Tech Stocks in Motion

Updated from 1:05 p.m. EDT

Shares of Brocade(BRCD) were among the best-performing technology stocks Friday after the company posted preliminary third-quarter earnings results that were better than expected.

Excluding a one-time gain, the storage hardware company predicted a profit of 5 cents to 6 cents a share on sales of between $149.5 million and $150.5 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected a profit of 4 cents a share on sales of $150.1 million. Brocade is expected to report its full financial results on August 18. Shares of Brocade traded up 78 cents, or 19.3%, to $4.82.

Saflink(SFLK) fell after it posted weaker-than-expected second-quarter financial results. Excluding items, the marketer of smart cards posted a second-quarter loss of 10 cents a share on sales of $918,000. Analysts had expected it to post a loss of 8 cents a share on sales of $1.38 million. Shares of Saflink traded down 19 cents, or 7.4%, to $2.37.

Shares of ScanSource(SCSC) rose after the company posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The communications products company posted a fourth-quarter profit of 69 cents a share on sales of $333.1 million. Analysts had expected it to earn 61 cents a share on sales of $324.3 million. Looking ahead, it forecast first-quarter sales of $315 million to $335 million. Analysts were looking for sales of $321.5 million. Shares of ScanSource traded up $6.28, or 12.3%, to $57.23.

Analog Devices(ADI) fell after it posted third-quarter earnings and sales that were weaker than expected and warned that the fourth quarter would also miss. The chip company posted a third-quarter profit of 43 cents a share on sales of $718 million. Analysts had expected it to earn 45 cents a share on sales of $740.2 million. Looking ahead, the company said fourth-quarter earnings and sales would change little compared with results in the just-ended third quarter. Analysts were looking for fourth-quarter earnings of 49 cents a share on sales of $780.8 million. Shares of Analog Devices traded down 26 cents, or 0.8%, to $33.57.