Stocks in Motion: Brookstone

Shares of Cash America(CSH) were among the NYSE's losers Friday, falling 28.7% after the company cut its first-quarter earnings outlook.

The specialty financial services company now expects income from continuing operations of 39 cents a share, down from previous guidance of 45 cents to 47 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting earnings of 46 cents a share. The company said that reduced demand for its loan products, including pawn loans and cash advances, hurt its first-quarter results. Looking ahead, Cash America said that it would not provide 2005 earnings guidance. It said that it was withdrawing its previous guidance because of uncertainties surrounding the FDIC's new guidance on short-term cash advances. In January the company said that it would earn $1.63 to $1.76 a share during 2005. Analysts are expecting 2005 earnings of $1.77 a share. Shares traded down $5.89 to $14.61.

Brookstone(BKST) rose 27.3% after agreeing to be taken private for $20.50 a share, or about $410 million, by two Singapore companies and the Boston-based private equity shop JW Childs. The deal is the latest in a flurry of leveraged buyout activity in the retail sector. Earlier deals included ShopKo, Toys R Us and Highfields Management's unsuccessful bid for Circuit City(CC). Brookstone traded up $4.26 to $19.86.

Alloy(ALOY) fell 18% after the media and marketing services company posted fourth-quarter results that fell below expectations. Excluding items, the company posted a loss of $700,000, or 2 cents a share, on sales of $118.1 million. Analysts were expecting a profit of 4 cents a share on sales of $119.9 million. A year ago the company posted a loss of $6.1 million, or 15 cents a share, on sales of $116.3 million. Looking ahead, the company said that it would not provide 2005 earnings guidance. Instead, it will now provide a recap and outlook for key operating metrics that impact earnings and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Shares traded down 94 cents to $4.27.