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Friday's Winners & Losers: ITT

TSC Staff

Shares of SkillSoft (SKIL Quote) were among the Nasdaq's winners Friday, leaping 13.9% after the company posted strong second-quarter profits and lifted its full-year revenue targets.

The company, a maker of e-learning products, reported second-quarter earnings of $12.4 million, or 11 cents a share, up from $4.8 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. The results included several charges but still topped analysts' average estimate of 3 cents a share. Revenue climbed 28% to $71.5 million, exceeding analysts' forecast of $68.3 million.

For the full year, SkillSoft now expects revenue of $272 million to $280 million, up from a prior view of $234 million to $242 million. The company, however, cut its earnings-per-share forecast to a range of 19 cents to 21 cents from its previous projection of 30 cents to 33 cents, amid costs tied to its acquisition of rival NETg. Shares of SkillSoft closed up $1.09 to $8.92.

Elsewhere, ITT (ITT Quote) jumped 5.3% after the engineering and defense company received a $207 million contract from the Federal Aviation Administration to help upgrade the air traffic control system. The contract has a potential value, with all options exercised, of $1.86 billion. Shares climbed $3.40 to close at $67.99.

Children's Place(PLCE Quote) rose 2.2% after the kids' apparel retailer announced an amendment to its licensing agreement with Disney(DIS Quote). Children's Place had breached the agreement, which allows the retailer to operate the Disney Store chain, because it couldn't meet certain deadlines. The amendment postpones certain due dates for the company's remodel and maintenance obligations for the stores.

Children's Place also said it will not be able to file its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Friday, as expected, because it is evaluating certain violations by two executives. The company said its board must determine what action to take over the matter before filing the report. Shares of Children's Place closed up 62 cents to $28.76.

On the losing side, Christopher & Banks(CBK Quote) plunged 11% after the women's apparel retailer installed a new CEO. The company said Matthew Dillon has resigned as president and chief executive, effective immediately. Lorna Nagler, most recently president of Charming Shoppes' (CHRS Quote) Lane Bryant chain, will replace him.

Following the announcement, CIBC World Markets downgraded the company's stock to sector performer from sector outperformer. Shares of Christopher & Banks closed down $1.49 to $12.08.

United Natural Foods (UNFI Quote) lost 1.8% after the company's fiscal fourth-quarter results missed expectations. For the quarter ended July 18, the natural-foods distributor reported earnings of $13.1 million, or 31 cents a share, on sales of $706.8 million. Analysts expected earnings of 34 cents a share and sales of $723.3 million.

For fiscal 2008, United Natural forecast earnings of $1.40 to $1.45 a share, with revenue of $3.05 billion to $3.13 billion. Analysts project earnings of $1.46 a share and revenue of $3.14 billion. Shares closed down 49 cents to $26.84.