Today's Early Winners and Losers

Atheros Communications(ATHR Quote) gained more than 10% in after-hours trading Monday after the maker of wireless chipsets posted fourth-quarter earnings that easily topped Wall Street's projection. The company recorded net income of $13.1 million, or 24 cents a share, compared with $2.2 million, or 4 cents a share, a year ago. Excluding items such as a tax gain, earnings were $5.9 million, or 11 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings 7 cents a share, before items. Revenue rose 27% to $53.1 million from $41.7 million a year earlier and beat the analyst projection of $51.7 million. Shares of Atheros Communications gained $1.85 to $18.25 after hours.

Rudolph Technologies (RTEC Quote) shares fell 9% in late trading after the company posted sharply lower fourth-quarter earnings, and its first-quarter outlook fell short of Wall Street's expectations. For the fourth quarter, the chip-equipment maker's earnings fell to $206,000, or 1 cent a share, from $2.1 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier, amid lower revenue and margins. The results included charges of 3 cents a share related to consolidations. Revenue dropped to $18.3 million from $23.1 million a year earlier. Analysts expected earnings of 3 cents a share and revenue of $18.8 million.

For the first quarter, Rudolph projects earnings of 4 cents to 6 cents a share and sequential revenue growth of 10%. Analysts predict first-quarter earnings of 11 cents a share and revenue of $22 million, or 22% sequential top-line growth. Rudolph shares fell $1.54 to $14.75 in after-hours trading. Shares of August Technology (AUGT Quote), which is set to be acquired by Rudolph, dropped 57 cents, or 4.8%, to $11.36.

Zoran(ZRAN Quote) advanced after the company beat analysts' fourth-quarter estimates. Zoran lost $2.1 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a loss of $30.1 million, or 70 cents a share, last year. Adjusted for various items including amortization, Zoran earned $10.9 million, or 23 cents a share, topping Wall Street's estimate by 8 cents. Overall sales rose 46% from a year ago to $109.3 million, about $5 million above analyst estimates.