MidnightTrader Earnings Play: Photronics

Photronics (PLAB | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is due with its Q3 results after the close tonight, and analysts polled by Thomson First Call are expecting the company to report a loss of $0.11 per share on revenue of $109 million.

PLAB is about mixed between the sessions in its long-term historical data, posting narrowing moves in eight of the last 15 quarters we've tracked. But traders should note that in the near-term the stock favors narrowing, with three narrowing events in the last four quarters.

On May 13, 2008, PLAB gained 2.2% in after-hours trade after reporting sales up over year ago levels and a loss. It lost that gain the next day, declining 8.7% by the close on May 14.

On Feb. 13, 2008, PLAB was flat in evening trade after posting Q1 sales that were down from year ago levels and swinging to a loss. It turned south the following day, closing the Feb. 14 regular session down 4%.

On Dec. 4, 2007, PLAB tumbled 12.6% in after-hours action after posting a year-over-year decline in Q4 results. Much of that downside was cut back the next day as PLAB ended the Dec. 5 regular session off 0.7%.

On Aug. 15, 2007, PLAB dipped 0.3% in evening activity despite topping Q3 estimates. Shares regained their footing and closed up 2.9% in the next regular session.

On May 15, 2007, PLAB dropped 1.6% in night trade after missing Q2 sales estimates. Shares extended their losses the next day to end the regular session down 4.2%.

On Feb. 14, 2007, the stock fell 2.2% after the company missed with Q1 estimates. Shares fell 4.6% the next day.

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