Stockpickr Lists: Akamai Slumps to Low

Editor's Note: In this feature from Stockpickr, we highlight lists of stocks that have made new highs, lows or seen other unusual activity.

52-Week Lows: Akamai Technologies(AKAM Quote) plunged 19% to a 52-week low Thursday after the software maker reported earnings in line with analysts' estimates and beat revenue expectations, but suffered downgrades by three firms. Credit Suisse and Merriman Curhan Ford lowered their ratings of the stock to neutral, from buy and outperform, respectively, while Jefferies cut the stock to hold from buy. The stock sank $8.91 to $38.27.

Biggest % Losers: Micrel(MCRL Quote) plunged 22% after the chipmaker reported declining second-quarter profits and guided to the low end of analysts' third-quarter estimates. Net income dipped to $8.6 million, or 11 cents a share, from $9 million, or 11 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The company said it expects third-quarter earnings of between 12 cents and 13 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect earnings of 13 cents a share. Shares fell $2.88 to $10.37.

Rising on Unusual Volume: Triumph Group(TGI Quote) advanced 7.8% on volume almost five times its three-month daily average. The aerospace concern easily beat Wall Street's forecasts, posting fiscal first-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $17.8 million, or $1.04 per share, from $10.5 million, or 64 cents per share in the comparable 2006 period. Those figures do not include an earnings impact of 23 cents a share from the planned sale of two units in the current quarter, which was counted as discontinued operations. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 83 cents per share. Shares advanced $5.42 to $75.40.

52-Week Highs: Baidu.com(BIDU Quote) shares jumped 14% Thursday after Citigroup returned it to a buy rating. The firm had downgraded the Chinese Internet company's stock to hold earlier this month. On Wednesday after the bell, the stock far exceeded earnings expectations. Baidu.com shares closed up $25.83 to $209.06.

Biggest % Gainers: Perfect World(PWRD Quote) soared 28% after the Chinese online game developer's initial public offering. The company offered 11.8 million American depositary shares at $16 apiece. Shares soared $4.40 to $20.40.

Latest Activist Situations: Discovery Group, which owns an 8.8% stake in Radyne Group(RADN Quote), urged the company to explore a sale, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Radyne, which makes audio and video components for satellite and broadcast networks, saw shares rise 30 cents to $11.01.

Stocks With Unusual Option Activity: First Data(FDC Quote) was recently experiencing unusual option activity. Shares edged lower 33 cents to $31.92 on Thursday.

Forum of the Day

After Apple's(AAPL Quote) big earnings beat and run-up, jwoodsup wonders if it's too late to get in.

Do You Know the Answer?

Companies with a lock on their market are great, until a competitor comes in and does what they do cheaper, notes wister285. Is Research In Motion(RIMM Quote) such a company? What's stopping Research In Motion's competitors from eating up margins by doing the same thing more cheaply?

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