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Tuesday's hot stocks
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January 18, 2000: 1:43 p.m. ET
Deal news lifts Cort Business Services, E-Tek; G&K slumps on warning
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Deal-related enthusiasm resumed Tuesday, fueling gains for a furniture rental company and a maker of fiber-optic network components. But an earnings warning from a uniform rental agency sent its stock plunging.
Cort Business Services Corp. (CBZ) soared 64 percent on the heels of insurance provider Wesco Financial Corp.'s (WSC) announcement Friday it is acquiring Cort in a deal valued at about $467 million cash.
Fairfax, Va.-based Cort, the No. 1 provider of rental furniture in the US, advanced 11 to 28-1/8, and Pasadena, Calif.-based Wesco rose 5 to 275.
In other deal-related news, E-Tek Dynamics Inc. (ETEK) soared 48 percent. The company said fiber-optic equipment maker JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) will buy E-Tek for stock valued at approximately $15 billion.
San Jose, Calif.-based E-Tek makes components used in fiber-optic networks. Its stock gained 65-3/8 to 201-1/4.
JDS, also based in San Jose, added 12-3/16 to 204-3/8.
But G&K Services Inc. (GKSRA) tumbled 22 percent. A leading supplier of uniforms, the company forecast fiscal second-quarter earnings between 41 and 42 cents per share against analysts' expectations of 51 cents.
The company cited high expenses from the ramp-up of its direct sales group.
Minnetonka, Minn.-based G&K fell 6-5/8 to 24-1/16.
ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM), a pharmaceutical company that develops medicines used to treat diseases such as viral meningitis, surged 48 percent.
A company official said its drug Pleconaril, which it hopes will be used to treat the common cold, is in the late stages of clinical trial.
Exton, Pa.-based ViroPharma rose 20-1/4 to 62-1/4.
Sunbeam Corp. (SOC) jumped 13 percent. The household appliance maker benefited from a joint venture with Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems Inc. to develop new products that use fuel cells.
Ballard Power Systems, a manufacturing firm, makes fuel cells, an alternative to internal combustion engines.
Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sunbeam added 11/16 to 5-13/16. 
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