Friday's Winners & Losers: Apollo

Apollo Group(APOL) was among the Nasdaq's winners Friday, jumping 13% after the education company posted better-than-expected third-quarter results.

The company earned $131.4 million, or 75 cents a share, on revenue of $733.4 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 67 cents a share on revenue of $703 million. During the year-earlier period, the company earned $131.5 million, or 75 cents a share, on revenue of $653.4 million.

Separately, the company announced an increase in its stock repurchase plan to $500 million. Shares were trading up $6.38 to $57.16.

Heelys(HLYS) rose 7.9% after the maker of wheeled sneakers withdrew its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a 4.5 million secondary stock offering. Investors cheered the news, sending shares up $1.96 to $26.67.

Shares of A. Schulman(SHLM) rose 9.5% after the supplier of resins and other compounds posted third-quarter earnings that topped expectations. The company earned $10.1 million, or 37 cents a share, on revenue of $467 million. Analysts expected earnings of 25 cents a share. During the year-earlier period, the company earned $8.9 million, or 29 cents a share, on revenue of $427.3 million. Results included a pretax adjustment of $2.4 million, which helped both earnings and revenue. Shares were trading up $2.19 to $24.66.

Talbots(TLB) jumped 12% after the apparel retailer said that Trudy Sullivan would become its new chief executive. Sullivan is leaving her post as president at Liz Claiborne(LIZ) to take the new position with Talbots. Sullivan will replace Arnold Zetcher, who announced his intention to retire from the company earlier this year. Sullivan officially takes over on Aug. 6. Shares of Talbots were trading up $2.66 to $24.92.