Nasdaq:HAIN) and FreightCar America Inc.(Nasdaq:RAIL).

Hancock Holding Co. (Nasdaq:HBHC), Midsouth Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:MSL) and Cash America International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSH) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Southern First Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:SFST), Webster Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WBS), Princeton National Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:PNBC), United States Lime & Minerals Inc. (Nasdaq:USLM), Cornell Companies Inc. (Nasdaq:CRN) and VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC).

Omnicell Inc. (Nasdaq:OMCL), Cash America International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSH) and Hancock Holding Co. (Nasdaq:HBHC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC), Hanesbrands Inc. (Nasdaq:HBI), BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:BSTC), First Citizens Bancorp Cleveland (Nasdaq:FCZA), Eagle Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EGBN) and Dynamic Materials Corp. (Nasdaq:BOOM).

The Obama reign got off to a rocky start today – at least as far as the market was concerned – with small-caps generating the largest one-day slide of the New Year, the worst inauguration day decline ever and the worst overall decline in some two months as bank stocks continued to reel and the profit picture retained storm clouds.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers were UDR (NYSE:UDR), GTx (Nasdaq:GTXI) and TiVo  (Nasdaq:TIVO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude oil rose some 6% into the expiration of the February futures contract, but energy stocks were down about 5% in sympathy with the decline in overall equities.  
• U.S. Investors are now worried that banks simply will not survive without in essence being “nationalized” at the expense of shareholders.  
• Royal Bank of Scotland posts the largest annual loss of any corporation in U.K. history.  
• Small-caps generating the largest one-day slide of the New Year, the worst inauguration day decline ever and the worst overall decline in some two months as bank stocks continued to reel and the profit picture retained storm clouds.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• UDR Inc, GTx Inc, and TiVo Inc open as lead gainers on Tuesday's session.  See:(NYSE:UDR), See: (Nasdaq:GTXI), See: (Nasdaq:TIVO).

Small Cap Losers:

• Natus Medical Inc. fell 25% as the maker of baby care products revised their outlook downward. See: (Nasdaq:BABY).  
• Aspen BioPharma Inc. tumbles 82% amid disappointment over a trial for a drug tied to appendicitis and abdominal pain. See: (Nasdaq:APPY).  
• VSE Corp. slumped 45% on the news that the Army rejected a new contract bid from the firm. See: (Nasdaq:VSEC).

 

 

 

The Obama reign got off to a rocky start today – at least as far as the market was concerned – with small-caps generating the largest one-day slide of the New Year, the worst inauguration day decline ever and the worst overall decline in some two months as bank stocks continued to reel and the profit picture retained storm clouds. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 32.80, or 7.03% at 433.65 and is now down 13.1% for the year. Meanwhile, the Dow is off 9.4% for 2009 and the S&P 500 is off 10.8%.
 
The market was already coming off an extended holiday weekend, and today’s action was considered another “partial” day for investors with so much attention diverted to the historic inauguration ceremonies.

Even before the inauguration the market was backpedaling amid another bout of worries over the health of the world’s banking system. And the selling fury picked up steam when Obama declined to divulge much in the way of specifics about his fiscal stimulus plans.

Coming in to this morning’s stock market open, investors had to deal with news that the Royal Bank of Scotland would post the largest annual loss of any corporation in U.K. history, which only served to heighten the ongoing panic tied to banks here in the U.S. Investors are now worried that banks simply will not survive without in essence being “nationalized” at the expense of shareholders, ala the fate of American International Group a few months ago.

The KBW Banking Index fell a jaw-dropping 19% today, a stunning move for an index product. The nation’s #1 bank, Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) tumbled 26%, while Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) shed 23% and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) fell 18% and slipped below $3 dollars a share. Within the financial spectrum, money management firm State Street Corp. (NYSE:STT) collapsed 58% after reporting disappointing profit news.

The selling mood was so prevailing today that a recovery bounce in crude oil prices failed to drum up buying interest for energy or other commodity stocks. Crude oil rose some 6% into the expiration of the February futures contract, but energy stocks were down about 5% in sympathy with the decline in overall equities. Even the dramatic slide in stocks failed to lift credit markets, which are worried about overcoming a mountain of supply that will be issued to fund various stimulus projects and the ongoing rescue/bailout plans.

Small-caps on the move today included Aspen BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:APPY), which tumbled 82% amid disappointment over a trial for a drug tied to appendicitis and abdominal pain. VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC) slumped 45% on news that the U.S. Army had rejected a new contract bid from the firm Natus Medical Inc. (Nasdaq:BABY) fell 25% as the maker of baby care products revised their outlook downward.

The chart picture for small-caps deteriorated in a big way today, sinking through important short-term support at 453, which obliterated the hope for last week’s late recovery move. Once through 453 support, the market also made short work of the recent lows along 439, which makes a retest of key support at 416 more likely in the days to come. After the close today, various corporate profit reports were coming in mixed, but tech bellwether IBM did beat the forecast and was up about 3% in extended trading, which might foster some goodwill moving into Wednesday’s session.

Selling interest in small-cap stocks picked up momentum in mid-session, stoked by investor concerns that President Obama’s inauguration speech did not provide details of his fiscal stimulus plans. Those concerns simply added to a market already bludgeoned by steep declines in the banking sector. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were UDR (NYSE:UDR), GTx (Nasdaq:GTXI) and TiVo (Nasdaq:TIVO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Energy shares were lower so far today, but the selling fury trailed that in other sectors as crude oil prices bounced some 3% as cold weather draped a large portion of the Northern and Eastern U.S. and on signs that OPEC is serious about production cutbacks.  
• The only S&P sector groups on the rise were gold, insurance stocks and tobacco companies.  
• The biggest losses were seen for asset management firms, regional banks, diversified financial services companies, diversified banks and real estate services firms.

Small Cap Gainers:

• UDR Inc, GTx Inc, and TiVo Inc open as lead gainers on Tuesday's session.  See:(NYSE:UDR), See: (Nasdaq:GTXI), See: (Nasdaq:TIVO)

Small Cap Losers:

• VSE Corp. lowers 43% on news that the Army rejected a new contract bid from the firm. See: (Nasdaq:VSEC)  
• Small-cap company AspenBio Pharma Inc,which gapped lower and collapsed some 84% on unusually heavy volume as investors did not embrace news of preliminary results on the firm’s pain drug test. See: (Nasdaq:APPY)  
• Money management firm State Street Corp. was tumbles around 48% on huge volume after reporting disappointing results. See:(NYSE:STT)  
• The KBW Banking Index takes a beating, falling some 13% at midday as steep losses were posted for many of the nation’s most prominent banks. 

 

 

 

Selling interest in small-cap stocks picked up momentum in mid-session, stoked by investor concerns that President Obama’s inauguration speech did not provide details of his fiscal stimulus plans. Those concerns simply added to a market already bludgeoned by steep declines in the banking sector. At 1:43 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 19.28, or 4.24% at 446.67.

The KBW Banking Index was hammered today, down some 13% at midday as steep losses were posted for many of the nation’s most prominent banks. Money management firm State Street Corp. (NYSE:STT) was down some 48% on huge volume after reporting disappointing results.

Looking at sector activity so far today, anything tied to bank or financial stocks were struggling. The biggest losses were seen for asset management firms, regional banks, diversified financial services companies, diversified banks and real estate services firms. The only S&P sector groups on the rise were gold, insurance stocks and tobacco companies. Gold is often seen as a safe-haven refuge, and with stocks and credit instruments on the slide today, investors were attracted to gold as a spot to park cash.

Energy shares were lower so far today, but the selling fury trailed that in other sectors as crude oil prices bounced some 3% as cold weather draped a large portion of the Northern and Eastern U.S. and on signs that OPEC is serious about production cutbacks. In addition, the dollar pared earlier gains shortly after the Obama speech triggered the fresh selling wave in equities.

Individual small-caps on the slide were highlighted by AspenBio Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq:APPY), which gapped lower and collapsed some 84% on unusually heavy volume as investors did not embrace news of preliminary results on the firm’s pain drug test. VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC) tumbled 43% on news that the Army rejected a new contract bid from the firm. MercadoLibre Inc. (Nasdaq:MELI) fell 20% as the Latin American online commerce platform reported results.

The chart picture for small-caps turned sour today with the breach of support in the 453 zone. The next support area to watch is around 440-439; a push through that area could spark a quick slide toward 416.

Small-cap stocks remained lower into mid-session, pressured by worries over the economy following a dour report on the nation’s employment status. Energy shares and homebuilders were taking a hit today, which added to the bearish tilt. Still, the market bounced off the early lows as investors continue to bet that the worst of the recession news is already priced into the market. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Repros Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:RPRX), VSE Corporation (Nasdaq:VSEC) and AZZ Incorporated (NYSE:AZZ).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

•    The Russell 2000 has been hovering around the key 491 support line so far today; a decisive daily close either above or below that point would serve up some clues about near-term price direction.  
•    Losers were swamping winning themes, although gold and tobacco stocks were in positive territory.  
•    Retailers were also taking a hit, with apparel and accessory companies down hard again today.   Jan 09, 2009 12:40pm
•    Looking at sector activity so far today, technology stocks, energy firms, banking shares and homebuilders were pacing the declines.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Repros Therapeutics, Inc. and VSE Corporation established new 52-week highs in early trading. (See Nasdaq:RPRX, Nasdaq:VSEC)  
• JAZZ Incorporated is up 14.4% to $28.31 after a mostly upbeat Q3 earnings report. AZZ makes electrical equipment and components for power generation, transmission, and distribution. (See NYSE:AZZ)  
• Disease-management program administrator Healthways Inc. is up 11% to $11.48 after reporting late Thursday a 13% Q1 profit gain. (See Nasdaq:HWAY)  
• American Medical Systems Holdings Inc. is up 10.7% in pre-market trading, to $9.85, after reporting better-than-expected preliminary Q4 sales after the close Thursday. (See Nasdaq:AMMD)

Small Cap Losers:

• Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. is down 31.4% to $4.15 in pre-market trading, after a report last night that the results of a weight-loss drug fell short of fed requirements. (See Nasdaq:OREX)
• Railway-equipment maker Greenbrier Cos Inc. is down 15.5% to $6.70 after reporting this morning that it swung to a first-quarter loss. (See NYSE:GBX)
• Telecommunications network equipment maker Ciena Corp. is down 5% in pre-market to $8.31. CNBC's Jim Cramer last night put the firm in his "sell block" after a recent run-up in the stock. (See Nasdaq:CIEN)

Small-cap stocks drifted lower, pulled down by concerns over sizable upward revisions in recent employment reports, which countered any upside glee when the headline non-farm figure was below “worst-case” scenarios. The market is now in a position today of working out whether this jobs report is already priced into the market, or reflects a little darker picture than current stock market valuations. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Repros Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:RPRX), VSE Corporation (Nasdaq:VSEC) and AZZ Incorporated (NYSE:AZZ).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Russell 2000 chart picture continues in a sideway consolidation pattern. The market needs a decisive push above 514.50 or below 491 to suggest a breakout move is at hand.  
• Stock index futures saw a modest bounce as non-farm payroll declines were not as bad as the “whisper” numbers.  
• The employment report wasn’t as bad as feared, but it still generated a pullback in the U.S. dollar and a rise in gold.  
• U.S. stocks are expected to open near steady levels after this morning's jobs report.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Repros Therapeutics, Inc. and VSE Corporation established new 52-week highs in early trading. (See Nasdaq:RPRX, Nasdaq:VSEC)  
• JAZZ Incorporated is up 14.4% to $28.31 after a mostly upbeat Q3 earnings report. AZZ makes electrical equipment and components for power generation, transmission, and distribution. (See NYSE:AZZ)  
• Disease-management program administrator Healthways Inc. is up 11% to $11.48 after reporting late Thursday a 13% Q1 profit gain. (See Nasdaq:HWAY)  
• American Medical Systems Holdings Inc. is up 10.7% in pre-market trading, to $9.85, after reporting better-than-expected preliminary Q4 sales after the close Thursday. (See Nasdaq:AMMD)

Small Cap Losers:

• Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. is down 31.4% to $4.15 in pre-market trading, after a report last night that the results of a weight-loss drug fell short of fed requirements. (See Nasdaq:OREX)
• Railway-equipment maker Greenbrier Cos Inc. is down 15.5% to $6.70 after reporting this morning that it swung to a first-quarter loss. (See NYSE:GBX)
• Telecommunications network equipment maker Ciena Corp. is down 5% in pre-market to $8.31. CNBC's Jim Cramer last night put the firm in his "sell block" after a recent run-up in the stock. (See Nasdaq:CIEN) 

Emergent Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LZR), Answers Corp. (Nasdaq:ANSW) and VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American Science & Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:ASEI), Applied Signal Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:APSG), Repros Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:RPRX), NCI Inc. (Nasdaq:NCIT), Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT) and Ocwen Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCN).

Zion Oil and Gas Inc (Nasdaq:ZN), Repros Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:RPRX) and Force Protection Inc (Nasdaq:FRPT) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Repros Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:RPRX), China Sky One Medical Inc. (Nasdaq:CSKI) and Orchids Paper Products Co. (Nasdaq:TIS) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC), Maxygen Inc. (Nasdaq:MAXY), American Italian Pasta Co. (Nasdaq:AIPC), Transmeta Corp. (Nasdaq:TMTA), Michael Baker Corp. (Nasdaq:BKR) and Answers Corp. (Nasdaq:ANSW).

Boulder Growth & Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: BIF), Alesco Financial Inc. (NYSE: AFN) and ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (Nasdaq: CXSP) are the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers: