Business Report index hits record high

Despite mixed first-quarter earnings reports for many Fort Collins-based companies, The Business Report Stock Index trekked into uncharted territory

during the monthly trading period ended May 15.

When the dust had settled and the buy orders were swept from the floor, here is how our basket of stocks fared for the 30-day period: up a brisk

41.86 points, or 3.19 percent, en route to a record high of 1354.10. In comparison, the NASDAQ Composite Index also stormed to a record high of

1225.95, up 10.4 percent.

Locally, gainers outpaced losers by a 48-to-27 count, while those stocks hitting new 52-week highs towered over those falling to new lows by a

7-to-1 ratio.

Earnings announcements dominated the headlines for local stocks last week.

Applied Computer Technology’s share price capsized $1.56 a share, or 28.1 percent, en route to a close of $4 a share – just off its 52-week low of

$3.88. The company’s share price dropped sharply despite posting improved fourth-quarter and 1995 results.

Specifically, Applied’s fourth-quarter sales increased to $4.5 million from $2.9 million, which led to a profit for the three-month period of $37,871

vs. a loss of $3,925. For the year, sales swelled to $19.1 million from $11.7 million, while net income rose to $535,020 from a loss of $132,441.

In contrast, Voice It Worldwide posted sharply lower first-quarter sales and net income, but its stock price managed to rally strongly. The top and

bottom line for Voice It Worldwide for the first quarter read as follows: Sales for the three months contracted to $2.8 million from $3.8 million, which

led to a first-quarter loss of $72,049 vs. a profit of $172,349 last year. For the month, Voice It Worldwide’s share price rallied 35.3 percent before

coming to rest at $1.44 a share.