Home > Archives: September - November 2005

. . . Drilling success - Arena Resources (AMEX:ARD) reported a 215% increase in revenue for the third quarter and a 317% increase in net income. The quarter reflects the first full quarter of the company's development drilling and re-stimulation operations on its Fuhrman-Mascho property. During the quarter, Arena drilled 12 new wells on this property and had a 100% success rate on 25 wells completed to date since April.

. . . And more drilling success - Aspen Exploration Corporation (ASPN.OB) drilled ten successful gas wells out of ten attempts in 2004 for a 100% success rate, and nine gas wells out of ten attempted thus far in 2005. During the last 5 years, Aspen has participated in the drilling of 34 operated wells, 30 of which were completed as gas wells, and 4 dry holes which were plugged and abandoned, a success rate of 88%. The success has fueled Aspen's bottom line. For the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005, the Company reported revenues of $1,194,000, an increase of 52% as compared to the year-earlier period revenues of $784,000, and net income of $461,000 compared to $222,000 a year earlier, an increase of 108%. Aspen currently operates 52 gas wells and has non-operated interests in 15 additional wells in the Sacramento Valley of northern California.

. . Quicksilver profits - Quicksilver Resources third-quarter profits more than tripled, helped by higher prices and increased gas production. The Fort Worth-based oil and natural gas production and development company reported net income of $24.8 million compared to third-quarter 2004 net income of $7.9 million. Revenue rose to $83.8 million from $45.5 million a year ago.

. . . Colon Cancer drug exceeds expectations - Abgenix (NasdaqNM: ABGX), and its partner Amgen, had expected Panitumumab, the colon cancer drug they were developing, to slow the progression of the disease by 33%. It did a lot better than that. It slowed the progression of the disease by 46% in patients receiving the drug compared to those who didn't in a 463-patient experiment. The drug is produced by mice genetically engineered with human genes to make molecules that help prevent the cancer from growing in patients. Standard & Poor's Equity Research analyst Frank DiLorenzo upgraded Abgenix to "buy" from "hold" after news of the study was released.

. . . Fastest growing medical imaging company - Frost & Sullivan, global growth consulting company, selected SonoSite (Nasdaq: SONO) as the recipient of the 2005 Medical Imaging Fastest Growing Company of the Year Award for its success in the U.S. medical imaging markets. SonoSite received this Award for generating the highest percentage revenue growth while operating at a profit in the imaging market with more than 35 competing public companies.

"… SonoSite has been transforming the way ultrasound is perceived in the medical community," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Katherine Shariq. A key part of its success is the demand for SonoSite's third-generation hand-carried utlrasound system, the MicroMaxx. Sonosite's "ultrasound systems deliver high-performance imaging," says Shariq, "and are sold for a fraction of the cost of the larger, more complex, cart-based ultrasound systems."

. . . Top ten under $10 - CyberGuard Corporation (NASDAQ: CGFW), a global provider of security solutions that protect the business-critical information assets, has been selected by Investor's Business Daily as one of the ten best stocks under $10 per share. The stocks were selected among several areas, including medicine, communications, finance, technology and emerging markets. To make the list, stocks needed to be priced under $10 per share and have the highest Investor's Business Daily composite performance ratings. Secondarily, the stocks were sorted by earnings growth. The results were based on data from the market close on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

. . . On the Fast Track - The FDA granted Fast Track review status to PROVENGE® by the Dendreon Corporation (NasdaqNM DNDN) for its proposed use in the treatment of asymptomatic men with metastatic, androgen-independent prostate cancer. The FDA determined that PROVENGE shows the potential to improve survival in the intended patient population. Fast tack status provides for expedited regulatory review for new drugs demonstrating the potential to address unmet medical needs for the treatment of serious or life-threatening conditions.

. . . BlastGard wins award - BlastGard International's (BLGA.OB) "BlastWrap®" technology has been named a recipient of a 2005 Popular Science® "Best of What's New Award" in the General Innovation category. BlastWrap® technology is a product that is designed to mitigate blasts and suppress blast thermal output and the ensuing fires from blasts and explosions, regardless of the material or compound that causes the explosion. The company's goal is to revolutionize the way the world's governments and private industries deal with threats from explosive devices. Recently BlastGard entered into a five-year agreement with Nordisk Aviation Products to develop blast mitigating products for the air cargo and unit loading devices (ULD) market. Nordisk specializes in supplying air cargo equipment to the commercial, integrator and cargo airlines of the world.

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. . . Iraqi reconstruction - Tetra Tech (NASDAQ: TTEK) has been awarded a new project through the Perini Corporation's prime contract for design/build services in the U.S. CENTCOM area of operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Programs Center. This project is worth approximately $14 million in engineering fees to Tetra Tech. Tetra Tech serves as the lead design engineer on the Perini CENTCOM team, which is performing work to help reconstruct Iraq and Afghanistan. Known as the Overhead Coverage System, this new project involves the design and construction of protective structures at multiple facilities throughout Iraq in support of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction programs. The overall project is valued at approximately $185 million for the team.

. . . Spinal profits - Net sales for Kyphon (Nasdaq: KYPH) in the third quarter totaled $79.0 million, an increase of 42% over net sales in third quarter of 2004. Earnings per diluted share for the quarter increased 86% to $0.26 compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.14 for the same period a year ago. Kyphon develops and markets medical devices designed to restore spinal function using minimally invasive technologies. The company's KyphX line of products are used in Balloon Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure to treat spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis or cancer.

. . . Positioned to grow - If you look at American Oil and Gas' (Amex: AEZ) balance sheet, properties and management experience, you might agree with Curtis R. Trimble, an analyst with Baltimore-based investment bank Ferris Baker Watts, who initiated coverage of the energy company with a "Buy" rating. The analyst forecast per-share cash flow of 8 cents in 2005, and a whopping increase to 95 cents next year.

. . . New pipeline agreements - Blue Dolphin Energy Company (Nasdaq: BDCO) has entered into gas and condensate transportation agreements with a new customer to deliver production into the Company's Blue Dolphin Pipeline system. This is the third new customer to contract with the Company for the provision of transportation services in the past three months. The Blue Dolphin Pipeline system gathers and transports gas and condensate from various offshore fields in the Galveston Area in the Gulf of Mexico to shore facilities in Freeport, Texas.

. . . Helping Norway - Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII) obtained the largest ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) contract in its history, approximately $85 million over an initial three-year term. The contract was awarded by Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO), the largest offshore operator in Norway. Terms of the contract contain higher dayrates than previously in effect and a provision for future dayrate escalations. The contract has three consecutive options for two-year extensions.

. . Asian flu protection - Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) and Wave Biotech will collaborate on the development of a commercial scale production process for NVAX's pandemic influenza virus (avian flu) vaccine and other biological products. The initial focus of the collaboration will be on Novavax's H5N1 avian-flu-Like Particle vaccine. Novavax's vaccine technologies include virus like particle manufacturing technology utilizing the baculovirus expression system in insect cells as well as novel vaccine adjuvants based on novasomes and dendrimer technologieswidely distributed in the U.S. g.

. . . Drug developer Memory Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: MEMY) will receive a $5 million payment from biotech company Amgen in a collaboration to develop compounds that inhibit an enzyme present in neurological disorders.

. . . Rugged Communications - Spectrum Signal Processing ( NASDAQ:SSPI) launched its SDR-4000 rugged 3U CompactPCI line of software defined radio (SDR) solutions for tactical military communications. The SDR-4000 has been tested to be ready for deployment in many applications requiring ruggedization. Spectrum's products and services are optimized for military communications, signals intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare and satellite communications applications.

. . . Safe faxes - CareFax(TM), by AuthentiDate Holding (NASDAQ:ADAT), is a new a web-based, HIPAA-compliant fax automation and work flow solution that addresses compliance needs associated with document processing in the healthcare sector. CareFax enables healthcare organizations to handle faxed documents in a secure and efficient manner.

. . . Concealed weapons - View Systems (VYST.OB) fulfilled orders for twenty one SecureScan units to the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Starting in November, the Company will place units in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland and California correctional institutions in a program similar to New Jersey's. SecureScan gives law enforcement, event venues and businesses the ability to systems-integrate a concealed weapons detection device into current and future access control networks.

. . . Ready, Aim, Fire - VirTra Systems (VTSI.OB) received another order for its IVR HD-300(TM) firearms training simulator in Mexico. Its penetration of the Mexico market is a precursor to its plans to expand internationally. The company recently installed its simulator system for the City of Charleston, South Carolina, which was immediately placed into service for Charleston's police officers and SWAT team. Utilizing patented technology, VirTra Systems sells situational awareness firearms training systems to military agencies such as the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Department of Defense, and to national and international law enforcement agencies.

. . . Record revenue for Energas - For the first quarter of 2005, total revenue for Energas Resources (OTCBB:EGSRE) increased 93% to a record $257,881 from $133,571 year over year, while net loss decreased 63%. Energas's primary focus is in the development of shallow Devonian Shale natural gas wells in the eastern Kentucky region of the Appalachian Basin. The company is also working on projects in Kansas, Wyoming and eastern Oklahoma. It recently started drilling in an area of Wyoming that has proven to be a good producing zone.

. . . Polish Energy - FX Energy(Nasdaq: FXEN) is an independent oil and gas company focused on exploration, development and production opportunities in the Republic of Poland. The Company holds exploration rights to over 1.7 million acres in western Poland's Permian Basin, which represents a largely untapped source of potentially significant gas reserves.

Total revenue for FX Energy for the second quarter of 2005 was up 34% from the same quarter in 2004. Total revenue for the first six months of 2005 was up 16% from revenues in the first six months of 2004.

. . . Oil company tangoes with Argentina - Apco Argentina (Nasdaq: APAGF), an oil and gas exploration company, announced that for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005, it generated unaudited net income of $7.0 million and $12.2 million, respectively. This compares with net income of $3.4 million and $7.8 million for the comparable periods in 2004.

The 2005 results represent the highest income ever reported by Apco over the first six months of a year. The company has interests in six oil and gas concessions and one exploration permit in Argentina. Its principal business is a 52.85 % participation in a joint venture engaged in the exploration, production and development of oil and gas in the Entre Lomas concession located in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen in southwest Argentina.

. . . St. Mary Reports Record Results - St. Mary Land & Exploration Company (NYSE: SM) reported record earnings for the second quarter 2005 of $38.3 million, compared to $21.8 million for the same period in 2004. Revenues for the second quarter of 2005 were a record $164.6 million compared to $102.2 million for the second quarter of 2004. The Company also announced that it has increased its 2005 capital expenditures forecast to $436 million from $418 million, partially to fund increased drilling activity.

. . . Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ:CMTL) announced that it has recently received orders totaling $30.0 million related to its Movement Tracking System, or MTS contract, with the U. S. Army Logistics Command. These orders encompass purchases of mobile satellite transceivers, ruggedized computers, spares, satellite capacity, as well as installation, training, and engineering support.

The orders include $18.5 million for purchases of Comtech's next generation satellite transceiver, which features embedded RFID and secure GPS capabilities. The satellite capacity portion of the order includes bandwidth and network management services in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The remaining orders are for installation, training, and general support activities in Kuwait, Iraq, and at selected U. S. Army bases in the United States.

. . . Safe enough to eat - Strategic Diagnostics (Nasdaq:SDIX) - a provider of biotechnology-based detection solutions for a broad range of food, water, agricultural, industrial, environmental and scientific applications, reported that revenues for the second quarter of 2005 increased 14.7% to $6.22 million, compared to $5.42 million for the second quarter of 2004. Food safety products proved to be its fastest growing market with revenues of $1.85 million in the second quarter of 2005, compared to $1.41 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 31.1%.

. . . Biowarfare defense - Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced that its Ibis division has shipped its first TIGER biosensor system to the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease (USAMRIID), which will use the system to identify infectious agents for biowarfare defense. The TIGER (Triangulation Identification for Genetic Evaluation of Risks) biosensor system is a revolutionary system that can simultaneously identify thousands of infectious organisms without needing to know what might be present in a sample.

Ibis also plans to deliver a TIGER biosensor system this year to the Naval Health Research Center and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each for use in epidemiological surveillance, and to the Department of Homeland Security, for use in microbial forensics.

. . . Property defense - Viscount Systems (OTCBB: VSYS) is a designer and manufacturer of telecommunications and electronic door control access systems for the security industry. The company's diverse line of products are designed to improve safety and manage security for property owners and users. The Company has recently received orders to secure 65 multi-tenant buildings throughout Eastern Ontario with its MESH system.

Viscount's products have been installed in approximately 35,000 sites in over 30 countries and are sold through a 500 member, North America-wide dealer network comprised of security equipment vendors. Viscount has recently received special spotlight coverage in the Homeland Security Sector report by Investrend research.


. . . Smallpox and electrified bullets - MDM Group (MDDM.PK) said that its Biodefense Division is finalizing agreements to develop a novel vaccine for smallpox designed for safe public immunization to counter bioterrorism. Currently available smallpox vaccines use modified live vaccinia virus that are time intensive in their application. They are also not considered safe for use in certain segments of the population, especially those with skin diseases, immune disorders, HIV, and pregnant or lactating mothers. Smallpox is a top priority on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control bioterrorism threat list.

The company has also developed ShockRounds, a form of electrified bullets. This patent pending technology introduces an "electric" charge to traditional ammunition and other projectiles such as rubber bullets through the combination of existing ballistic and piezoelectric technologies. The company sees ShockRounds as a more flexible solution in dealing with continued escalation of terrorism and civil unrest on a global scale. MDM says that the innocent bystander mistakenly killed in the attempted London bombing incident may have survived if Shockrounds were used. And if he had been a real terrorist, he could have been captured alive for questioning.