Winners & Losers

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Thursday's Late Winners & Losers

Sarina Penn

Tech stocks dominated the news after the closing bell on Thursday, but one of the biggest movers was health name BioMarin Pharmaceuticals (BMRN Quote), which surged nearly 13%.

The California-based company disclosed after the market's close that its Kuvan drug, which just received regulatory approval to treat a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria, should generate 2008 revenue of between $35 million and $70 million. That's based on a planned list price of 29 cents per milligram, which the company expects will translate into an average annual therapy cost of $57,000 per patient.

BioMarin shares, which got an upward jolt in Thursday's regular session following the midday approval news, were climbing $3.74 to $33.50 in recent after-hours trading.

As for tech winners, Evergreen Solar (ESLR Quote) flew 18.2% higher after announcing it had struck a ten-year polysilicon supply deal with France-based silicon maker Silicium de Provence, or Silpro. Shipments will kick off in mid-2010. Terms weren't disclosed. Evergreen says this brings it up to 100% of the silicon it will need for fulfilling its goal to sell more than 1 gigawatt worth of solar panels from 2008 through 2012. Shares of the Marlboro, Mass., company were up $2.75 to $17.86.

Leap Wireless (LEAP Quote) was jumping as well, after fiscal third-quarter revenue shot up 39.7% from last year to a better-than-expected $409.7 million. Its loss also widened substantially to 64 cents a share from a penny a share last year, though 55 cents of that was due to ballooning interest from an increase in debt, as well as a change in its tax-accounting method. Analysts were looking for a per-share loss of 15 cents. Shares of the San Diego-based company added $3.37, or 9.9%, to $37.51, after the close.

And Denver phone giant Qwest (Q Quote) bounced 6.3% to $7.40 after declaring its first dividend since 2001. The 8-cent per-share distribution will pay out on Feb. 21 to shareholders of record on Feb. 1.

On the losing side, Novell (NOVL Quote) slid more than 11% after the Waltham, Mass., security software maker projected fiscal 2008 sales of between $920 million and $945 million. Analysts are looking for $954.8 million, stripping out $26 million in expected revenue from its discontinued Swiss consulting business, which was sold off during the fiscal fourth quarter.

For that quarter, Novell reported an adjusted profit of 6 cents a share, which tops targets by 2 cents, and the company beat on revenue, as well. On a GAAP basis, it swung to a quarterly loss vs. last year. Shares were off 80 cents to $6.30 in recent late trading.

Out of the tech sector, sportswear retailer Quiksilver (ZQK Quote) likewise reported swinging to a GAAP-based loss in the fiscal fourth quarter. On a pro forma basis, the Huntington Beach, Calif., company said continuing-operations income came to 51 cents a share, a penny shy of Street views. Revenue, at $779.2 million, was also slightly under. And it expects a fiscal 2008 top line of just $2.7 billion against current expectations for $2.74 billion.

Shares slid 72 cents, or 7.1%, to $9.45, in recent after-hours action.