Wal-Mart just doesn't slow down

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) is the world's largest retailer. They are engaged in the operation of mass merchandising stores, which serve their customers primarily through the operation of three segments, which are the Wal-Mart Stores segment, the SAM'S Club segment and the International segment.

The company just seems to have world domination as their goal and just might accomplish that.  They are adding higher priced items to boost the sales figures.  They are going after the "Dollar Store" market by opening more of their smaller stores around the US.  Since price is the key they have a plan to eliminate as many of the middle men as possible and buy directly from the manufacturers.  Eliminating the spread taken by the middleman should fall to the bottom line.

I noticed the recent price momentum and Barchart has a 100% technical buy signal.  The price is up 2.74% this month and the Relative Strength Index is 62.36% and rising.  The stock recently traded around 54.73 which is 3.68% above its 50 Day Moving Average.

Wall Street brokerages all recommend the stock as a core position and have published 23 buy and 7 hold report for their clients with no negative recommendations.  They predict a 3.90% increase in sales this year and 5.00% next year.  The savings I discussed above are expected to fall to the bottom line with an increase in earnings per share of 9.80% this year, 9.50% next year and continue for an annual compounded increase of 10.11% for the next 5 years.

If you are looking for a company that has a wide and positive general investor following this is it.  The CAPS members over on Motley Fool vote 5,843 to 748 that the stock will beat the market and the All Stars agree with a vote of 1,394 to 110.

Fool notes that all 33 of the last articles written by Wall Street columnists have been positive.

Wal-Mart deserves attention as a core position because:

• Wall Street brokerages predict double digit earnings growth for at least 5 years
• Barchart has a 100% technical buy signal
• The stock is widely held and continues to have favorable press

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.

Netsol Technologies - NTWK - deleted

This morning I deleted Netsol Technologies (NTWK) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price momentum and:

• 60% Barchart short term sell signal
• Down 19.60% in the last 5 days
• Relative Strength Index 42.12% and falling
• Trading 10.11% below 20 day moving average
• Trading 19.60% below 5 day moving average

Let the data do the talking.  Don't worry about one bad stock.  The goal is to build a portfolio of stocks that together beat the benchmarks.  Sell and move on.

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.

Liz Claiborne - LIZ - deleted

Today I deleted Liz Claiborne (LIZ) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price momentum and :

• 60% Barchart short term sell signal
• Price down 7.94% in the last 5 days
• Relative Strength Index 43.86% and falling
• The 20 day moving average has dropped 8.22%

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.

Sara Palin

I know my blogs are supposed to be just about finance and economics but politics does matter and effects both of them.  I've been asked if Sara Palin is really a factor in this election.  My view:

Sara Palin is definitely the Head Cheerleader and will probably win Most Popular but in the end the voters are smart and she will not win Most Likely to Succeed and in not even in the running for Valedictorian.

How do you see her influence?

Is Texas Instrument a come back kid?

Texas Instruments (TXN) fell on hard times in this recession but looks like it is poised for a full recovery.  TXN is a global semiconductor company and one of the world's leading designers and suppliers of digital signal processors and analog integrated circuits, the engines driving the digitization of electronics. These two types of semiconductor products work together in digital electronic devices such as digital cellular phones. Other semiconductor products include standard logic, application- specific integrated circuits, reduced instruction-set computing microprocessors, microcontrollers and digital imaging devices.

The stock's price has strong and consistent upward price momentum with 10 new highs in the last 20 sessions and 5 new highs in the last 5 sessions for an 8.58% price increase last month.  The stock has a Barchart 100% overall buy signal and the Relative Strength Index is 69.84% and rising.  The stock recently traded at 29.32 well above its 50 day moving average of 26.47.

Wall Street has predicted this turn around with 19 buy and 16 hold reports published for their clients.  They predict a 33.50% increase in sales this year and 1.00% next year.  The real story in in their earnings estimates of an increase of 116.50% this year and an annual 5 year compounded EPS growth rate of 10.00%.

The has been a lot of positive press lately with Wall Street columnists writing favorable articles 32 to 2.  The general investing public over on Motley Fool has taken notice and the CAPS members vote 1,482 to 111 that the stock will beat the market.  The All Stars agree with a vote of 444 to 19.

This stock looks like a turn around in the making and it's not too late to get on board.

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.

Old Republic International -- ORI - deleted

Today I'm deleting Old Republic International (ORI ) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio. for negative price momentum and:

• Barchart 60% short term sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Lost 6.83% last week
• Relative strength Index is 34.05% and tanking

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.

Jos A Banks -- JOSB -- delete

One of the rules you have to follow is that you cannot fall in love with a stock.  That's why with sad heart I must cut Jos. A Banks (JOSB) loose from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio.  One sale last week was buy a wool suit at regular price and get $1,000 worth of merchandise free. The sales they are having this week might be a sign but look at the numbers:

• 60% Barchart short tern sell
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Lost 5.98% in the last week
• Relative Strength Index is 39.79% 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.

Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio beats the S&P 500 again

One of the best ways to evaluate your investment adviser's ability is to see if he beats the S&P 500 on a consistent basis.  I've maintained the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio on Marketocracy for a little over 2 years.  Here's how I've done using the Barchart tools.

Period  VMSPC vs.  S&P 500 = value added

1 year 19.66% vs 13.25% = 6.41%

2 year 65.97% vs. 33.29% = 32.68%

Follow the portfolios, learn to use the tools on Barchart

New High portfolio beats the S&P 500 again

The best way to try to gauge your investment adviser's ability is to evaluate if he adds value over the common benchmarks.  The easiest measure is can he beat the S&P 500 on a consistent basis?.  I have maintained the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio on Marketocracy for over 5 years.  How have I done?

Period VMNHI vs S&P 500  = my value added

1 year 28.44% vs. 13.25% = 15.19%

2 year 58.22% vs. 33.29% = 24.94%

3 year 22.41% vs. -17.25% = 39.66%

5 year 92.72% vs. 9.75% = 82.97%

I've beaten the S&P 500 for all time periods

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.