Stocks to Watch: Immucor Jumps, but Buca Stumbles

The Day's Winners

Immucor (BLUD) was up 11% to $23.40 after the maker of blood-testing systems refuted a research report issued last week by Sterling Research. Last week Sterling warned that Immucor might see revenue erode if another company, Olympus, starts competing with its line of reagents. Immucor said it has "demanded that Sterling immediately correct all inaccuracies in the report."

Shares of McDermott International (MDR) continued their ascent Monday, as the company continued to benefit from a deal regarding asbestos claims against one of its units. McDermott was lately up 15% to $6.87. Last week, the energy services company reached a preliminary agreement with asbestos claimants against its bankrupt Babcock & Wilcox unit.

Toro (TTC) was climbing 5% to $52.54 after the maker of lawnmowers, irrigation systems and landscaping equipment said third-quarter earnings will exceed analysts' expectations by 6 cents to 8 cents a share. The company also said its full-year earnings should beat estimates by 10 cents to 15 cents a share. The projection excludes one-time charges for restructuring and other items. First Call carries an estimate from only one analyst, who expects a profit of $1.60 in the third quarter and $4.75 for the year.

Xcel Energy (XEL) was rising 13% to $10.22 after saying that no executive officer or director sold company stock this year, except for three executives who sold a small number of shares to pay required taxes when their restricted stock became unrestricted. The company said no executive officer or director has sold any company shares since Feb. 20. Xcel is facing a series of shareholder lawsuits. The suits primarily allege that the company and certain executives issued misleading statements regarding the financial performance of Xcel and its NRG Energy (NRZ) unit.

The Day's Losers

Airlines were lower following word that US Airways (U), the nation's seventh-largest carrier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. US Air is the first major airline to seek protection from its creditors since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. United parent UAL (UAL) was down 22%, AMR (AMR), parent of American Airlines, was off 14%, Northwest (NWAC) and Continental (CAL) were losing 8% and Delta (DAL) was falling 5%.

Restaurant operator Buca (BUCA) was dropping 14% to $6.80 after the company lowered its guidance for the third and fourth quarters and for the full fiscal year. Buca also forecast earnings for 2003 that would be below expectations.

Investors were still getting out of Emulex (ELX) in the wake of the company's revenue warning last week. Shares of the storage outfit were down 11% to $13.60, following a 35% drop on Friday, the day after the warning.

PerkinElmer (PKI) was losing 20% to $6.05 after Fitch downgraded the company's existing bank and senior unsecured debt rating and commercial paper debt rating. Fitch has placed the ratings of PerkinElmer on rating watch negative.

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