Saturday, December 11, 2010

Hudson is hiring

Hudson Highland Group, Inc.(HHGP) was added to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio.  They are a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management services worldwide. From single placements to total outsourced solutions, Hudson helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for their businesses.

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 14 nedw highs in the last month
  • Up 23.94% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 85.52% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Vail Resorts reaches new peaks

Vail Resorts, Inc. (MTN) was added to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio.  They are one of the leading resort operators in North America. The company's operations are grouped into two segments, Resort and Real Estate. In the company's Resort segment, they own and operate resort properties which provide a comprehensive resort experience throughout the year to a diverse clientele with an attractive demographic profile. The company's Real Estate segment develops, buys and sells real estate in and around the their resort communities.

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 14 new highs in the last month
  • Up 23.94% in the last month
  • Relative strength Index 82.14% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Exide has the charge

I added Exide Technologies (XIDE) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio/  It is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global business groups - Transportation North America, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy North America and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World - provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications. Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and forty two-volt automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic i.e. solar-power related and uninterruptible power supply, and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 14 new highs in the last month
  • Up 26.37% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 84.60% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Belden CDT -- BDC 0 added

Belden CDT ( BDC) was added to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio .  Belden CDT Inc. is one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of high- speed electronic cables and focuses on products for the specialty electronics and data networking markets, including connectivity.


  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 15 new highs in the last month
  • Up 20.69% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 76.38% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Kodiak Oil -- KOG - added

I added Kodiak Oil ( KOG) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio.  KOG is an independent energy exploration and development company focused on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas in the Williston and Greater Green River Basins in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. The primary function of the board of directors is therefore oversight - defining and enforcing standards of accountability that enable the CEO and senior management to execute their responsibilities fully and in the interests of the Company's shareholders.

  • 100% Barchart Technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs in the last month
  • Up 45.12% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 86.26% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Synta Pharma - SNTA - Added

Synta Pharmaceuticals (SNTA) was added to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio.  They are a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Synta has a unique chemical compound library, an integrated discovery engine, and a diverse pipeline of clinical- and preclinical-stage drug candidates with distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures. All Synta drug candidates were invented by Synta scientists using our compound library and drug discovery capabilities. Synta has a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline for the joint development and commercialization of its lead investigational drug candidate, elesclomol, which is in a global, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs in the last month
  • Up 61.28% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 85.23%
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Cree lights up

I've added Cree Inc (CREE) to the Barchart Van Meerten New high portfolio.

Cree, Inc. is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors that enhance the value of solid-state lighting, power and communications products by significantly increasing their energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree's market advantage is its world-class materials expertise in silicon carbide and gallium nitride for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products. Cree drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications, including exciting alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree customers range from innovative lighting-fixtures makers to defense-related federal agencies.

  • 80% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs in the last month
  • Up 33.23% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 83.80% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Lj International - JADE - deleted

I deleted LJ International (JADE) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price momentum.

LJ International Inc. is a manufacturer of semi-precious jewelry.

  • 60% Barchart short term sell signal
  • Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
  • Trading below its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
  • Lost 30.47% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index is 38.25% and falling
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Weekly Market Recap -- 12/10

Every week end we go back to the data on Barchart to see what really happened in the market.  Using the numbers instead of the headlines gives us a much better picture of the state of the market.  I use 3 different market momentum indicators because they each measures market momentum in a different way and each is not always right 100% of the time.

Value Line Index -- Contains 1700 stocks so its more representative of the market than the S&P 500 or very narrow Dow 30 -- Very positive this past week

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • Up 2.16% for the week
  • Up 4.54% in the last month
  • Friday closed above its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
  • Relative Strength Index 73.36% and rising
Barchart Market Momentum -- Contains approximately 6000 stocks -- Percentage of stocks closing above their Daily Moving Averages for various time frames -- Above 50% is always good
  • Friday 70.62% closed above their 20 DMA, 66.63% closed above their 50 DMA, 76.62% closed above their100 DMA
  • Last Week 65.74% closed above their 20 DMA, 67.00% closed above their 50 DMA, 77.27% closed above their 100 DMA
  • Last Month 65.48% closed above their 20 DMA, 76.36% closed above their 50 DMA, 82.22% closed above their 100 DMA
Ratio of stocks hitting new highs/new lows for various time frames -- 1.0+ bullish, 1.0 neutral, below .99 bearish -- Very nice numbers this week
  • 1 month ratio of new highs/new lows -- 1229/186 = 6.61
  • 3 month ratio of new highs/new lows -- 892/70 = 12.74
  • 6 month ratio of new highs/new lows -- 721/38 = 18.97
Summary and Investment Strategy -- The market is looking very good.  This week look at all your investments; 401Ks, IRA, Annuities, Mutual Funds and Stocks and consider being fully invested in equities.  I have previously cautioned you to stay away from sovereign and municipal debt because of the threat of capital depreciation and default.  Interest rates are moving up so locking into long term bonds or CDs might be a mistake.  On the plus side housing prices are down and mortgages rates are low but moving up.

Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

3 Nasdaq stocks for 12/8

Here are 3 NASDAQ stocks that hit the most frequent new high on Barchart.  Try these for your watch list.

PARL - Parlux Fragrances - a manufacturer and international distributor of prestige products. It holds licenses for Paris Hilton fragrances, watches, cosmetics, sunglasses, handbags and other small leather accessories in addition to licenses to manufacture and distribute the designer fragrance brands of Perry Ellis, XOXO, Ocean Pacific, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, babyGund, and Fred Hayman Beverly Hills.

Paris Hilton? That's hot!!

  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 18 new highs in the last month
  • Up 11.63% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 70.60% and rising
  • Trading around 2.80 which is above it's 50 day moving average of 2.66
TXRH - Texas Roadhouse -a growing, moderately priced, full service restaurant chain. They offer an assortment of specially seasoned and aged steaks hand-cut daily in every restaurant and cooked to order over open gas-fired grills. They also offer their customers, whom they call their guests, a selection of ribs, fish, chicken and vegetable plates, an assortment of hamburgers, salads and sandwiches.
  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs in the last month
  • Up 12.97% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 81.99% and rising
  • Trading around 18.20 which is above its 50 day moving average of 15.88
SNTA - Synta Pharmaceuticals -a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Synta has a unique chemical compound library, an integrated discovery engine, and a diverse pipeline of clinical- and preclinical-stage drug candidates with distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures. All Synta drug candidates were invented by Synta scientists using our compound library and drug discovery capabilities. Synta has a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline for the joint development and commercialization of its lead investigational drug candidate, elesclomol, which is in a global, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs in the last month
  • Up 49.58% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 87.53
  • Trading around 5.35 which is above its 50 day moving average of 3.95 
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund - deleted

I'm deleting Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund (FAX) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High Portfolio for negative price momentum.

FAX is a closed-end, non-diversified investment company seeking current income through investment primarily in Australian debt securities. The Fund may also achieve incidental capital appreciation. It won't this year.  with a yield of 6.09% and a price loss of 3.21% this is not a winning position

I'm afraid of all sovereign and municipal debt in the short term.  The great argument at present is whether to raise revenue and cut spending or cut taxes and raise spending.

Technical reasons:

Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

3 AMEX picks for 12/7

Today I'm highlighting 3 AMEX stocks that I found on Barchart new highs screens.

KOG - Kodiak Oil -headquartered in Denver, is an independent energy exploration and development company focused on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas in the Williston and Greater Green River Basins in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. The primary function of the board of directors is therefore oversight - defining and enforcing standards of accountability that enable the CEO and senior management to execute their responsibilities fully and in the interests of the Company's shareholders.

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs last month
  • Up 34.14% last month
  • Relative Strength Index 85.26% and rising
  • Trades around 5.53 which is 30.2% above its 50 day moving average of 4.24
APP - American Apparel - is a vertically-integrated manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of branded fashion basic apparel based in downtown Los Angeles, California. American operates over 180 retail stores in 13 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Japan and South Korea. American Apparel also operates a leading wholesale business that supplies t-shirts and other casual wear to distributors and screen printers.
  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 12 new highs last month
  • Up 41.59% last month
  • Relative Strength Index 64.22% and rising
  • Trades around 1.60 which is 27.00% above its 50 day moving average of 1.26
TWO - Two Harbors Investments - is a Real Estate Investment Trust that focuses on investing in, financing and managing residential mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans. Its objective is to provide risk-adjusted returns to investors through dividends and capital appreciation. Two Harbors intends to acquire and manage a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, focusing on security selection and the relative value of various sectors within the mortgage market. As an investment strategy, the company expects to deploy moderate borrowings through, with respect to Agency RMBS, short-term borrowings structured as repurchase agreements and, with respect to non-Agency RMBS and residential mortgage loans, private funding sources. It may also finance portions of its portfolio through non-recourse term borrowing facilities and equity financing under the Legacy Loan Program and Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility (TALF), if such financing becomes available.
  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 12 new highs in the last month
  • Up 9.28% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 84.18% and rising
  • Trades around 10.15 which is 8.00% above its 50 day moving average of 9.40
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Pall filter out earnings

As both the industrial economy and health care industry come out of the recession Pall Corp (PLL) should be in both of their capital expenditure budgets They are a leading supplier of fine filters, principally made by the Company using its proprietary filter media, and other fluid clarification and separations equipment for the removal of solid, liquid and gaseous contaminants from a wide variety of liquids and gases. They serve customers in two distinct businesses: Health Care and Industrial. These businesses include the following major markets: BioPharmaceuticals and Medical and Aeropower and Fluid Processing.

The stock has enjoyed a price increase of 8.59% in the last month earning it a 100% Barchart technical buy signal.  The price was up in 10 of the last 20 trading sessions and currently trades around 48.68 which is 11.19% above its 50 day moving average of  43.78.  The Relative Strength Index is 74.95% and rising.

Wall Street analysts look for revenue growth of 6.00% this year and 5.90% next year but a lot of that will fall to the bottom line.  Earnings per share are expected to increase 16.50% this year, 13.80% next year and continue for 5 years at an annual rate of 11.65%.  These double digit EPS figures earned it 4 buy and 8 hold reports from the analysts for the brokers to push.

The general investing public likes this stock too with the CAPS members on Motley Fools thinking the stock will beat the market by a vote of 125 to 19 in agreement with the All Stars vote of 44 to 6.  Fool notes that the last 11 articles about the stock by Wall Street columnists have been positive.

Take notice of the recent price momentum and:

  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • Relative Strength Index of 74.95% and rising
  • Wall Street brokerage analysts predicting double digit earnings growth for at least 5 years
  • Positive investor sentiment
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Scudder Strategic Income - KST - deleted

Today I deleted Scudder Strategic Income Trust (KST) from the Barchart Van Meerten Income Trust for negative price momentum

  • 80% Barchart short term technical sell signal
  • Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
  • Trading below its 20 and 50 day moving averages
  • Relative Strength Index is 38.60% and dropping
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

Vonage Holdings - deleted 12/6

I'm deleting Vonage Holdings (VG) from the Barhart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio of negative price performance

  • 100% Barchart short term technical sell signal
  • Trading below its 20, 50 & 100 day moving averages
  • Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
  • Relative Strength Index is 37.70% and dropping
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.

3 NYSE picks for 12/6

Here are 3 NYSE stocks that have hit new highs on my Barchart screener.  These are not buy recommedations but stocks you might want to put on your watchlist.

HTS --Hatteras Financial -- an externally-managed mortgage real estate investment trust formed in 2007 to invest in adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government-sponsored entities, such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Hatteras Financial Corp. is managed and advised by Atlantic Capital Advisors LLC.
  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 16 new highs and up 6.10% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 93.94%
AZO -- Auto Zone -- the nation's leading specialty retailer of automotive parts and accessories, primarily focusing on do-it-yourself customers. Each of the company's auto parts store carries an extensive product line for cars, vans and light trucks, including new and re-manufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, and accessories. Many of the company's domestic auto parts stores also has a commercial sales program, which provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local repair garages, dealers and service stations.
  • 96% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 15 new highs and up 11.43% in the loast month
  • Relative Strength Index 98.33%
FTK -- Flotek Industries -- manufactures and markets innovative specialty chemicals, downhole drilling and production equipment, and management of automated bulk material handling, loading and blending facilities. It serves major and independent companies in the domestic and international oilfield service industry.
  • 100% Barchart technical buy signal
  • 15 new highs and up 163.13% in the last month
  • Relative Strength Index 94.14% and rising
Jim Van Meerten is an advisor to Marketocracy Capital Management who uses his model portfolios not only to manage their mutual funds but also their clients Separately Managed Accounts. You can read his blogs about those model portfolios and investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.




Disclosure: Jim Van Meerten through Marketocracy Capital Management has an interest in the stocks mentioned in this blog.