Posts Tagged ‘Technology Stocks’

LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD) rings the bell, gains more than 30 percent

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD) shares more zoomed 34.6% to $101.93 as the professional-networking site made its market debut. Shares of the new issue totaled nearly 26.5 million.

LinkedIn Corporation, the world’s largest professional network with more than 100 million members worldwide, opened for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “LNKD” after its initial public offering in which it raised $352.8 million in gross proceeds. LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, joined by members of the company’s management team, celebrated the company’s first day of trading on the NYSE by ringing The Opening Bell.

“Becoming a publicly traded company on the NYSE is another significant step toward LinkedIn’s goal of connecting the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.” Weiner noted afterwards.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet, whose member base currently includes executives from every Fortune 500 company. The company has a diversified business model with revenues coming from member subscriptions, advertising sales and hiring solutions. LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Dynavox Inc. (DVOX) shares take flight on Q3 numbers

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Dynavox Inc. (Nasdaq: DVOX) shares climbed 38% to $8.35 after the maker of education and communication products for those with learning disabilities reported late Wednesday third-quarter results that beat expectations. Volume for the stock was 1.1 million shares, towering over a daily average of less than 60,000.

For the third quarter ended April 1, 2011, net sales were $28.7 million, an increase of 1.0% compared to net sales of $28.4 million for the third quarter ended April 2, 2010. Sales of the Company’s speech generating devices increased 1.3% to $22.7 million, and sales of its special education software were flat at $6.0 million from the prior year.

Operating income was $3.8 million in the quarter, compared to operating income of $5.3 million in the same period a year ago. Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 included a $1.0 million impairment loss related to intangible assets and fixed assets acquired as part of the Company’s product acquisition in July 2009.

Dynavox Chief Executive Officer Ed Donnelly commented, “In spite of the ongoing macroeconomic challenges, during the third quarter we saw some signs of improvements and our consolidated top line was roughly equal to the last year. Sales trends across both devices and software provide validation of our efforts to adapt to the environment as well as the fact that the demand for our products and services remains intact. We are encouraged by the steady sequential upside trend in our U.S. device business, which comprises almost three fourths of our total revenue.”

The Pittsburgh-based DynaVox Inc. completed an initial public offering (IPO) on April 27, 2010. As a result of the IPO and certain other recapitalization transactions, DynaVox Inc. became the sole managing member of and has a controlling interest in DynaVox Systems Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries.

Systemax (SYX) strong bottom line sends shares to the max

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Systemax Inc. (NYSE: SYX) shares climbed 11.6% to $14.62 a day after the electronics retailer reported first-quarter income that beat analysts’ expectations. Volume for the stock was just shy of 151,000, better than triple its daily average.

Sales for the quarter ending March 31, 2011 totaled $929.9 million, or 2% better than its prior-year figure of $915.2 million. Operating income was down, however, to $18.6 million from $20.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.36.

Systemax CEO Richard Leeds said, “We had a solid start to 2011 that underscores the channel, product and geographic diversity that define Systemax. Our Technology Products business to business operations continue to perform well, particularly in Europe as the business climates in most of our locations appear to have stabilized.”

Leeds concluded, “In addition, the Industrial Products group had another outstanding quarter, delivering strong double digit growth from product expansion and other growth initiatives.”

Systemax sells personal computers, computer components and supplies, consumer electronics and industrial products through a system of branded e-Commerce web sites, retail stores, relationship marketers and direct mail catalogs in North America and Europe. The primary brands are TigerDirect, CompUSA, Circuit City, MISCO, WStore and Global Industrial.

Rovi Corporation (ROVI) beams higher on bigger earnings, revenues

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Rovi Corp. (Nasdaq: ROVI) shares gained 21.5% to $60.37 a day after the television-listings data company projected 2011 earnings above estimates. Volume for the stock mid-morning Wednesday was 5.4 million shares, better than doubling its all-day average of around two million.

The Santa Clara, California-based company announced Tuesday that it had first-quarter 2011 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) revenues of $161.5 million, compared to $129.4 million for the first quarter of 2010. First quarter 2011 GAAP net income was $17.0 million, compared to $68.1 million for the first quarter of 2010.

Rovi Chief Executive Officer Fred Amoroso, commented, “We are pleased with our fast start to 2011 and the continued progress and success of our business. We have made excellent progress on the Sonic integration and are beginning to realize the benefits and synergies that we believe exist in the combination.”

Rovi Corporation provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets.

FEI Co. (FEIC) shares get boost on Q2 earnings

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

FEI Co. (Nasdaq: FEIC) shares gained 8.9% to $34.59 Wednesday, a day after the high-precision microscope maker projected second-quarter results that topped Wall Street’s forecasts. Volume for the stock was 1.1 million shares shortly before Wednesday’s closing bell, compared to a daily average of 352,000.

The company, based in Hillsboro, Oregon, reported the highest quarterly revenue and earnings in the company’s history. Revenue of $197 million was up 32% compared to $149.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 and up 6% from $186.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Net income was $22.3 million or $0.54 per diluted share, compared with $4.1 million or $0.11 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2010 and $21.3 million or $0.52 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2010.

FEI’s Chief Executive Officer, Don Kania, commented, “Gross margins moderated from the fourth quarter as expected, as operating margins increased. Bookings remained strong with 31% year-over-year growth in both Life Sciences and Research and Industry, and 14% growth in Electronics. For the second quarter, we expect revenue to be strong with improved gross margins, and we continue to expect growth for 2011.”

FEI is a leading diversified scientific instruments company. It is a premier provider of electron and ion-beam microscopes and tools for nanoscale applications globally and across many industries: industrial and academic materials research, life sciences, semiconductors, data storage, natural resources and more.