Tech Stocks in Motion

Harmonic jumps 21% on a raised sales estimate.

Author:: Mark Martinez
Publish date:: Jan 13, 2005 5:03 PM EST

Updated from 12:40 p.m. EST

Shares of

Harmonic

were among technology's winners Thursday, rising 22.6% after the company raised its fourth-quarter sales outlook.

The wireless network products company now expects sales of $83 million to $86 million, above previous guidance of $72 million to $78 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting sales of $73.8 million. The upward revision reflects fourth-quarter bookings that were stronger than expected. The company will report full results on Jan. 20. Analysts are expecting earnings of 10 cents a share. Shares traded up $1.70 to $9.19.

Apple Computer

(AAPL) - Get Report

rose 6.6% after the company posted blowout first-quarter earnings and sales. The maker of the popular iPod and other computer products earned $295 million, or 70 cents a share, on sales of $3.49 billion. Analysts had been expecting earnings of 49 cents a share on sales of $3.18 billion. A year earlier, Apple posted earnings of $63 million, or 17 cents a share, on sales of $2 billion. Looking ahead, Apple expects second-quarter earnings of 40 cents a share on sales of $2.9 billion. Analysts had been expecting earnings of 33 cents a share on sales of $2.74 billion. Shares traded up $4.34 to $69.80.

Shares of

WebSideStory

(WSSI)

rose 7.5% after the San Diego-based company raised its fourth-quarter sales outlook. The provider of on-demand Web analytics now expects sales of $6.4 million to $6.5 million, up from previous guidance of $6.2 million to $6.3 million. Excluding stock-based compensation, the company also expects to meet or exceed its earnings guidance of 6 cents a share, which would beat analysts' expectations by a penny. Shares traded up 86 cents to $12.33.

Verisity

(VRST)

rose 55.7% after the company agreed to be acquired by

Cadence Design Systems

(CDN)

for $12 a share in cash, or about $280 million. Verisity provides verification process automation solutions. Shares of Verisity traded up $4.12 to $11.52.

Shares of

M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers

(FLSH)

rose 3.7% after the maker of flash memory disks said it expects to exceed its previous guidance for earnings and sales. It now expects to post a profit of more than 20 cents a share on sales of more than $110 million. Analysts had been expecting earnings of 17 cents a share on sales of $91.4 million. Strong holiday sales led to the upward revision. Shares traded up 75 cents to $20.90.

Other technology movers included

Sirius Satellite Radio

(SIRI) - Get Report

, up 19 cents to $6.46;

Microsoft

(MSFT) - Get Report

, down 51 cents to $26.27;

Intel

(INTC) - Get Report

, down 34 cents to $22.82;

Taser International

(TASR)