American Railcar, BCE, Borders, Rambus: U.S. Equity Movers

By Elizabeth Campbell and Whitney Kisling

Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies had unusual price changes in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 4 p.m. in New York.

American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARII US) jumped 26 percent, the most since it began trading in January 2006, to $8.42. The railroad-equipment maker whose biggest shareholder is Carl Icahn was raised to “neutral” from “sell” at UBS AG after a “substantial” share-price decline of about 69 percent since mid-March.

Andersons Inc. (ANDE US) plunged 18 percent, the most since at least February 1996, to $12.95. The grain marketer and fertilizer distributor cut its 2008 profit forecast for the second time in a month, citing the “unpredictability” in plant- nutrient product valuation.

Assurant Inc. (AIZ US) gained 22 percent, the most since it began trading in February 2004, to $21.79. The home insurer’s competitor ZC Sterling Corp. agreed to be bought by QBE Insurance Group Ltd. for $575 million. The deal signals that Assurant’s unit insuring properties for lenders could be valued at $3 billion, said John Nadel, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc.

BCE Inc. (BCE US) fell 34 percent, the most since at least July 1980, to $20.63. Canada’s largest phone company said it may not be able to go private by its Dec. 11 target because of the economic slump, signaling the buyout may collapse.

Borders Group Inc. (BGP US) plunged 40 percent, the most since it began trading in May 1995, to $1. The second-largest U.S. bookseller said it’s no longer considering a sale of the company after posting a wider third-quarter loss.

Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENTA US) added 13 percent to $3.75, the highest price since Oct. 17. The seller of Pennington grass seed and Sevin bug killer reported fourth-quarter profit, excluding some items, of 6 cents a share. That was triple the average analyst estimate, according to Bloomberg data.

Fluor Corp. (FLR US) added 14 percent to $44.68, the highest price since Oct. 13. The largest publicly traded U.S. engineering firm was raised to “buy” from “hold” at Stanford Group, which cited the likelihood of infrastructure spending by President- elect Barack Obama and the “notable competitive capabilities” of the company.

Macy’s Inc. (M US) rose 8.8 percent to $7.03, the highest price since Nov. 14. The second-biggest U.S. department store chain’s acquisition of rival May Co. in 2005 is helping it weather the retail slump, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Magna Entertainment Corp. (MECA US) jumped 43 percent, the most since Nov. 3, to $2.01. The money-losing horse-track operator run by businessman Frank Stronach said it’s in talks with parent MI Developments to recapitalize and emerge as a stand-alone business.

Rambus Inc. (RMBS US) increased 31 percent, the most since March 26, to $9.10. The designer and licensor of memory chips won a pre-trial ruling that other chipmakers infringed one claim, or element, of a patent in a case scheduled for trial in January.

Thomas & Betts Corp. (TNB US) dropped 5.2 percent, the most since Nov. 20, to $18.41. The second-largest maker of electronic connectors in North America said fourth-quarter profit will be lower than it previously forecast, citing a “meaningful change in U.S. market conditions.”

Waste Management Inc. (WMI US) fell 5.2 percent to $28.37, the lowest price since Oct. 27. North America’s largest trash hauler forecast a steeper decline in fourth-quarter earnings, citing the downturn in the recycling commodities market.

Xerox Corp. (XRX US) rose 17 percent to $7.30, the lowest price since Nov. 7. The world’s largest maker of color printers said sales of paper, toner and supplies will lift 2009 earnings.

To contact the reporters on this story: Elizabeth Campbell in New York at ecampbell11@bloomberg.net; Whitney Kisling in New York at wkisling@bloomberg.net.