Tuesday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Altiris(ATRS Quote) stumbled Tuesday as the software-products manufacturer was downgraded by JPMorgan to underweight from neutral.

"We believe (Altiris) is continuing to see softer than expected license sales," the analysts' report said. "Our recent checks suggest that legacy product growth has lost momentum faster than we had expected. ... We feel greater stability in core product sales is critical as the company is in an interim phase prior to new products seeing mass adoption." Shares sank $2.44, or 13.5%, to $15.70 in recent trading.

Syntroleum(SYNM Quote) advanced Tuesday as the Tulsa, Okla.-based company said it signed a contract to deliver 100,000 gallons of Fischer-Tropsch , or FT, alternative fuel to the U.S. Department of Defense. Syntroleum said it will provide the initial fuel for evaluation by the Defense Department as part of a larger program aimed at long-term prospects for the domestic manufacture and supply of synthetic aviation fuels from FT plants. The government is currently seeking up to 200 million gallons of alternative synthetic aviation fuel in 2008, the company said.

"The contract with the U.S. Department of Defense is a significant milestone for Syntroleum," CEO Jack Holmes said in a statement. "Not only are we the first company to provide FT aviation fuel to the Department of Defense for its certification and weapon system testing program, but acceptance of our FT fuels further validates the quality and integrity of our product." Shares climbed 31 cents, or 5.6%, to $5.90 in recent trading.

OraSure Technologies(OSUR Quote) gained after the company said it entered into a roughly $6 million, multiyear purchase contract with the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene to expand the use of its OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV antibody tests in the city. The contract begins July 1. "We are pleased to expand the availability of our OraQuick Advance test in New York City, to help stop the HIV epidemic through increased testing," the company said. Shares surged 78 cents, or 9%, to $9.44 recently.

W-H Energy Services(WHQ Quote) climbed after the Houston-based oilfield-services company said its wholly-owned subsidiary, PathFinder Energy Services, has been awarded service contracts in Saudi Arabia and Brazil. The four-year contract with Saudi Aramco is for measurement-and logging-while-drilling and directional drilling services. Work is expected to start in the next few weeks, and PathFinder will be providing services to about three rigs. The level of activity is expected to increase steadily to more than 10 rigs during 2007, the company said. PathFinder has also entered into a new contract for M/LWD services in Brazil for a three-year period. PathFinder has been providing services to Petroleo Brasileiro since 2001. Shares gained $2.29, or 5%, to $47.75 in recent trading.