Tuesday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Along with the broader market, small-cap stocks emerged from the long weekend refreshed, largely spending the day in positive territory. The Russell 2000 was gaining 1% to 702.18, and the S&P SmallCap 600 ticked up 0.2% to 370.44.

Premier Exhibitions (PRXI Quote), an Atlanta-based developer of touring exhibitions about the Titanic and the human body, jumped 17.7% to $5.05 after announcing it had appointed Harold "Bud" Ingalls to replace Steven Couture as CFO. Over the weekend, the company also issued an open letter to TV show 20/20 and its own shareholders. Premiere Exhibitions expects 20/20 to air an episode that displays its traveling show Bodies in a misleading and sensationalized light, according to the company.

Meanwhile, Mentor Graphics (MENT Quote), an automator of design, analysis and testing of electronic hardware and embedded systems software, saw shares rise 21% to $9.40. Mentor announced this morning that it would partner with Prodesign Electronic GmbH to include its product in Prodesign's software suite. Terms weren't disclosed. The Wilsonville, Ore., company also announced it expects fiscal 2008 revenue of $860 million and non-GAAP earnings per share of a dollar. Analysts are expecting revenue of $854 million and EPS of 98 cents. Citigroup had also upgraded the stock to buy from hold.

Shares of battery maker Valence Technology (VLNC Quote) climbed 10% to $2.82 on a CFO change and a new supply deal. The Austin, Texas, company is replacing former finance chief Thomas Mezger, who has resigned, with Galen Fischer. Additionally, Valence announced it will be shipping 600 of its energy storage systems that can be used to convert Toyota Prius cars into plug-in hybrid vehicles. Terms of the deal with electronics company OEMtek were not disclosed.

On the losing side, Lincoln, Neb., bank TierOne (TONE Quote) took a hit after CapitalSource (CSE Quote) authorized its CEO to either back out of a previously announced $652 million purchase of TierOne or to renegotiate the agreement. Shares lost 14% to $15.

Houston-based Westlake Chemical (WLK Quote) tumbled 12% to $17.36 on earnings. In the fourth quarter, the specialty chemicals company posted net income of $18.8 million, or 29 cents a share, vs. $14.4 million, or 22 cents a share, in 2006. Both quarters' results were positively impacted by a tax benefit. The Street was expecting 33 cents a share. For the year, Westlake reported a profit of $114.7 million, or $1.76 a share, vs. $194.6 million, or $2.98 a share, a year ago. Analysts had forecast $1.84 a share.