STOCKS TO WATCH: Books-A-Million, General Semiconductor and Modem Media
Expect the following technology stocks to be among Thursday's most actively traded issues: Books-A-Million, General Semiconductor, Modem Media and Maxtor.
Books-A-Million might pick up a bit Thursday after it tiptoed past analysts' estimates in its fourth quarter, earning $6.5 million, or 36 cents a share, on sales of $138 million.
First Call consensus expected the online bookseller to earn 35 cents a share in the quarter.
Its shares closed up 1/4 to 7 3/8 ahead of the earnings report.
The $138 million in sales represents an 18 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it also earned $6.5 million, or 36 cents a share, on sales of $117 million.
For the year, Books-A-Million (Nasdaq: BAMM) raked in $5.9 million, or 33 cents a share, on sales of $404 million, up 16 percent from fiscal 1998 when it earned $4.5 million, or 26 cents a share, on sales of $348 million.
In the quarter, comparable store sales improved 10 percent.
Both analysts covering the stock maintain a "hold" recommendation.
General Semiconductor named a new CFO Wednesday evening.
Robert Gange, a 10-year General Semiconductor veteran, will take the reins after serving various positions in the company's finance division.
It also promoted W. John Nelson, president of Asia/Pacific operations, to chief operating officer.
Its shares closed off 1 7/16 to 16 5/16 Wednesday.
Modem Media will generate some volume Thursday after it filed late Wednesday to sell about 1.56 million shares of Class A common stock while some of its stockholders plan to sell approximately 2.93 million shares.
The company, which provides marketing programs that are delivered over the Internet to facilitate two-way communication between clients and their customers, said it would net about $73.1 million based on an assumed $49.75 per share offering price.
It will use the proceeds for working capital and capital spending as well as possible acquisitions, according to a prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Modem Media shares closed off 3 1/8 to 46 5/8 Wednesday.
It split 2-for-1 earlier this month.
The disk-drive maker said it expects earnings for its first quarter ended April 1 to be 10 cents to 20 cents a share. The company was expected to have a loss of 27 cents, according to the consensus estimate of 9 analysts surveyed by First Call. Maxtor fell 1/16 to 11 13/16 at Wednesday's close.