PHP code widget not displaying tags

I’m using the code below inside of the PHP Code Widget, and it works fine, except TAGS won’t display.
Doesn’t show in the source code. And it’s definitely in there.
Even if the_tags(); is placed above endwhile; at the end.
Anyone know what’s going on?
Thanks

<?php
$featuredPosts = new WP_Query();
$featuredPosts->query('showposts=5&cat=3');
while ($featuredPosts->have_posts()) : $featuredPosts->the_post(); ?>
<h1><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h1>
<div class="meta">
By <?php the_author() ?>
</div>
<div class="storycontent">
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div>
<?php endwhile; ?>
<?php the_tags(); ?>