Stocks in Motion: Mace Catches Security Bid

Updated from 12:55 p.m. EDT

Momentum prospectors looking to mine the next Taser International(TASR Quote) bid up Mace Security International(MACE Quote) on heavy volume Wednesday, after the maker of personal-defense products reported first-quarter results.

The company reported earnings of 2 cents a share on revenue of $12.7 million in the latest quarter, compared with earnings of 3 cents a share on revenue of $12.6 million last year. Investors seemed to be keying on the company's performance in the electronic-surveillance division, which saw a 200% jump in revenue. Shares of Mace finished the day up $2.64, or 80.5%, to $5.92, on more than eight times the company's normal volume.

Shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals(LGND Quote) slumped on volume of more than 10 million shares after reporting a disappointing quarter. The San Diego-based pharmaceuticals concern lost 18 cents a share during the first quarter on revenue of $36.6 million. Analysts were looking for a loss of 6 cents a share on revenue of $47.3 million.

Ligand expects to earn 12 cents to 19 cents a share on revenue of $240 million to $265 million in the second quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call were expecting earnings of 16 cents a share on revenue of $259.1 million. Shares ended down $3.36, or 15.5%, to $18.30.

Beverly Enterprises(BEV Quote) was a big winner Wednesday after the company announced blowout first-quarter earnings. Excluding items, the health care services company earned 18 cents a share on revenue of $527.4 million. Analysts were looking for 10 cents a share on revenue of $513.5 million. Shares of Beverly ended up $1.16, or 17.8%, to $7.67, on volume of more than 14 million shares.

Nasdaq companies on the high-volume list included Microsoft(MSFT Quote), JDS Uniphase(JDSU Quote), Intel(INTC Quote) and Cisco(CSCO Quote).

NYSE high-volume leaders included Nortel(NT Quote), Lucent(LU Quote), Charter One Financial(CF Quote) and Nokia(NOK Quote).

Looking at Nasdaq price movers, shares of several video-monitoring, security and surveillance companies vaulted Wednesday after Mace's earnings report and Taser's announcement that it had received roughly $500,000 in new orders for its products.