Thursday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Updated from 2:43 p.m. EST with new stock prices

Small-cap stocks jumped early Thursday morning then waffled around the baseline as the broader market undulated in positive territory.

Plexus (PLXS Quote), a Neenah, Wis., provider of electronic manufacturing services, shot up 11.9% to $22.20 after announcing fiscal first-quarter earnings after Wednesday's close. Plexus' earnings, at $27.3 million, or 58 cents a share, fell short of the Street's expectation of 60 cents a share. However, the company guided for second-quarter EPS between 46 and 51 cents, ahead of the average analyst expectation of 42 cents a share, per Thomson Financial. Plexus is a component of the S&P SmallCap 600, which was gaining 0.1% at 362.44.

Meanwhile, Edmond, Okla.-based Bronco Drilling (BRNC Quote) saw shares lift 16.6% to $15.64 on news that Allis-Chalmers (ALY Quote) would buy the oil and natural gas driller for $437.8 million in cash and stock. Shares of Allis-Chalmers were also rising, 4.8% to $11.32. ...