Small-Caps in Motion

Ruth's Chris jumps, while New York & Company declines.

Author:: Rob Lenihan
Publish date:: Jan 5, 2006 12:15 PM EST

Laserscope

( LSCP) was bouncing higher after the San Jose, Calif., medical-laser company was upgraded by Jeffries & Co. to buy from hold. The firm also lifted its price target on the stock to $30 from $25. Shares of Laserscope rose $2.97, or 12.9%, to $25.94.

Oceaneering International

(OII) - Get Report

, a provider of oil, gas and marine-engineering services, saw its shares drop 3% after the Houston-based company was downgraded by RBC Capital Markets to underperform from sector perform.

RBC's move on Oceaneering was part of a broader price target-related downgrade of several energy names. Oceaneering fell $1.66 to $52.12.

Women's apparel seller

New York & Company

(NWY)

slid nearly 15% after the company said it plans to file a registration statement with regulators for a proposed public offering of about 9 million common shares. Nearly all of the shares will be offered by stockholders.

That more than offset the company's upbeat estimate that fourth-quarter earnings will be toward the higher end of its guidance after December's total sales rose 16.2% and same-store sales increased 10.9%. Shares of New York & Company dropped $3.38 to $19.25 in recent trading.

Shoe seller

Bakers Footwear Group

( BKRS) jumped after it said revenue surged 40.2% to $49.6 million in the last two months of the year. Same-store sales for the period increased 27.2%.

"We delivered a tremendously successful holiday selling season," the company said in a press release. "Sales were strong across most of our categories with notable growth in boots." Shares of Bakers were up $1.27, or 8.7%, at $15.95.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

(RUTH) - Get Report

served up rising shares as the Heathrow, Fla., restaurant chain was upgraded by Piper Jaffray to outperform from market perform. Piper also raised its target price to $22.

After the close Wednesday, Ruth's Chris said company-owned restaurant sales climbed 10.1% to $54.9 million for the fourth quarter. Company-owned same-store sales for the quarter, excluding hurricane-damaged Louisiana locations, increased 8.5%. Ruth's Chris was adding 96 cents, or 5.2%, to $19.47 in recent trading.