EBay, Compellent, Nelnet, Prospect Medical, Strayer: U.S. Equity Movers

Shares of the following companies are having unusual moves in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and prices are as of 10:50 a.m. in New York.

Education stocks fell after data from the U.S. Department of Education signaled that for-profit colleges’ aid may be imperiled because loan payback rates are insufficient. Barclays Plc cut ratings on Corinthian Colleges Inc. (COCO US) and ITT Educational Services Inc. (ESI US), saying “the overhang on the stocks is likely to persist longer than we had previously expected.”

Corinthian plunged 24 percent to $5.07. ITT lost 13 percent to $56. DeVry Inc. (DV US) slid 9.9 percent to $38.49. Strayer Education Inc. (STRA US) fell 15 percent to $169.34. Education Management Corp. (EDMC US) sank 16 percent to $10.20. Capella Education Co. (CPLA US) dropped 16 percent to $58.87.

Washington Post Co. (WPO US), which said a significant number of its Kaplan schools may be restricted or ineligible to get funding under a proposed government rule, fell the most in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, losing 12 percent to $300.74.

Apollo Group Inc. (APOL US) rose the most in the S&P 500, adding 6.3 percent to $41.38. The biggest U.S. education company was touted as the industry’s top pick stock by Deutsche Bank AG, which said Apollo is already most of the issues through the orientation program and the majority of its bachelor’s programs will be able to grow.

3Par Inc. (PAR US) surged 86 percent to $17.92 for the biggest gain in Russell 2000 Index. Dell Inc. (DELL US) agreed to buy the provider of computing storage services for about $1.15 billion. Dell, the world’s third-largest personal-computer maker, is gaining equipment and software products to bolster its growing corporate data-center business.

Compellent Technologies Inc. (CML US), a storage area network producer, advanced 13 percent to $13.41.

EBay Inc. (EBAY US) had the second-biggest gain in the S&P 500, climbing 4.6 percent to $22.49. The company may make as much as $500 million in revenue by 2013 if its PayPal payment service is added to Google Inc.’s (GOOG US) Android smartphone software, Susquehanna Financial Group said.

ICx Technologies Inc. (ICXT US) jumped 12 percent to $7.57, after rallying as much as 15 percent, the most intraday since Dec. 31. The maker of advanced sensor technologies agreed to be bought by Flir Systems Inc. (FLIR US) for $7.55 a share in cash.

Lowe’s Cos. (LOW US) added 2.7 percent to $20.12, after gaining as much as 4 percent, the most intraday since July 22. The second-largest U.S. home-improvement retailer forecast earnings excluding some items between $1.38 and $1.45 a share for the fiscal year ending January 2011, beating some analyst estimates.

Home Depot Inc. (HD US), the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, increased 1.6 percent to $27.74.

Nelnet Inc. (NNI US) rose 9.4 percent to $20.79, after jumping as much as 11 percent, the most intraday since June 2009. The student loan provider was raised to “buy” from “hold” by Sandler O’Neill.

Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. (PZZ US) surged 37 percent to $8.41, after rising to $8.47 earlier, the highest intraday price since September 2004. The provider of medical services agreed to be acquired for $8.50 a share in cash by an entity sponsored by Leonard Green & Partners LP.

Res-Care Inc. (RSCR US) rallied 21 percent to $12.29, after jumping as much as 22 percent, the most intraday since August 2003. The provider of residential and educational services for people with disabilities and special needs said Onex Corp. (OCX CN) offered to buy the company for $12.60 a share.

Synutra International Inc. (SYUT US) surged 20 percent to $14.72, after advancing as much as 32 percent, the most intraday since June 10. China’s Health Ministry said an investigation showed no evidence that milk powder made by the maker of baby formula caused three infant girls to grow breasts, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.