Thursday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Comfort Systems USA(FIX Quote) was one of Thursday's small-cap winners as the Houston-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning company reported a jump in third-quarter earnings. The company posted income of $9 million, or 22 cents a share, up from $6.1 million, 15 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue increased 22.3% to $287.7 million. Wall Street was looking for earnings of 19 cents a share.

The company said in a statement that it was optimistic heading into the fourth quarter and 2007. Shares were climbing $1.35, or 11.8%, to $12.77.

Christopher & Banks(CBK Quote) slumped after the Plymouth, Minn.-based apparel chain missed same-store sales estimate and lowered its third-quarter guidance. The company said October same-store sales dropped 3%. Analysts were looking for same-store sales to increase about 5.4%. Total sales for October increased 5% to $53 million, up from $50.7 million last year.

Christopher & Banks lowered its third-quarter guidance to a range of 24 cents to 25 cents a share, down from an earlier forecast of 31 cents to 32 cents a share. Analysts are looking for earnings of 32 cents a share. For fiscal 2007, the company expects earnings of $1.07 to $1.09 a share, down from its prior forecast of $1.14 to $1.16 a share. Shares dropped 14.4% to $21.97.

Mid-State Bancshares (MDST Quote) surged 24.3% on news that it will be acquired by Dutch financial services company Rabobank.

Under the terms of the agreement Rabobank will purchase the independent California-based bank for $37 a share, or a total purchase price of $851 million, a 23% premium over Mid-State's average October price. Both companies expect the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2007. Shares were trading up $7.08 to $36.19.

Investools (IEDU Quote) shares fell after the Draper, Utah-based investor education services company swung to a third-quarter loss. The company posted a loss of $9.9 million, or 22 cents a share, compared with income of $4 million, or 9 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue totaled $35.6 million, compared with $37.1 million a year ago.

Analysts had predicted a loss of 9 cents a share on revenue of $47.5 million. Shares were trading down 12.7%, or $1.62 a share, to $11.15.