Wednesday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Small-cap stocks joined the rest of the slipping market on the ride down Wednesday, with several names pressured by analyst downgrades.

Methode Electronics (METH) shares were pummeled after a Robert W. Baird analyst cut the Chicago-based component-maker to underperform, citing valuation and an over-reliance on the weakened automotive industry. Shares were sinking $2.37, or 14.9%, to $13.52.

Shuffle Master (SHFL), a Las Vegas-based gambling-equipment maker, lost 5.4% to $16.93 on a Prudential downgrade to neutral from overweight. Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR) was off 3.8% to $12.27 after CL King cut the firearms-products maker to neutral from strong buy.

Dental-laser company BioLase Technology (BLTI) was also on the downswing, recently plunging 21.3% to $7.95 after estimating a loss on first-quarter sales of between $14.5 million and $15 million. Three analysts polled by Thomson Financial are seeking penny-a-share earnings; two project $18.6 million in revenue. Medical-products maker E-Z-EM's (EZEM) $33.6 million revenue fell short of the sole revenue target for the third fiscal quarter, dragging shares down $1.60, or 9.6%, to $15.

Canada's Neurochem (NRMX) slid after the Food and Drug Administration delayed the action date for a drug by three months to July 16. Eprodisate is the company's Swiss-based subsidiary's proposed treatment for AA amyloidosis, a fatal condition arising from chronic inflammatory disorders. Shares were tumbling $1.65, or 11%, to $13.35.