Fronteer Gold, Hansen Medical: Small-Cap Winners

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Hansen Medical (HNSN) was the biggest gainer among small-caps on Thursday, shooting up 40% to $2.20.

The medical device company entered into a patent and technology license, sublicense and purchase agreement with the health division of Philips Electronics (PHG). Philips will have the right to market Hansen's fiber optic shape sensing and localization technology, which allows physicians to identify the shape and positions of catheters and other tools used in minimally invasive procedures.

Hansen will receive an upfront payment of $29 million and $78 million in future payments. Over 9 million shares were changing hands in afternoon trading.

Shares of Fronteer Gold (FRG) also shined, with the stock up 38% to $14.44 after Newmont Mining (NEM) said it will acquire the company for $2.3 billion, a 37% premium to Wednesday's closing price.

Shares of Brightpoint (CELL), distributor of cell phones and service, surged 29% to $12.25 after its fourth-quarter profits beat estimates and guidance was better-than-expected.

Silicon Graphics (SGI) also jumped 26% to $13.73 after the Fremont, Calif.-based computer system maker said it now expects to be profitable in fiscal 2011. Previously, it was forecasting a breakeven performance for the year.

The company said it swung to a non-GAAP profit of 44 cents a share in the December quarter as revenue jumped 43% on a sequential basis to $185.9 million. For the year, Silicon Graphics lifted its revenue view to $570 million to $595 million from a prior expectation of $550 million to $575 million.

SuperValu (SVU) saw its shares soar 10.5% to $8.03. The company has frequently popped up in takeover chatter. On Thursday it announced that it was offering buyouts to 57 employees in its distribution center at Iowa as retailers like Target (TGT) invested in their own distribution.

Orexigen Therapeutics (OREX), Cirrus Logic (CRUS) and Netlist (NLST) were other smart gainers on Thursday.

-- Written by Shanthi Bharatwaj in New York



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