Thursday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Small-caps rallied Thursday, jumping slightly higher than their blue-chip counterparts but not surging as fast as the Nasdaq, which ended the day up 2.8%. The Russell 2000 was up 1.9% to 729, and the S&P SmallCap 600 climbed 1.7% to 385.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Volcom (VLCM Quote), which makes apparel for young men and young women, jumped 26% to $23.95 on first-quarter earnings of $9.3 million, or 38 cents a share, vs. $5.5 million, or 22 cents a share, a year ago. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for 21 cents a share.

LHC Group (LHCG Quote), a provider of home health care, saw shares rise 25.5% to $19.57. The Lafayette, La., company reported income of $5.3 million, or 30 cents a share, including an after-tax loss from discontinued operations of a penny a share. The Street, which typically doesn't include one-time items in its estimates, had forecast 29 cents a share. In the year-ago quarter, the company posted a profit of $5.8 million, or 33 cents a share.

Shares of timeshare acquirer and developer Silverleaf Resorts (SVLF Quote), a Dallas company, tacked on 30% to $2.85. For the first quarter, net income rose 13% year over year to $7.4 million. Earnings per share climbed 12% to 19 cents, and revenue was up 22% to $65.1 million. The company guided for 2008 EPS of 70 cents.

PC Connection (PCCC Quote), a direct marketer of information technology products based in Merrimack, N.H., saw shares surge 28% to $9.56. The company reported that for the first quarter its bottom line improved 41% year over year to $4.8 million, or 18 cents a share, ahead of the Street's view of 14 cents a share.