Syntroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: SYNM), Pacific Ethanol (NASDAQ: PEIXD) and Alanco Technologies (NASDAQ: ALAN) were among yesterday’s big losers. Specifically, SYNM fell 25.76%, PEIXD fell 7.68% and ALAN fell 10.14%. And while its tempting to chase stocks that are either rising suddenly or have dropped dramatically, its always wise to take step back and then to take a closer look at the reasons behind sudden price moves. Hence, here is a closer look at SYNM, PEIXD and ALAN and yesterday’s performance:

Syntroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: SYNM) Clarifies How Badly It Will Dilute Existing Shareholders

Syntroleum Corporation, which is commercializing a technology to produce contaminant free synthetic liquid hydrocarbons, had announced the pricing of its public offering of 15.9 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 7.95 million shares shares. The shares will be offered at $1.58 per share to the public. Hence, Syntroleum Corporation fell 25.76% yesterday to $1.47 (The stock has a 52 week trading range of $1.46 to $2.45 a share.Thus, investors may want to stay away from SYNM until the dust settles and the additional share offering is completed.

Pacific Ethanol (NASDAQ: PEIXD) is Back in the Good Graces of NASDAQ

Pacific Ethanol, a producer and seller of ethanol for the Western half of the USA, has been falling for over a week now with most of the headlines about the company being its efforts to get back into the good graces of the NASDAQ exchange as its been under the threat of being delisted. And while Pacific Ethanol has announced that they have received a letter from NASDAQ stating that they are in compliance, the stock still fell 7.68% yesterday to $1.08 and has a 52 week trading range of $1.08 to $8.75 a share. Nevertheless and regardless of ethanol’s future as an alternative fuel, Pacific Ethanol 52 week trading range seems to indicate the stock is on a downward trend.

Alanco Technologies (NASDAQ: ALAN): What Goes Up, Must Come Down

Alanco Technologies, a provider of IT solutions that are focused on wireless monitoring and asset management, announced on Wednesday a definitive agreement to merge with YuuZoo Corporation, a global provider of mobile targeted social networks as well as targeted advertising and mobile payment systems. Hence, Alanco Technologies saw a 113% gain in its share price from the $1 level to the $3 level. However and yesterday, ALAN fell 10.14% to $1.95 – providing a great case for why investors should not chase stocks that make sudden price moves. Moreover, Alanco Technologies was on the verge of being delisted for not meeting NASDAQ listing requirements while YuuZoo does not appear to have any audited financial statements available to the general public.

The bottom line: As mentioned earlier, its never a good idea to chase stocks that make sudden price moves until the dust settles and SYNM, PEIXD and ALAN are probably not an exception to this rule.