Small-Cap Stocks in Motion

Plug Power (PLUG Quote) got a jolt Thursday when the Latham, N.Y., energy company said it and fuel-cell firm Ballard Power Systems (BLDP Quote) received a $2 million contract from the Defense Department. Shares of Plug Power rose 36 cents, or 6.7%, to $5.71.

RailAmerica (RRA Quote) slipped after the Boca Raton, Fla., company reported its statistics for the last month of 2005. The company said total carloads for December rose 6% to 107,450, up from 101,388 in the same month in 2004.

For the year ended Dec. 31, total carloads increased 5.4% to 1.3 million from 1.24 million in 2004. Shares of RailAmerica lost 28 cents, or 2.4%, to $11.30.

Hydril (HYDL Quote) rose on the news that the Houston-based engineering company's backlog of orders for pressure control capital equipment reached $157 million as of Dec. 31, up from $61 million at Sept. 30 and up from $15 million a year ago. Shares of Hydril rose $4.25, or 6.4%, $71.08.