Stockpickr Lists: Intuitive Surgical Skyrockets

Editor's Note: In this feature from Stockpickr, we highlight lists of stocks that have made new highs, lows or seen other unusual activity.

Rising on Unusual Volume: Intuitive Surgical(ISRG Quote) skyrocketed 32% on volume almost 13 times its three-month average daily volume Friday after blowing away second-quarter earnings expectations after the prior day's close. The maker of surgical robotics saw second-quarter revenue increase 61% to $140.2 million, from the $87 million in posted in the year-ago period. The company saw earnings increase 84% to $30.7 million, or 79 cents per share, compared to $16.7 million, or 44 cents per share, in the comparable 2006 quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 66 cents per share. The stock closed Friday up $48.51 to $198.59.

52-Week Highs: Intuitive Surgical also hit a 52-week high.

Biggest % Gainers: Nucryst Pharmaceuticals(NCST Quote) soared 162% Friday, after the Food and Drug Administration approved its topical cream that helps resist bacteria, including those that cause staph infections, that does not respond to antibiotics. The stock closed up $3.61 to $5.84.

Biggest % Losers: BioVail(BVF Quote) plummeted 21% Friday, after the Food and Drug Administration rejected its new antidepressant drug. Shares settled $5.48 to $20.03.

52-Week Lows: Mortgage insurer MGIC Investment(MTG Quote) dipped 4.2% to a 52-week low Friday, a day after announcing disappointing second-quarter earnings. The company reported net income of $76.7 million, or 93 cents per share, down from $149.8 million, or $1.74 a share, in the year-ago period. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of $1.38 a share. The company blamed the drop on credit developments in California and Florida and weakness in the Midwestern housing market. The stock closed down $2.32 to $53.49.

Latest Activist Situations: Daniel Loeb's Third Point, which owns 9.8% of PDL BioPharma(PDLI Quote), reiterated its call to fire the company's CEO Mark McDade in a letter filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16. The stock closed the week down 15 cents to $25.93.

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