KRO , a Stock to be Considered

Consistent insider buying over the past three months, coupled with an upside-down head-and-shoulders chart pattern, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) has caught my eye.

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. engages in the production and marketing of titanium dioxide pigments primarily in North America and Europe.

Good trading volume, low P/E and adequate yield make this stock a fair prospect. It may be a bit early in the cycle but I am willing to inch into this opportunity, believing that a short term support level exists at 19.50 (closing on Friday at 22.67).
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STO = Something to Own

STO came up in my search for undervalued stock with upside potential in mid October. Over the last eighteen months the stock price has found support at the 18.50 level. During the past two trading sessions it has crossed above both the 50 dma and the 200 dma.

Statoil ASA (STO) engages in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing of petroleum and petroleum-derived products. The company involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas in Norway and internationally, as well as extraction of natural gas liquids. It also transports and markets natural gas and natural gas products; and operates 2,000 full-service stations in Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic States, and Russia.

Positive aspects are:

1. Early developing chart pattern. Recent break up above the 50 dma and 200 dma.
2. Price support at 18.50, limiting the downside exposure.
3. Good average daily volume of about 1.7 million shares.
4. Estimated earnings are on the rise.
5. Forward P/E ratio is at about 9.
6. Dividend is at 3.6%.
7. Number of funds owning STO has increased over the last 4 quarters.

With yesterday's closing price at 21.88, STO may be worth owning.
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Grab the Dividend from ARCC

In late August '08 ARCC (then at 12.36) looked like a good prospect for profit. Since that time and until March '09, we experienced an uncontrollable downfall. The banking debacle and the dismal stock market behavior eroded the original investment, a good dividend and the chances for any possible gains.

We stuck to our guns, weathered the storm and now at 16.64, we have gained an annualized return of about 23.9% (including dividends).

Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition, recapitalization, restructurings, rescue financing, and leveraged buyout transactions of middle market companies.

Pluses for ARCC are:

•Acceptable chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and possible support at 16.50, the mid term rising bottom's line.
•A desirable average daily volume of over 1.4 million shares.
•A very nice dividend yield of 8.5%, ex-dividend date is only 13 days away.
•An 11.17 forward P/E ratio.

I find ARCC a good place to park some funds.

My thanks to Paul V. for bringing this security up to my attention in early April '10. Paul you were right on target.
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BCE is Still Sending Good Signals

I wrote about BCE about one year ago (see 11/17/09 blog). Since then, we have seen a gain of 31.6% (not including a 5.7% dividend), a very respectable return. On three ocasions BCE was highlighted in this blog's "stocks to Watch" list.

An updated view of BCE's attractive signs are:

•Fine chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and signifficant support at 32, the long term rising bottom's line.
•A good average daily volume of over 705,000 shares.
•A very nice dividend yield of 5.2%, ex-dividend date is only 14 days away.
•Forward P/E ratio is at 11.48.

At this point, I am inclined to increase a long position in BCE (trading this morning at 33.83).
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HRS Rises as a Top Pick

HRS has risen to near the top of my list in a few weeks. With higher lows over the past four and one half months, crossing above both the 50 dma and the 200 dma and maintaining a rising bottoms line, this choice is worth a longer look.

Harris Corporation (HRS), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a communications and information technology company that serves government and commercial markets worldwide.

Some of the good points:

1. Early developing chart pattern. Recent break up above the 50 dma and 200 dma.
2. Consistent uptrend and rebound from the lows of July 1 '10.
3. Good average daily volume of about 950,000 shares.
4. Earnings per share have increased during the last eight years.
5. Forward P/E ratio is at about 10.
6. Dividend increased to 2.2%.


With Friday's closing price at 46.18, HRS could be poised for a smooth ride.
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Being Patient With Covidien

We noticed Covidien (COV) at 36.05 on June 13, 2009. Since then, it had a good run and hovered at the 52.00 level between January 20 and April 20 of this year. Not bad, if you chose to sell; but we are not going to talk about "what could have been". If you are still holding on to the stock, all you have to show is about 1.9% in dividends plus a 5.1% gain in stock value, that is still alright in this day and age.

Yesterday COV's stock price touched the 50 day moving average at 38.27 and closing just below it at 37.90, I expect the move in the next two days to be up and break above that line, if so, we can see a sharp increase in price in the following week or two. Good time to buy again or increase our long position in Covidien.
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A Dividend Play: NLY

Having kept an eye on NLY for about four years, I think this may be a good time to seriously consider owning this security.

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.(NLY), is a real estate investment trust, which owns, manages, and finances a portfolio of investment securities.

Positives are:

•Nice chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and rebound from the lows of early March '09.
•Excellent average daily volume of over 8.2 million shares.
•Exceptional dividend yield of 15.2%.
•Forward P/E ratio is at about 7.


Trading this morning at 18.52, I look for a continuation of the uptrend.
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Good Signals From BCE

With many stocks hitting 52 week highs, and after taking a pounding a year ago, BCE appears to be lagging in its recovery.

BCE Inc. (BCE) provides communication services to residential and business customers in Canada. Its services include Bell Home Phone local and long distance services, Bell Mobility and Solo Mobile wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite and VDSL television, IP-broadband services, and information and communications technology services.

Positives are:

•Good chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and rebound from the November 26 '08 drop.
•A fair average daily volume of over 647,000 shares.
•A nice dividend yield of 5.7%.
•Forward P/E ratio is at 12.

Trading this morning at 25.84, I am betting that the trend continues and that the stock price will get back to the mid 30's level by the first quarter of 2010.
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Drop TKC, Time to Move on

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS (TKC) was featured in this blog on 7/18/08 (at 15.85)and again on 8/4/09 (at 16.60); since then,the stock has hovered around these prices and is now showing what could be a "head and shoulders" chart pattern. I am inclined to say that, in the near future, the stock is headed down.

For the period of time we held TKC, we collected an anualized dividend of about 4.7%,
and see a profit of 4.79%. Selling today at 16.61, it may be time to move out of this position.
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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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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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