IXYS Corp. (IXYS) stock climb on projections, new product

Posted on Thursday, April 21st, 2011

IXYS Corp. (Nasdaq: IXYS) shares climbed $2.04, or 16.5% to $14.40, after one of the computer-chip maker’s subsidiaries introduced the industry’s first monolithic high-voltage isolated analog switch array.

Clare, Inc. today announced the availability of the CPC7514Z Quad High-Voltage Isolated Analog Switch Array for use in industrial controls, instrumentation, automatic test equipment and telecom applications. The CPC7514Z integrated circuit (IC) features four independently controlled, 320V bidirectional normally open (1-Form-A) relays actuated by latched TTL logic-level control signals.

IXYS Corporation CEO Dr. Nathan Zommer commented, “With the combination of our Zilog MCUs as the digital brain, our customers can achieve full digital control for advanced power management.”

As for the parent company, IXYS announced Wednesday preliminary estimates for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended on March 31. Net revenues for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of $95 million to $97 million. This would mark another record revenue quarter for IXYS, as well as the seventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth.

Revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 are estimated to be in the range of $362 million to $364 million.

Since its founding in Silicon Valley, IXYS Corporation has been developing technology-driven products to improve energy conversion efficiency, generate clean energy, improve automation, and provide advanced products for the transportation, medical and telecommunications industries.


TradeStation Group Inc. (TRAD) surges on purchase by Japanese broker

Posted on Thursday, April 21st, 2011

TradeStation Group Inc. (Nasdaq: TRAD) stock rose 30.5% to $9.67, after Japanese online brokerage Monex Group Inc. said it would acquire the Florida-based platform operator for about $411 million.

Volume for TradeStation had topped 18 million shares by late morning Thursday, overwhelming its daily average of 236,000, as the price charged near its previous 52-week high of $9.70.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by TradeStation and Monex’s respective Boards of Directors, TradeStation’s shareholders will receive $9.75 in cash for each outstanding share of TradeStation common stock they own, which represents a 39% premium to TradeStation’s share price on March 21, and a 32% premium to TradeStation’s closing stock price on April 20, the last full trading day before today’s announcement.

“We are pleased to announce this transaction, as it delivers significant value to our shareholders,” said TradeStation Chairman/CEO Salomon Sredni. “Monex is a leader in Japan’s online brokerage market, and we believe it will be a great partner as we go forward as part of the Monex family.”

TradeStation is an electronic trading platform that offers state-of-the-art electronic order placement and execution and enables clients to scan the markets and design, test, optimize, monitor and automate their own custom Equities, Options, Futures and Forex trading strategies.


Bancorp Rhode Island Inc. (BARI) skyrockets after takeover news

Posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Bancorp Rhode Island Inc. (Nasdaq: BARI) shares surged 44.1% to $44.25 Wednesday, after a takeover bid. The stock traded in more than 306,000 shares, and smashed its previous 52-week high of $32.80, following an announcement that Brookline Bancorp (Nasdaq: BRKL) will buy the Providence-based bank for approximately $234 million in cash and stock.

The newly-combined organization will have 43 banking offices serving individuals and businesses across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and will have approximately $4.7 billion in assets, including $3.7 billion in loans, and $3.2 billion in deposits. Bank of Rhode Island’s 17 branches hold the top four and five deposit market positions in Providence and Kent counties, respectively. Bank of RI will preserve its brand and operate as a separate subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp.

Merrill W. Sherman, Bancorp Rhode Island’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “This transaction is a true win-win for Bancorp Rhode Island. It delivers significant value to our shareholders through a proven business model that allows us to retain our local identity and strong relationships with the customers and communities we serve. “

Brookline Bancorp, headquartered in Brookline, Mass, birthplace of John F. Kennedy, operates as the bank holding company for Brookline Bank and First National Bank of Ipswich.

Sherman concluded, “With Brookline Bancorp, we will benefit from the scale and greater capital resources of a larger institution, enabling us to enhance efficiencies, invest more in customer service and fund increased business lending.”


Polaris Industries Inc. (PII) surges on earnings news

Posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) shares vaulted 19.5% Wednesday, after the off-road-vehicle manufacturer reported record first-quarter earnings. Stock prices for Polaris reached $108.97, or $17.79 higher than Tuesday’s close, smashing its previous 52-week high of $92.42, set last week.

Today the Minneapolis–based company announced reported record net income of $47.3 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. By comparison, 2010 first quarter net income was $19.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted share. Sales for the first quarter 2011 totaled $537.2 million, an increase of 49 percent from last year’s first quarter sales of $361.7 million.

Polaris Chief Executive Officer Scott Wine commented on the financial reports, “We are extremely pleased with our first quarter results, as the momentum we built throughout 2010 continued into 2011. Retail demand for Polaris products in North America remained strong throughout the first quarter and we continued to gain market share. Our International business also remained strong with sales increasing 21% and we celebrated the grand opening of our European headquarters in Switzerland during the quarter.

Polaris, a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of off-road vehicles in the world, launched Victory motorcycles in 1998. The Victory line represents the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years are making in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace.

Mr. Wine continued, “Given our excellent start to the year we are significantly raising our expectations for sales and earnings for the full year 2011. We will continue to make prudent strategic investments and our strong balance sheet, with $346 million in cash on hand and only $200 million in debt at March 31, 2011, gives us the strength and flexibility to remain aggressive in identifying opportunities to accelerate growth.”


Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP) stocks soar on new drug application

Posted on Monday, April 18th, 2011

Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHTP) shares rose 24.4% Monday after the biotechnology company said it would file a new application for its hypotension treatment in the third quarter. The Charlotte-based company traded in 3.1 million shares, which sold for $4.95, or 97 cents better than Friday’s close.

The Company reaffirmed its NORTHERA™ (droxidopa) new drug application (NDA) filing strategy following correspondence with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding recent data from Northera Study 306A and protocol amendments to ongoing Northera Study 306B, comparing the rate of patient reported falls associated with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) taking Northera versus placebo.

According to Chelsea President and CEO Dr. Simon Pedder, “We believe the remarkable safety and tolerability of Northera coupled with the robust clinical benefit demonstrated throughout our Phase III program provide a strong basis for the approval of Northera as a novel treatment for symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension.”

Pedder continued, “We continue to be appreciative of the guidance that the FDA has provided to Chelsea as we prepare to file this new NDA in the third quarter of 2011. Following the approval of Northera, we look forward to building on the clinical work currently underway in Study 306B and completing the necessary studies to allow for a post-marketing expansion of the label including a claim that Northera reduces falls in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension from Parkinson’s Disease.”

Chelsea is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases.