June 15 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares had unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share prices are as of 4 p.m. New York time.
Shares of some manufacturers of lead paint advanced after Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW US) and other companies won dismissal of a lawsuit by cities and counties in New Jersey that claimed the companies' products endangered public health.
Sherwin-Williams, the largest U.S. paint retailer, rose $1.52, or 2.3 percent to $67.67. NL Industries Inc. (NL US), the company that was once the largest maker of lead pigment used in paint, rose 47 cents to $11.06. Shares of other defendants in the case also gained at least 1 percent, including DuPont Co. (DD US), the third-largest U.S. chemical maker, and Millennium, a unit of Lyondell Chemical Co. (LYO US).
AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB US) fell $3.43, or 3.7 percent, to $88.30. The U.S. money manager controlled by France's Axa SA (AXA US) was downgraded to ``neutral'' from ``strong buy'' at Buckingham Research Group.
The downgrade came after the Senate Finance Committee introduced legislation yesterday to prevent hedge fund and private equity firms from using a 20-year-old tax provision that allows investors in publicly traded partnerships to pay capital gains taxes of 15 percent on income distributions. Companies pay a tax rate as much as 35 percent. Fortress Investment Group LLC (FIG US), a private-equity and hedge-fund firm, fell $1.64, or 6.5 percent, to $23.47.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. (BBW US) fell $6.89, or 23 percent, to $22.72. The maker of customized stuffed animals cut its second-quarter profit forecast in half because of slumping sales. Profit for the quarter ending June 30 will be 7 cents to 10 cents a share, down from a previous forecast of 15 cents to 19 cents, the company said.
Cenveo Inc. (CVO US) rose $2.10, or 9.3 percent, to $24.68. The commercial printer of books and catalogs said it agreed to acquire Madison/Graham ColorGraphics Inc. for an undisclosed price and expects the transaction to add to earnings.
Coinmach Service Corp. (DRA US) surged $1.57, or 13 percent, to $13.28. Babcock & Brown Ltd. (BNB AU), Australia's second- largest investment bank, agreed to buy the laundry company for about $713 million, or $13.55 a share. That's 16 percent more than the closing price of Coinmach's class A shares yesterday.
EpiCept Corp. (EPCT US) rose 23 cents, or 11 percent, to $2.41. The pharmaceutical company said animal tests show its Azixa drug may effectively slow the growth of human tumors. Results of the tests will appear in today's edition of Cancer Research, published by the American Association of Cancer Research, according a statement from EpiCept. The research suggests that Azixa can slow the growth of solid tumors in mice, EpiCept said.
Hansen Natural Corp. (HANS US) rose $3.96, or 9.9 percent, to $43.90. The maker of Monster Energy drinks was upgraded to ``buy''' from ``neutral'' at Goldman, Sachs & Co., which said Hansen sales and earnings growth may accelerate in the second half as management turns its attention from an options investigation to developing new products. ``We also see significant upside optionality for Hanson as an acquisition candidate,'' Goldman wrote.
Intel Corp. (INTC US) rose $1.01, or 4.4 percent, to $24.24. Goldman upgraded shares of the world's largest chipmaker to ``buy'' from ``neutral'' and said Intel should benefit from rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s (AMD US) likely decision to farm out production.
Lexmark International Inc. (LXK US) rose 82 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $51.65 and traded as high as $52.71. The second- biggest U.S. printer maker would be an attractive acquisition candidate and a leveraged buyout is ``doable'' in the $60 to $70 range, said Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst Toni Sacconaghi. ``Its valuation is significantly more attractive than other recently announced technology LBOs,'' he wrote.
Monsanto Co. (MON US) climbed $1.55, or 2.5 percent, to $64.86 and traded as high as $67.86. The world's biggest seed producer boosted its profit forecast for the fiscal year that ends in August because of increased U.S. demand for corn seed and crop chemicals.
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA US) rose $1.72, or 4.6 percent, to $39.55. The world's second-largest producer of computer-graphics chips was initiated with a ``strong buy'' rating by Raymond James & Associates analyst Hans Mosesmann, who cited the company's market share gain outlook. Nvidia's forecasts for sales growth and gross margins were also ``conservative,'' the analyst wrote.
Nymex Holdings Inc. (NMX US), the operator of the New York Mercantile Exchange, the world's largest energy market, gained $2.32, or 1.7 percent, to $142.12 and traded as high as $148. The New York Mercantile Exchange is exploring a sale to NYSE Euronext, Deutsche Boerse AG or Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc., said two people involved in the discussions. Nymex Holdings may be worth $155 a share, or $14.3 billion, 11 percent more than yesterday's closing price, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential.
Penn National Gaming Inc. (PENN US) jumped $10.98, or 21 percent, to $62.12. The owner of 18 casinos and horse racing tracks agreed to be acquired by Fortress for $6.1 billion, or $67 a share. The deal also includes debt totaling about $2.8 billion.
Other gaming companies also climbed.
Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD US) added $1.35 to $51.15. Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (ISLE US) rose $2.45, or 11 percent, to $25.09. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (PNK US) advanced $2.35 to $30.83. Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA US) gained $2.55 to $34.95.
Power Integrations Inc. (POWI US) fell $2.77, or 9.4 percent, to $26.75. The maker of chips used in consumer electronics reduced its revenue forecast. It predicted as much as $43 million in the second quarter, down from the original projection of up to $46 million. Analyst Tore Svanberg at Piper Jaffray & Co. cut the stock's rating to ``market perform'' from ``outperform.''
RAIT Financial Trust (RAS US) gained $1.75, or 6.2 percent, to $29.98. The real-estate investment trust boosted its quarterly dividend to 84 cents from 80 cents.
ShengdaTech Inc. (SDTH US) rose 86 cents, or 18 percent, to $5.55. The Chinese chemicals maker said it expects 43 cents to 45 cents a share this year on revenue of as much as $98 million.
Silverleaf Resorts Inc. (SVLF US) rose 64 cents, or 14 percent, to $5.34. The timeshare developer and manager increased its profit forecast for this year to a range of 70 cents to 72 cents a share.
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC US) rose $1.24, or 8.3 percent, to $16.15. The parent of gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson Corp. boosted its forecast for fiscal 2008, predicting profit of 62 cents a share. Three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had an average estimate of 60 cents.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS US) rose 61 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $34.40 and traded as high as $34.75. The world's largest theme park operator was upgraded to ``buy'' from ```neutral'' by SMH Capital analyst David Miller, who said that investors may be ``underestimating'' the free cash flow and earnings potential of the company. Miller also said e believed that there was a company-wide initiative to boost operating margins in each of Disney's businesses.
Wolseley Plc (WOS US) American depositary receipts, each worth one share, rose $94 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $26.35. The world's biggest distributor of plumbing and heating equipment may be the target of a leveraged buyout. ``There are a number of persistent rumors out there,'' said Simon Brown, an analyst at Evolution Securities in London. ``Today there is a rumor of private-equity interest again. Wolseley is vulnerable, it's cheap and it's a very attractive business.''
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR US) rose 61 cents, or 5.8 percent, to $11.13. The pay-radio service that is trying to combine with Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI US) will air college sports from the Big 12 U.S. schools in an agreement with Disney's ESPN. XM will carry selected football games each week and the Big 12 conference championship, the pay-radio company said yesterday in a statement.
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