Archive for February, 2011

Radian Group (RDN) skyrockets on company news

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Radian Group, Inc. (NYSE: RDN) shares have skyrocketed 15.25 percent, touching on a high of $8.20, from yesterday’s close of 7.08, on volume over 16 million shares, more than triple the company’s three-month daily average. Radian has made headlines this week after announcing yesterday that they would expand their board of directors from ten to twelve members, as well as the news today that the Company would issue a regular quarterly dividend on its common stock.

On Thursday, the company announced that they would expand their Board of Directors to include two new members, Lisa W. Hess and Noel J. Spiegel, bringing the total number of directors to twelve. Lisa Hess is the President and managing partner of SkyTop Capital Management, and previously was the Chief Investment Officer of Loews Corporation, where she was responsible for managing $50 billion in capital assets. Noel Spiegel retired recently as a partner of Deloitte and Touche, LLP, with more than 40 years auditing experience working with senior audit committees of public and privately held companies.

Commenting on the recent appointments, Radian’s Chief Executive Officer S.A. Ibrahim commented on the appointments by stating, “Lisa and Noel have focused their careers on managing and enhancing shareholder value. We are delighted to add their unique combination of capital markets, business advisory and accounting expertise to Radian.”

In additional company news, Radian announced today that the Board of Directors had approved a regular quarterly dividend on its common stock in the amount of $0.0025 per share, payable on March 3, 2011, to stockholders of record as of February 21, 2011. Lastly, the company has also set the date for Radian’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders for Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on Friday, March 18, 2011, will be eligible to vote at the meeting.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Radian Group provides private mortgage insurance and related risk mitigation products, services geared to promote and preserve homeownership opportunities for homebuyers, while protecting lenders from default-related losses.

Interphase Corp. (INPH) – Buzz Stock of the Day

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Shares of converged communications solutions provider Interphase Corp. (Nasdaq: INPH) soared as much as 98 percent from Thursday’s closing price in morning trading on Friday after the company announced a 24 percent increase in fourth quarter revenue and a swing to  profitability in Q4.  Shares hit a new 52-week high of $3.96 on Friday morning, up from Thursday’s closing price of $2.00

“Both revenue growth and the restructuring efforts we undertook in the third quarter contributed to our return to profitability in the fourth quarter,” said Interphase’s President and CEO, Gregory B. Kalush in a statement. “Although we are pleased with these results, we remain focused on our multi-tiered strategy to diversify our Company and enter new market segments that we believe can generate significant growth and fortify the future.”

The Plano-based company reported fourth quarter revenue of $5.8 million, up 24 percent from revenue of $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenues in the quarter were primarily driven by a  28 percent increase in Interphase’s broadband telecom revenues, which increased to $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to $3.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, and a 242 percent increase in  enterprise revenues, which rose  to $552,000 from $161,000 on a year ago.  Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 55 percent compared to 37 percent for the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to a shift in product mix toward higher margin products, increased utilization of Interphase’s manufacturing facility and reduction in obsolete inventory charges.

Net income in the fourth quarter was $447,000, or 6 cents per fully diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to a net loss of $4.0 million, or or 57 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.

For the full year, Interphase’s revenues decreased 40 percent to $18.2 million, compared to $25.6 million for 2009. Gross margin percentage increased to 50 percent for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 48 percent for the year ended December 31, 2009. Net loss for 2010 was $8.4 million, or $1.23 per share compared to a net loss of $5.6 million, or 81 cents per share for 2009.

Interphase delivers solutions for LTE and WiMAX, interworking gateways, packet processing, network connectivity, and security for key applications for the communications, aerospace-defense, and enterprise markets.

Shares of Interphase Corp. are up 172 percent over the past three months.

ETM leaps, NOK teeters, AMKR underwhelms

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Entercom Communications Corporation (NYSE: ETM) accelerated 17.5% to $12.50 Thursday, on volumes of 533,744, towering over a daily average of 138,309. Tuesday, ETM announced quarterly revenues for the quarter increased 6% to $102.1 million, while net income per share hiked 28%.

Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) was a volume champion Thursday, trading in 47.9 million shares, better than double its usual volume. Prices for NOK faded 7.2% to $10.89, after the company chose to make smartphones powered by Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 software, rather than Google’s operating system.

Amkor Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: AMKR) shares were off 10% to $7.37, on 6.2 million shares, nearly four times its usual volume, after the manufacturer of semiconducting tests projected earnings under expectations.

SCSS spikes, JDSU solid, TQNT springs leak

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Select Comfort Corp.(Nasdaq: SCSS) shares rose 10.6% to $11.60, on volume of 2.6 million shares, or five times its daily average, a day after the mattress maker projected 2011 earnings ahead of market estimates.

JDS Uniphase (Nasdaq: JDSU) traded in 34.5 million shares, or more than six times its daily average. Share prices hurtled 3.8% to $25.35, after last week’s reports of stronger-than-expected earnings and raising its guidance.

TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. (Nasdaq: TQNT) shares fell 6.1% to $12.83, on volume of 18.3 million shares, or nearly six times its daily average, after the provider of chips used in wireless devices on Wednesday projected 2011 earnings below expectations.

GT hits the road, INTC active, TBI gets the blues

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) shares rose 11.4% to $13.94. Volume of 20.8 million shares quadrupled its daily average, after the country’s largest tire maker reported fourth-quarter results that beat Wall Street’s expectations.

Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC) was a volume leader Thursday, trading in 43.8 million shares, shy of its average daily volume of nearly 60 million. Share prices gained 1.8% to $21.80.

TrueBlue Inc. (NYSE: TBI) shares lost 10.9% to $16.84, on volume of 1.2 million shares, nearly six times its daily average, a day after the provider of temporary labor reported fourth-quarter profits below analysts’ estimates.