Nasdaq Champs

Versant Corp. (VSNT)
Last Trade: 8.40
Change: Up 2.22 (35.92%)

Versant posts $1M profit in Q3


Versant Corp. reported income of $1 million in the third quarter on Tuesday, which it said was the highest income from operations since its 1996 IPO.

A year ago in the same quarter the company lost $14.4 million, driven by impairment charges of $12.9 million.

Revenue at Versant rose during the quarter, which ended July 31, to $3.8 million, up from revenue of $3.5 million a year ago in the same period.


Versant sells data management software.
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Micros Systems Inc. (MCRS)
Last Trade: 46.41
Change: Up 7.95 (20.67%)

Brean Murray upgraded MICROS Systems (MCRS) to strong buy, after the information systems supplier late Tuesday announced fourth quarter results.
Analyst Andrew Glukhov says the company delivered strong fourth quarter results, with revenue of $192 million, better than his $184 million estimate. Glukhov says solid revenue drove better-than-expected profitability.

Company management raised its fiscal year 2007 (ending Jun) revenue estimate to between $778 million and $781 million, while maintaining its 15% year over year growth target. Glukhov raises a $2.05 fiscal year 2007 earnings per share (EPS) estimate to $2.14, and sees $2.52 in fiscal year 2008. The analyst also ups a $48 stock price target to $51.

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Sigma Designs Inc. (SIGM)
Last Trade: 13.73
Change: Up 1.98 (16.85%)

Shares of Sigma Designs Inc. rose almost 17 percent on Wednesday, a day after the company said its second-quarter revenue more than doubled and forecast a 15 percent sequential rise in current-quarter revenue.

The maker of digital media processors for consumer appliances said the revenue growth reflects increased demand for its chipsets for Internet protocol TV set-top boxes.

Sigma Designs did not provide detailed results due to investigations into its stock-option practices.

The company said it expects another spurt in demand next year as several makers of Blu-ray players, that use its media processors, are gearing up for product launches.

In a conference call following the earnings release, the company said it expects about 15 percent sequential revenue growth for the third quarter and a double-digit sequential revenue growth for the fourth quarter.

Brokerage firm Roth Capital Partners raised its price target for Sigma Designs to $24 from $20. The brokerage said the shares were undervalued and reiterated its "buy" rating.

A.G. Edwards' Gary Mobley, in a research note, said Sigma Designs is well-positioned to address a few large market opportunities including Internet protocol television and High definition DVD. Mobley has a "hold" rating on the stock.

Sigma Designs said its second-quarter net revenue rose to $20.1 million from $8 million a year ago. Analysts on average expected $16.1 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Quinn Bolton of Needham & Co. said though the stock option investigation remains an overhang on the shares, he forecasts continued revenue growth and stronger incremental margins through year-end.

Bolton reiterated his "buy" rating on the stock and added that next-generation DVD standards have the potential to boost Sigma Designs' growth rates further in 2007.