Stock watch.

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SPOTLIGHT

Despite a 4.3% increase in third-quarter earnings, Ruddick's adjusted stock price fell more than 20% from its 52-week high.

Highest price/earnings ratios P/E 10/28/05 52-week Company ratio (3) price range Tanger Factory Outlet Centers 254.4 $26.71 $20.90-29.99 TriPath Imaging 112.5 6.75 6.15-9.52 Charles & Colvard 97.1 23.35 7.18-29.29 Highwoods Properties 96.7 28.04 24.27-31.86 MedCath 86.2 18.10 16.56-30.65 Red Hat 76.4 22.15 10.37-22.46 Salix Pharmaceuticals 53.9 17.78 13.85-22.79 Integrity Financial 50.7 19.70 14.25-27.49 Kewaunee Scientific 49.9 8.48 6.68-10.18 CommScope 49.7 18.89 13.83-19.98 Lowest price/earnings ratios SPX 3.7 $44.00 $36.35-50.15 Insteel Industries 4.7 15.38 8.14-21.89 Nucor 6.7 59.92 41.25-65.53 Wellco Enterprises 8.1 11.90 10.15-18.70 Investors Title 9.2 39.03 29.40-47.00 Bank of Oak Ridge 10.3 10.25 9.51-13.75 Triad Guaranty 10.3 41.34 34.99-60.93 McRae Industries 10.9 12.70 10.20-14.25 Bank of America 10.9 43.98 41.13-47.47 FNB 11.1 17.61 17.35-22.00 3-month 1-year 52-week Company change (4) change range Top 10 large-cap stocks Red Hat 45.3% 72.5% $10.37-22.46 Pike Electric 30.3 na na CommScope 11.8 4.9 13.83-19.98 Nucor 8.1 41.9 41.25-65.53 Jefferson-Pilot 7.7 11.9 47.11-54.74 Martin Marietta Materials 7.4 71.4 45.10-81.74 Old Dominion Freight Line 2.7 21.4 26.45-38.51 BB & T 1.4 3.2 37.04-43.25 Bank of America 0.9 (1.8) 41.13-47.47 Reynolds American 0.1 21.1 68.31-89.00 Top 10 small-cap stocks Culp 12.7% (14.5)% $3.83-6.97 Pozen 11.6 5.1 3.50-11.05 Insteel Industries 11.3 21.4 8.14-21.89 BNC Bancorp 10.5 31.3 16.00-21.95 Embrex 9.2 (6.0)...