Wednesday's Winners & Losers: Smurfit-Stone

Shares of Radian Group(RDN Quote) were among the NYSE's winners Wednesday, rising 8% after the mortgage insurance company posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.

The company earned $158.4 million, or $1.96 a share, on revenue of $347.9 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings of $1.50 a share on revenue of $356.4 million. During the year-earlier period, the company earned $104.5 million, or $1.24 a share, on revenue of $298.6 million.

"Radian delivered record net income and grew book value by 16.1%, despite a challenging operating environment for our businesses including tight credit spreads and competition from alternative products," the company said. Shares were trading up $4.55 to $61.78.

Smurfit-Stone Container (SSCC Quote) jumped 8% after the paperboard company swung to a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit. The company reported net income of $22 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $92 million. Per-share earnings, which include stock dividends, totaled 9 cents. The results included a 2-cent restructuring charge and a 3-cent gain from foreign currency translation. Sales, meanwhile, rose to $1.82 billion from $1.65 billion. Wall Street expected earnings of 6 cents a share, before items, and sales of $1.77 billion.

Looking ahead, Smurfit-Stone said it expects "meaningful" year-over-year improvement in 2007 operating results, though first-quarter results will be down sequentially due to seasonal factors. Shares were trading at $11.03, up 79 cents.