Tuesday's Tech Winners & Losers

Shares of Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) were among technology's winners Tuesday, rising 8% after the maker of semiconductor-processing equipment backed its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue projections.

The company expects to report earnings of 11 cents to 15 cents a share, with revenue of $115 million to $125 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call project earnings of 12 cents a share and revenue of $121.2 million.

"Our financial performance continues to meet our expectations," Axcelis said. "We are especially pleased by the high order activity for both our implant and dry strip products during the quarter, beating our anticipated quarterly system order run rate." Shares were trading up 38 cents to $6.37.

Cray (CRAY) rose 1% after the maker of supercomputers affirmed its 2006 revenue forecast. The company continues to estimate revenue of $220 million. For the fourth quarter, the company expects to post revenue of about $100 million. Analysts see revenue of $219.9 million for the year and $100.5 million for the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Cray still anticipates 2007 revenue of $230 million to $260 million. First-quarter revenue, meanwhile, is expected to account for about 20% of the full-year total. Analysts project 2007 revenue of $250.3 million and first-quarter revenue of $40.2 million. Shares were trading up 16 cents to $12.46.

Shares of Lawson Software (LWSN) fell 6% after the software company's second-quarter earnings and third-quarter forecast missed expectations. For the period ended Nov. 30, the company posted a loss of $3.5 million, or 2 cents a share, on revenue of $184.5 million. Excluding items, the company earned $5.4 million, or 3 cents a share. Analysts expected earnings of 4 cents a share and revenue of $179.9 million. A year earlier, the company earned $6.6 million, or 6 cents a share, on revenue of $89 million.

Lawson forecast third-quarter adjusted earnings of 2 cents to 3 cents a share on revenue of $183 million to $191 million. Analysts project earnings of 6 cents a share on revenue of $193.7 million. Shares were sliding 42 cents to $6.70.

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