NutriSystem Inc. (NTRI)

[NovoMira]

US SMALL/MIDCAPS-Energy, Nutrisystem weigh on stocks

1:45pm EST By Chuck Mikolajczak

NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Mid- and smallcap stocks fell on Wednesday after a government report on crude oil inventories weighed on energy stocks and Nutrisystem Inc <NTRI.O> said it will take a non-cash charge.

The S&P MidCap Energy index <.4GSPE> dipped 0.9 percent while the S&P SmallCap Energy index <.6GSPE> lost 1 percent after U.S. Energy Information Administration data showed crude stocks fell last week, although less than expected. [ID:nN30459251] "A lot of these energy stocks have had a good run and people are maybe looking for excuses to ding them a little bit on light volume," said Eric Marshall, Director of Research at Hodges Capital Management in Dallas, Texas.

Even with Wednesday's declines, the MidCap Energy index is up more than 9 percent while the SmallCap Energy index is up nearly 7 percent for December.

Smallcap Nutrisystem Inc tumbled 6.3 percent to $30.45 after the fitness-products company said it expects to take a non-cash impairment charge of up to $5 million on the value of goodwill and intangibles related to its Nu-Kitchen fresh food delivery business.