Tuesday's Early Winners & Losers

Nuance Communications (NUAN Quote) shares jumped in after-hours trading Monday as the Burlington, Mass., company narrowed its GAAP-based losses by two-thirds to $1.4 million, or a penny a share, in the fiscal first quarter and nearly doubled its non-GAAP profits.

Excluding items, the company made $24 million, or 13 cents a share, compared with year-ago income of $11.4 million, or 7 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a dime a share. Revenue came to $133.8 million on a non-GAAP basis, topping the $129.1 million estimates. The company, which makes speech-recognition software and imaging technology, was gaining 46 cents, or 4.1%, to $11.80.

PartnerRe (PRE Quote) rose after the insurer swung to a profit in the fourth quarter and in full-year 2006. For the quarter, the Bermuda-based company says it earned $213.6 million, or $3.67 a share, up from a loss of $79.3 million, or $1.42 a share, a year ago. In 2006, it had a $668.3 million profit, or $11.56 a share, compared with losses of $242.6 million, or $4.42 a share, in 2005. Analysts were expecting per-share profits of $2.46 for the quarter and $10.31 for the year. Shares were up $2.50, or 3.7%, to $71.

Encorium Group (ENCO Quote) dropped after the Wayne, Pa., company, which conducts clinical trials for the health care industry, said a recent contract cancellation with $12.8 million remaining slashed its estimated revenue from consolidated backlog to between $38 million and $40 million. The prior forecast range was $52 million to $54 million. Shares were sliding $1.12, or 18%, to $5.10.