Stocks In Motion

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Tech Stocks in Motion

Mark Martinez

Shares of Superconductor Technologies(SCON Quote) were among technology's losers Friday, falling 13% after swinging to a wider-than-expected loss during the fourth quarter and after the company said it will no longer offer quarterly financial guidance.

The maker of superconducting products posted a loss of $11.3 million, or 11 cents a share, on sales of $3.9 million. The results included restructuring and impairment charges totaling $1.9 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call were expecting a loss of 6 cents a share on sales of $4.12 million. A year ago, the company earned $1 million, or 1 cent a share, on sales of $16.4 million. Shares traded down 12 cents to 80 cents.

Essex(KEYW Quote) fell 1.7% after the provider of signal, image and information-processing solutions posted fourth-quarter results that beat expectations. The company earned $892,000, or 5 cents a share, on sales of $19 million. Analysts expected earnings of 3 cents a share on sales of $16.4 million. A year ago, the company earned $74,000, or 1 cent a share, on sales of $5.1 million. Looking ahead, Essex reaffirmed its 2005 sales outlook, saying that it expects sales of $155 million to $165 million. The results will include 10 months of sales from its Windermere subsidiary. Shares traded down 31 cents to $17.59.

Shares of Sirf Technology(SIRF Quote) rose 10.7% after Deutsche Securities raised its rating to buy from hold and raised its price target on the stock to $14 from $10. The firm said that strong order booking and demand for its SirfstarIII single-chip GPS product led to the improved rating and revised price tag. Shares traded up $1.15 to $11.95.

Siebel Systems(SEBL Quote) fell 2.1% after the company said that it is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The probe focuses on stock option grants. Siebel said that it one of a number of companies are being investigated. "The SEC has advised us that this is a confidential fact finding inquiry and has confirmed that the issuance of the order does not indicate that it has concluded that we have violated any securities laws," Siebel said in a regulatory filing. The company said that it is unable to estimate the possible financial impact the investigation could have on it. Shares traded down 19 cents to $8.84.

Shares of NII Holdings(NIHD Quote) rose 6.4% after the company posted fourth-quarter results that were ahead of expectations. The mobile communication provider earned $40.8 million, or 52 cents, on sales of $362.9 million. Analysts expected earnings of 43 cents a share on sales of $336.9 million. A year ago, the company earned $35.8 million, or 52 cents a share, on sales of $263.2 million. Looking ahead, NII forecast 2005 sales of $1.55 billion. Analysts are expecting sales of $1.54 billion. Shares traded up $3.37 to $56.47.

Other technology movers included Intel (INTC Quote), down 65 cents to $24.20; Microsoft(MSFT Quote), down 34 cents to $25.09; Cisco(CSCO Quote), down 26 cents to $18.45; Sirius Satellite Radio(SIRI Quote), down 9 cents to $5.36; Sun Microsystems(SUNW Quote), up 7 cents to $4.45; Oracle(ORCL Quote), down 17 cents to $13.09; Applied Materials(AMAT Quote), down 43 cents to $16.40; Lucent (LU Quote), down 8 cents to $2.92; and Apple Computer(AAPL Quote), up 44 cents to $40.27.