Cedar Fair (Nasdaq:FUN), Winnebago Industries (Nasdaq:WGO), Schiff Nutrition International Inc (Nasdaq:WNI) and Peco II (Nasdaq:PIII) are among the biggest percentage Gainers in day's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

 

Also included among the results: Soniuc Solutions (Nasdaq:SNIC), World Heart Corp. (Nasdaq:WHRT), Transcend Services Inc. (Nasdaq:TRCR),  Hi Tech Parmacal Inc (Nasdaq:HITK) and Merrimac Industries Inc (Nasdaq:MRM).

Tecumseh Products Co. (Nasdaq:TECUA), Cogdell Spencer Inc. (Nasdaq:CSA) and American Italian Pasta Co. (Nasdaq:AIPC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO), Oriental Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:OFG), Manitowoc Co Inc. (Nasdaq:MTW), Webster Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WBS), Gaylord Entertainment Co. (Nasdaq:GET) and Boyd Gaming Corp. (Nasdaq:BYD).

Macerich REIT (Nasdaq:MAC), Fisher Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:FSCI) and AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (Nasdaq:ANN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AngioDynamics Inc. (Nasdaq:CBAN), Blyth Inc. (Nasdaq:BTH), Penn Virginia Corp. (Nasdaq:PVA), Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO) and Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. (Nasdaq:MCRI).

Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO),Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI) and Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: ASA Ltd. (Nasdaq:ASA),Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN),Valhi Inc. (Nasdaq:VHI),Hallwood Group Inc. (Nasdaq:HWG),Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT) and Universal Forest Products Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPI).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

During midday trading, the Russell 2000 is one of few indices in the green, up 0.77%, however trading remains volatile, with the market popping back off a 3% mid-morning slide fairly quickly. Today’s small-cap gainers are Encore Acquisiton (NYSE:EAC), Targanta Therapeutics (Nasdaq:TARG) and China TechFaith (Nasdaq:CNTF). Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The industrial production report released this morning pegged output down 2.8%; the forecast was for -0.8%.
• The best performing areas today are coal, education services, agriculture products, footwear companies, food retail firms, airlines, gas utilities and steel stocks. 
• On the downside, life health insurers, gold, paper products, auto manufacturers, asset mngt. firms, and Internet retail stocks were all taking a hit. 
• Crude oil extends slide after inventory data, dips below $70.
• The credit crisis is forcing many European firms valued at >$1.5B to end their publicly traded status, Bloomberg reports.
• The CBOE Volatility Index (a good indicator of the level of fear in the markets) hits a record high.
• The market continues to slide after the Philly Fed diffusion index fell to -37.5 in Oct. from +3.8 in Sept., its largest 1-month decline ever. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG) is up 49% on light volume, bouncing off a test of move lows.
• Encore Acquisition (NYSE:EAC) jumps 24% on Q3 operating results and authorization for the repurchase of an additional $40 million in stock.
• Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPI) is up 21%, basically trying to recover losses from Wednesday’s big decline.
• Deltek Inc. (Nasdaq:PROJ) announced preliminary results. Shares . . .

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (Nasdaq:SRZ) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI), Independence Holding Co. (Nasdaq:IHC), Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC), Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN), Amcore Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) and Interoil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Arris Group Inc (Nasdaq:ARRS), Pure Cycle Corp (Nasdaq:PCYO) and Ardea Biosciences Inc (Nasdaq:RDEA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Winnebago Industries Inc (Nasdaq:WGO), Cavium Networks Inc (Nasdaq:CAVM), Cache Inc (Nasdaq:CACH), Colony Bankcorp Inc (Nasdaq:CBAN), Bridge Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:BDGE) and Federal Signal Corp (Nasdaq:FSS).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Winnebago Industries Inc. (NYSE:WGO) is falling 6% today, hitting a new low for the year, as the motor home manufacturer continues to feel the pinch of high gas prices and low consumer spending. In late June, the Forest City, Iowa-based company posted a third-quarter operating loss of $6.9 million with earnings skidding 73% compared with the same quarter a year ago. Winnebago’s stock has lost 55% since January. In today’s trading, Winnebago fell to a 52-week low at $9.09 before regaining some. The stock is trading at $9.48 at 3:38 ET, down $0.62 from Friday’s close. Winnebago shares have ranged from today’s low of $9.09 to a high of $32.42 during the past year.

Banner Corp (Nasdaq:BANR), West Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:WTBA) and Spreadtrum Communications Inc (Nasdaq:SPRD) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Pharmaxis Ltd (Nasdaq:PXSL), Myers Industries Inc (Nasdaq:MYE), First National Bancshares Inc (SC) (Nasdaq:FNSC), AMERICAN RIVER Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB), Winnebago Industries Inc (Nasdaq:WGO) and Frontier Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FTBK).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

Banner Corp (Nasdaq:BANR), Frontier Finl Corp (Nasdaq:FTBK) and Ocwen Financial Corp (Nasdaq:OCN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cytori Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:CYTX), Winnebago Industries Inc (Nasdaq:WGO), Aristotle Corp (Nasdaq:ARTL), Beach First National Bank (SC) (Nasdaq:BFNB), INX Inc (Nasdaq:INXI) and Myers Industries Inc (Nasdaq:MYE).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WGO) CEO Bob Olson said the Forest City, Iowa-based company remains concerned about the current economic environment and “has yet to see signs of a motor home market recovery.” Olson also warned of a “tough” 2008 and told an analyst the market conditions could lead to a price war between RV makers. The chief executive made the comments during a conference call held to discuss third-quarter results.

“Bad news dominates our newspaper and television coverage every day, so it’s certainly easy to understand our customers’ hesitancy to make a large discretionary purchase,” Olson said. “We will continue to monitor the economic conditions of the country and of our own industry and continue to make adjustments, whether they are in labor, facilities or other spending in an effort to right-size to the demand of our customers.”

To combat low demand and a difficult economy, Olson said Winnebago had to lower production. During the recently ended third quarter, Winnebago had three weeks of production shutdowns and nine weeks of shortened work schedules. Lower production allowed the firm to control its inventory, but “unfortunately didn’t allow us to control our overhead expense,” the CEO said. The shortened work week was difficult for Winnebago’s employees, who “haven’t had the benefit of a full paycheck for almost a full quarter,” Olson said. As a result, Winnebago is shutting down its Charles City, Iowa, production facility by August 1.

“As we began the third quarter, we were optimistic that the traditional spring market would return more favorable conditions,” Olson said. “When it became apparent in April and May that it wasn’t headed in that direction but rather deteriorating further, we were forced to make some very difficult decisions.”

In a further effort to lower expenses, Winnebago is reducing its workforce . . .

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WGO) this morning reported fiscal 2008 third-quarter revenues that declined 40% from the third quarter last year and fell below the consensus on Wall Street. The manufacturer of motor homes said the quarter was negatively impacted by lower motor home deliveries resulting in a significant reduction in production and very low absorption of fixed costs. The Forest City, IA.-based firm also cited a decline in the average selling price of its motor homes due to a higher mix of lower priced class C motor home deliveries.

Shares were halted in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Winnebago Industries, click WGO.   

Shares of Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WGO), which makes motor homes and self-contained recreational vehicles, have shifted into lower gear on news before the opening of a decline in fiscal second-quarter profit. The Forest City, Iowa-based company reported that net income for the three months ended March 1 was $2.5 million, or $0.09 per share, a drop of 66.6% compared with $7.5 million, or $0.24 per share, a year earlier.

“Revenue and net income were negatively impacted by fewer motor home deliveries, reduced plant efficiencies due to fewer production days, a switch in mix to more Class C motor homes delivered and increased promotional programs,” said CEO Bruce Hertzke in a statement.

At 1:43 p.m. ET, the stock had shed $1.32, or 7%, to $18.54.

Monaco Coach Corporation (NYSE: MNC) may be smarting now as weak consumer confidence,  interest rate instability and pricey fuel stall sales of recreation vehicles. But a match made in demographic heaven--the new-look RV industry and comfort-seeking baby boomers—looks set to take hold in 2008.

Monaco’s middle name should be Luxury. Its high-end motor coaches are not complete without a Sharp LCD 37-inch TV screen, Corian solid surface kitchen and bath countertops, leather furniture, imported ceramic tile, and Ralph Lauren fabrics. They’ve got GPS systems and automatic satellite systems and big, new chassis, ready to be wheeled to one of Monaco’s motor home resorts. Enjoy the swimming pool, the golf course and all the other amenities that make life so, well, luxurious.

And costly. Suggested retail for motor coaches runs from $45,000 is $600,000; towable RVs can range from $11,000 to $80,000. Coburg, Ore.-based Monaco is the top manufacturer in Class A motor coaches (those built on the mightiest of chassis), owning 24% of the market for diesel Class A motor vehicles, based on 2006 retail registrations. Monaco also had an 8% share of the market for gas Class A motor coaches, and a 16% share of the market for all Class A motor coaches. In other categories, including the towable market, percentages fall dramatically.

As the leading maker of premium Class A vehicles, Monaco’s results have been particularly susceptible to increasing interest rates and gas prices. Just small rises in interest rates can turn consumers away from buying an RV, which many—particularly in the case of Monaco—consider to be second homes.