Movers roundup: Citizens, Applied Materials

Among the stock activity stories for Tuesday, May 27, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Citizens Communications Co. jumped Monday after an analyst upgraded the stock, saying it could be a buyout candidate and may benefit from potential consolidation among rural local exchange carriers.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Applied Materials Inc., which makes equipment for producing thin-film polysilicon, rose Tuesday after it demonstrated it could rapidly build manufacturing capacity for a key solar energy customer.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Knight Transportation Inc. rose Tuesday after a Wachovia analyst upgraded the stock but voiced growing pessimism about the U.S. economy and other trucking stocks.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Pediatrix Medical Group fell sharply Tuesday after the company announced it was cutting its second-quarter and full-year outlook on fewer neonatal intensive-care unit patients.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of IndyMac Bancorp Inc. fell Tuesday morning as an analyst cut his earnings estimates and price target on the mortgage lender.

NEW YORK (AP)_ Central European Distribution Corp.'s stock hit a new 52-week high Tuesday after the company closed its latest acquisition and increased earnings forecasts.