Friday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

USA Truck(USAK Quote) surged after Palo Alto, Calif.-based Liberate Technologies offered to acquire the Van Buren, Ark., trucking concern for $21 a share, a 22% premium above the current share price. Shares were trading up $2.92, or 17%, to $20.07.

AZZ(AZZ Quote) soared after the Fort Worth, Texas, electrical-products company reported a surge in second-quarter income and increased its full-year guidance. Shares were climbing $5.45, or 17.1%, to $37.40.

Chemed(CHE Quote) sank after the Cincinnati-based hospice care company was downgraded by Deutsche Bank to hold from buy. Shares fell $6.83, or 17.6%, to $32.11.

American Vanguard(AVD Quote) plummeted after the Newport Beach, Calif.-based agricultural-products company lowered its profit forecast for fiscal 2006, citing increased operating expenses, primarily energy and transportation costs, coupled with higher interest and tax rates. Shares dropped $2.51, or 15.4%, to $13.82.

Sanders Morris Harris Group(SMHG Quote) sank after the Houston-based investment company announced a public offering of 5 million common shares at $12.50 each. Shares were tumbling $1.64, or 11.5%, to $12.53.

Corinthian Colleges(COCO Quote) fell after the higher-education provider posted weaker-than-anticipated fourth-quarter revenue and gave guidance that's well below Wall Street's expectation. Shares fell 83 cents, or 7%, to $11.