11 stocks to watch: February 22, 2010

Each weekend I use Barchart to screen for a list of stocks that I think may be of interest to my readers in the coming week. I am not recommending these stocks, I just want to share with you a screening process and it's up to you to do further research and see if there is a place in your portfolio for these issues.

I start with the list of stocks hitting new highs and lows for the last 20 days and sort for frequency. I then take the top 10 from each list that have hit new milestones in at least 50% of the last 20 sessions. That list of the 10 top gainers and 10 top losers is where I start.

I put them all in a test portfolio and then start eliminating stocks. First I cull any that do not score as 80% short term buy or sell signal on Barchart short term technical indicators. Next I cull any that do not have a positive or negative price change for the last 5 days. That list leaves me with just 11 issues out of the original 20. I list the information from Barchart and Yahoo Finance that is available to all of you.

Long Positions:

PTIE -- Pain Therapeutics is developing a new generation of opioid painkillers.Opioids are drugs derived from the poppy plant. The company uses technology to reformulate opioid drugs, such as morphine, into new painkillers with improved clinical benefits. The company has four opioid painkillers in Phase II clinical trials. The company believes its drugs offer enhanced pain relief, fewer adverse side effects and reduced tolerance and addiction compared to existing opioid painkillers.

The issue has hit new highs on 17 of the last 20 sessions with a 19.11% price appreciation in the last month. Analysts think the stock will increase sales 137.1% next year and have a 5 year compounded EPS growth rate of 83.0%

MEND -- Micrus Endovascular Corporation is a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

Increases in price in 17 of 20 sessions plus an increase in price of 33.66%.

ISSI -Integrated Silicon Solutions designs, develops and markets high performance memory devices including static random access memory, low and medium density dynamic random access memory, and nonvolatile memory, as well as voice recording devices and certain microcontrollers and embedded memories. Their memory devices are used in networking applications, telecommunications, data communications, disk drives and other peripherals, personal computers, office automation, instrumentation and consumer products.

The stock has had a price appreciation on 14 of the last 20 sessions and a 46.11% price increase of the month. Analysts look for sales to grow 14.5% and EPS by 29.4% nest year with a 10% 5 year compounded EPS growth for the next 5 years

ZARLF -- Zarlink Semiconductor delivers wired, wireless and optical connectivity solutions that bring together networks and people, and it provides highly specialized ultra low-power chipsets for use in medical applications. Zarlink customers include Samsung, Motorola, Alcatel, Mitsubishi, Cisco, Sony, Nortel, Lucent, Siemens, Ericsson and Fujitsu.

Price appreciation in 14 of the last 20 session with a price appreciation of 54.45%. Analysts look for sales increase of 9.8% plus EPS growth of 1500% (off a loss) and a 5 years EPS growth of 12.5%.

SLE -- Sara Lee Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-name products for consumers throughout the world. The company's mission is to continue to build leadership brands in consumer packaged goods categories. The company has three global businesses: Food and Beverage, Intimates and Underwear, and Household Products through which it manufactures and markets products of exceptional quality and value under leading, well-known brand names such as Sara Lee, Earth Grains, Jimmy Dean, Douwe Egberts, Chock full o' Nuts, Hanes and Playtex.

13 price increase in the last 29 sessions with a 14.79% price increase. Analysts estimate an increase in sales of 4.0% with EPS growth of 8.9% next year plus EPS growth of 8.77% for the next 5 years.

PRGO -- Perrigo Company, is the nations largest manufacturer of store brand over-the-counter (non-prescription) pharmaceutical products and also manufactures store brand nutritional products. Store brand products are sold by national and regional supermarket, drugstore and mass merchandise chains under their own labels and compete with nationally advertised brands. The Company's products include analgesics, cough and cold remedies, antacids, laxatives, feminine hygiene and smoking cessation products, and vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutritional drinks.

Price appreciation in 13 of 20 sessions and a price increase of 16.73% for that period. Analysts estimates of sales up 7.9%, EPS up 9.2% and 5 year EPS growth of 17.45%

LANC -- Lancaster Colony Corp. manufactures and markets three families of products: Glassware and Candles; Specialty Foods; and Automotive. Consumer glassware includes a diverse line of decorative and ornamental products such as tumblers, bowls, pitchers, jars and barware. The food products manufactured and sold include salad dressings and sauces; fruit glazes, veggie dips and fruit dips; frozen unbaked pies. It also manufactures and sells a complete line of rubber, vinyl and carpeted car mats both in the aftermarket and to original equipment manufacturers.

13 of the last 20 session have had price increases with a 14.58% price appreciation. Analysts think EPS will be up 43.33% this year and revenue up 4.1% next year.

Sell or Short positions -- If you own these consider selling; if you're experienced you might short these:

DTSI -- DTS, Inc. is a digital technology company dedicated to delivering the ultimate entertainment experience. DTS decoders are in virtually every major brand of 5.1-channel surround processors, and there are more than 300 million DTS-licensed consumer electronics products available worldwide. A pioneer in multi-channel audio, DTS technology is in home theatre, car audio, PC and game console products, as well as DVD-Video, Surround Music and DVD-ROM software.

Price decreases in 14 of the last 20 sessions for a loss of 12.41%.

PBIB -- PBI Bank, Inc. provide quality banking services, great rates and excellent customer service. We believe PBI Bank represents the future of banking and our growing customer base agrees. PBI Bank, Inc. is headquartered in Louisville, KY. They have many banking centers across Central Kentucky to serve our customers banking needs.

Price deceases in 13 of the last 20 sessions plus a 23.73 Loss in price

ELGX -- Endologix, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products for the treatment of coronary and vascular diseases. A leader in the emerging field of vascular brachytherapy, Endologix, has developed a unique method for the delivery of radiation to prevent restenosis following the interventional treatment of atherosclerosis.

11 prices losses in 20 sessions for a 15.62% loss.

Bonus stock:

This is a stock you may eventually hate. It has no revenue and has a lost of competition and it's price action may for tell a pump and dump. This is a lotto ticket.

NGLF -- National Golf Emprioum -- 17 price increase in to session for a 200% price increase -- only for the most experienced speculators.

Don't buy or sell any of these without through research to see if the trades are right for you.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on financial matters here and on Financial Tides. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com

Disclosure: no positions in any of these stocks at the time of publication

Medical devices are in demand

Each day when I screen on Barchart for the stocks that are hitting new highs the symbol MEND - Micrus Endovascular keeps coming up. When I sort for frequency this stock had 14 price advances in the last 20 trading sessions and had 4 in the most recent 5 days. It has enjoyed a 31.51% price increase in the last month. Barchart's 13 technical indicators hit a buy signal on all 13 indicators for a 100% buy rating

Micrus Endovascular Corporation is a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

Zack recently upgraded this company to a buy and other analysts agree. 11 analysts have increased their earning per share estimates in just the last 7 day. The consensus is for a 14.2% growth in sales and a 7.0 growth in EPS. The 5 year compounded EPS growth is estimated at 32.2%. Wall Street has 11 buy recommendations out with only 2 holds.

Other sites agree -- Motley Fool members think the stock will out perform the market by a vote of 72 to 4 with the All Stars in agreement 19 to 2. The Wall Street columnists Fool follows like the stock 16 to 0.

What more could you want in a stock:

1. Recent upgrade by Zacks
2. Price appreciation in more than 50% of the recent trading sessions
3. All 13 of Barchart's technical indicators signal buy
4. Other site like Motley Fool have over whelming interest

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on financial matters here and on Financial Tides. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com

Disclosure: no positions at the time of publication

The Long and Short of it - February 16,2010

Each day I go on Barchart and sort the new high and new low list for frequency. I then take the top 10 highs and the top 10 lows and do additional screening. I'll list here those that pass and might be good additions to your portfolio. Use this list as a starting point and then investigate each stock to see if it has a place in your portfolio.

Buy Long Stocks:

PTIE - Pain Therapeutics - 100% buy - 13 of 20 days of price appreciation and monthly return 16.17%

Pain Therapeutics is developing a new generation of opioid painkillers.Opioids are drugs derived from the poppy plant. The company uses technology to reformulate opioid drugs, such as morphine, into new painkillers with improved clinical benefits. The company has four opioid painkillers in Phase II clinical trials. The company believes its drugs offer enhanced pain relief, fewer adverse side effects and reduced tolerance and addiction compared to existing opioid painkillers.

MEND - Micrus Endovascular - 100% buy - 10 of 20 days of price appreciation and a monthly return of 25.18%

Micrus Endovascular Corporation is a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

XCHO - XenaCare Holdings - 100% buy - 13 of 20 days of price appreciation and a monthly return of 451.72%

XenaCare Holdings, Inc. engages in the formulation, marketing, and distribution of nutrition supplement products primarily in the United States. Its clinical products include XenaCor, which lowers serum cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine levels, designed to support cardiovascular health; XenaTri for lowering triglycerides and raising HDL to support cardiovascular health; and XenaZyme Plus that increases the body's oxygen carrying capacities, designed to support digestion. The company's clinical products also comprise body replenishment products. In addition, it offers formulations for the energy/lifestyle performance market, which consists of sports line for athletes, including SunPill that is formulated to protect the skin when exposed to damaging ultraviolet rays. XenaCare markets its products through the Internet, pharmacies, infomercials, and doctors' offices

REGN - Regeneron Pharma - 100% buy - 12 of 20 days of price appreciation with a 19.42% return

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and intends to commercialize therapeutic drugs for thetreatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron's platform technologies include Targeted GenomicsTM, FunctionomicsTM, and Designer Protein TherapeuticsTM. Regeneron has drugs in clinical and preclinical development for the potential treatment of obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, allergies, asthma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, constipating conditions, ischemia, and other diseases and disorders.

SGB - SouthWest Georgia - 100% buy - 13 days of price appreciation in the last 20 sessions and a 52.48% return

Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation is a state-chartered bank holding company with approximately $two hundred ninety million in assets headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia. Its primary subsidiary, Southwest Georgia Bank, offers comprehensive financial services to consumer, business, and governmental customers. The current banking facilities include the main office located in Colquitt County, and branch offices located in Baker County, Thomas County, and Worth County. In addition to conventional banking services, the bank provides investment planning and management, trust management, mortgage banking, and commercial and individual insurance products. Insurance products and advice are provided by Southwest Georgia Insurance Services which has an office in Colquitt County. Mortgage banking for primarily commercial properties is provided by Empire Financial Services, Inc., a mortgage banking services firm.


Sell or Short Stocks:
PKY - Parkway Properties - 100% sell with 13 price declines in the last 20 sessions and a 22.92% decline in price

Parkway Properties, Inc. is a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, ownership, management,financing and leasing of office properties in the Southeastern United States and Texas.

BSX - Boston Scientific - 100% sell rating with 11 price declines in 20 sessions and a 19.15% price decline

Boston Scientific Corporation is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive medical devices. The company's products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties, including cardiology, electrophysiology, gastroenterology, neuro-endovascular therapy, pulmonary medicine, radiology, urology and vascular surgery.

Please remember to research these stocks fully before adding to your portfolio

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on financial matters here and on Financial Tides. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com

Disclosure: I hold no positions in these stocks at the time of publication

Stock picks for February 11, 2010

The following stocks might be possible additions to your portfolio. Use BarChart to find further information:

NQM - Nuveen Inv Quality - closed end Muni bond fund -- recent price appreciation in 5 of 5 days

CRWG - Crowdgather -- a OTC bulletin board stock -- social networking -- recent price appreciation in 5 of the last 5 trading sessions

MPAC -- Mod - Pac -- a small run specialty printing firm -- recent price appreciation in 5 of the last 5 trading sessions

TBNK -- Territorial BanCorp -- small regional banks are hot and this one is in the prime market of Hiwaii -- 5 of 5 days of price appreciation

MEND --Micrus Endovascular -- medical devices --5 straight day of upward momentum

These are just a start -- please use Barchart and your own tools before adding to your portfolio

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on financial matters here and on Financial Tides. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com

Disclosure -- no positions in these stocks at the time of this publication.