Watch List for the Week of 8/24/09 - Last Week's Recap

Stocks to watch for the week of 8/24/09 (same as last week):

ATW 29.78
SEPR 18.35
SUG 20.85


Recap for the week of 8/17/09:

on 8/19------------on 8/21

ATW 28.02-----------29.78 (up 6.28%)
SEPR 17.79-----------18.35 (up 3.15%)
SUG 19.04-----------20.85 (up 9.51%)

It's been a good week, we avoided a devastating Monday.
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Watch List for the Week of 8/17/09 (as of 8/19/09)

Stocks to watch for the week of 8/17/09 (as of the morning of 8/19/09):

ATW 28.02
SEPR 17.79
SUG 19.04

Have prosperous trades for the remainder of this week.
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Time to Drop SLXP

On 12/12/07 I wrote about Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SLXP) purchased at 11.89; since then, we have seen nothing but red. Held on to it for over 20 months. I think it is time to let it go.
Trading today at 12.93 (an 8.75% gain) may be a good time to unload.
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Expect a Drop Today - Last Week's Recap

Due to the significant drops in the Asian markets overnight, I am delaying the weekly watch list for at least one day. As a result, expect major losses today in the U.S. from the fallout.

Recap for the week of 8/10/09:
on 8/10------------on 8/14

AKAM 19.46---------18.01 (down 7.45%)
ATW 28.96----------28.08 (down 3.04%)
COV 38.16----------39.09 (up 2.44%)
KBR 22.42----------22.86 (up 1.96)

Hang on for dear life.
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Watch List for the Week of 8/10/09 - Last Week's Recap

Stocks to watch for the week of 8/10/09:

AKAM 19.46
ATW 28.96
COV 38.16
KBR 22.42

Recap for the week of 8/3/09:

on 8/3------------on 8/7

COV 37.81---------38.16 (up .93%)
ATW 28.84---------28.96 (up .42%)
GE 13.40----------14.70 (up 9.70%)
PFE 15.93---------15.96 (up .19%)


Have a profitable trading week.
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About AKAM

Insiders are putting their money where their mouths are.
After disappointing earnings report and a 20% day drop in stock value (on 7/29/09), several directors, CEO and other officers are investing about $3.3 million of their own money in Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) as reported this morning in the following article:

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10564083/1/three-insiders-buy-33m-worth-of-akamai.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

That action may be a signal to increase a position in this company.
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More Comments About TKC

On July 18, 2008 I wrote about Turkcell Ilet (TKC), since then we have seen a gain of 4.3% (in addition to the 4.9% dividend). I would say it has given us a decent return considering the market behavior over the past year.

Motley Fool just posted an article about TKC:

http://www.fool.com/investing/international/2009/08/04/5-star-stocks-poised-to-pop-turkcell.aspx

It appears that this stock has legs and may continue to realize gains in the near foreseeable future.
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Watch List for the Week of 8/3/09 - Last Week's Recap

Stocks to watch for the week of 8/3/09:

COV 37.81
ATW 28.84
GE 13.40
PFE 15.93

Stocks mentioned for the week of 7/27/09:

on 7/27------------on 7/31

ATW 28.94--------28.84 (down .35%)
SUG 19.80---------19.38 (down 2.12%)
KBR 19.88----------21.19 (up 6.59%)
AMGN 60.92-------62.31 (up 2.28%)

Have a profitable trading week.
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Next Week Choices

Starting today, and continuing each week, I will post stock symbols that appear to have a good chance for nice returns. The following week, a comment will recap the performance of those stocks... This is only a test.

Stocks to watch for the week of 7/27/09:

ATW 28.94
SUG 19.80
KBR 19.88
AMGN 60.92

Good luck on your investments.
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Covidien is on the Move

After being removed from the S&P 500 and relocating its headquarters to Ireland, Covidien (COV) has not missed a step on its way up to nearly four month highs.

Covidien PLC (COV) develops, manufactures, and sells health care products for use in clinical and home settings worldwide. COV has four divisions: Medical Devices, Imaging Solutions, Pharmaceutical Products, and Medical Supplies.

Positives are:

• Good chart pattern.
• Strong support above the 50 dma.
• Average daily volume of over 6.8 million shares.
• Number of funds owning the stock has increased for the past four quarters.
• Forward P/E ratio is at 11.9

Closing on Friday at 36.05, I expect Covidien to maintain the trend and cross the 200 dma (now at 38.94) in the near future, thus boosting the stock price for the next push.

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Missed the Move on TMO

On 5/15/09 I followed a false signal on TMO and sold it at a slight loss, since then the stock has moved up and gained 6.75... bad call,bummer!
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ATW Could Perform

With oil prices rising in the last few weeks, a possible beneficiary of this action could be Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (ATW) focuses in the offshore drilling and completion of oil and gas wells worldwide. The company also offers support, management, and consulting services in its field.

Stock price for ATW is directly related to the price of crude.

Attractive aspects for this company are:

• Good chart pattern, strong support and a five month base at 13.
• Decisively crossed the 50 dma and holding above the 200 dma.
• Good volume at 1.4 million shares/day.
• Low P/E at 5.6
• Low debt.
• Large fund ownership.

ATW seems to be a fine investment at 23.53 provided the price of oil continues to climb.

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TMO Shows Weakness

Latest numbers and chart pattern for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) have made me revise the assessment for the company's near future performance.

Insider selling, price sinking today below its 50 dma and strong overhead resistance, resulted in my choice to exit a long position in the stock.

Bought at about 37.41 on 2/18/09, selling today at 35.04, near a 6.5% loss in 3 months.

I would say it's time to get out and search for better prospects.
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Good Returns From ENS

Brought up in this blog on March 24 of this year, ENS was selling at the time for 12.46 and looking like a good prospect, we just saw a run up in the stock price.
Not wanting to be piggish about it, I am very pleased to cash in on a quick profit. Trading now at 18.26, this represents approximately a 47% return in just 5 weeks.
I say, take the money and run.
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CMED Has Potential

Medical device manufacturers seem to be bouncing back from their recent lows. China Medical Technologies, Inc. (CMED) shows good signs for a near to longer term upswing.

CMED is a medical device company engaging in the development, manufacture and sale of medical devices and supplies in China.

Positive signs are:

• Reaching a new three month high.
• Sustained break above the 50 day moving average.
• Adequate average daily volume (509,000).
• Sizable management ownership.

CMED trades today at 19.81 and looks like a good prospect for future profits.

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ENS - An Infrastructure Play

Along with other choices such as GVA and KBR, Enersys seems to be poised to continue its upward trend.

Enersys (ENS) manufactures, markets, and distributes industrial batteries and related products. It also offers related direct current power products, including chargers, electronic power equipment, and various battery accessories. Its motive power batteries are used for industrial forklift trucks, mining equipment, railroad equipment and by material handling equipment dealers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as by end users, such as manufacturers, distributors, warehouse operators, retailers, airports, mine operators, and railroads.

Positive signs are:

• Reaching a new four month high.
• Strong break above the 50 day moving average.
• Increasing average daily volume.
• Heavy fund ownership.
• Low P/E (approx 6.23).

ENS is trading this morning at about 12.46 and could reach the twelve month estimated target of 15.

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Dividends Slashed

Prepare yourselves for a barrage of dividend cuts.
In order to cut costs in these difficult times, many companies will take advantage and announce a dividend cut or totally suspend the seemingly attractive quarterly returns.
As the stocks price declined, the dividends that remained unchanged have become disproportionately high yields compared to those of savings accounts, cd's or bonds.
When these changes occur, a new wave of selling will take place, led by investor disappointment.
After the bulk of dividend reduction has taken place, we can begin to search for bargains and better than average yields.
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AKAM Defies Gravity

While new lows are the norm for many stocks as of late, Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) seems to be moving in the opposite direction.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. provides services for accelerating the delivery of content and applications over the Internet.

After a huge decline on 7/31/08 (approx. 25% loss) on ten times the average daily volume, the stock has formed a solid base at about 12 over a period of five months. Since 1/22/09 the price has been rising consistently, today reaching a new twenty week high, an anomaly in this environment.

AKAM is trading today at 18.23, up .55 and bucking the trend.

Some appealing factors for AKAM are:

• Good volume (4.5 million avg./day)
• Insider buying in December '08
• Steady price rise above the 50 day moving average
• It is one of the top companies in the sector
• Sustained earnings estimate for '09
• Adequate forward P/E of 10.37

I would consider AKAM at this time a good buy candidate.

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A Look at TMO

Fewer and fewer stocks look promising these days when the markets take wild swings and punish most companies under the sun. Has the investing community taken down some solid stocks? According to the chart and numbers available for TMO, I am inclined to favor a long position in the stock.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (TMO) provides analytical instruments, equipment, software, and services for research, manufacture, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics in the pharmaceutical markets.

Increased mutual fund interest, reasonable P/E at 12, good volume (just under 5 million/day), low debt, and high ranking in the sector make this company worth considering. TMO is trading today at 37.41, this may be a good entry point.
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Cost Averaging SUG

Experiencing a 50% "paper loss" on Southern Union Co. (SUG) over the last 8 months, this may be time to buy more (today at 13.30) and lower the average cost per share while increasing the position.
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