Tech Stocks in Motion

Shares of Lamson & Sessions(LMS) were among technology's winners Thursday, climbing 16% after the maker of enclosures, fittings and conduits for the electrical and telecommunications markets raised its fourth-quarter estimates.

The company now sees earnings of $10.5 million to $11.3 million, or 70 cents to 75 cents a share, on sales of $125 million to $130 million. Previously, the company predicted it would earn $4.6 million to $5 million, or 30 cents to 33 cents a share, on sales of $110 million to $115 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expect fourth-quarter earnings of 31 cents a share.

Lamson attributed the revised guidance to favorable weather conditions, which resulted in strong end-market demand; higher selling prices; and increased order rates, which the company said were related to concern over material availability and continuing price increases for resin-based products. Shares were trading up $3.75 to $27.10.

MTC Technologies(MTCT) fell 9% after the company, which provides system engineering, technical and management services to the federal government, tweaked its fourth-quarter earnings guidance and lowered its sales forecast. The company narrowed its projected fourth-quarter earnings range to $5.3 million to $5.8 million, or 34 cents to 37 cents a share, from its earlier guidance of $5.1 million to $6.4 million, or 32 cents to 40 cents a share.

MTC now expects sales of $96.8 million to $100.8 million, down from an earlier view of $108.7 million to $114 million. Analysts had forecast earnings of 39 cents a share and sales of $113.7 million. MTC blamed the weaker sales guidance on certain business being deferred into 2006. The deferred projects had lower margins than the company's other work, so earnings are still expected to be within the earlier range, MTC said. Shares were down $2.94 to $29.83.