The Ambitious Trader: Stocks, Trading, Investing..My Ambitions as a Trader and Investor

This is a one way ticket that takes you on a wonderful journey into the vast world that is the stock market through my eyes, my point of view.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Dow takes a Nose Dive while NASDAQ holds tight



Hey folks,

Getting pretty busy right now, with the end of the semester and all that. So I'll be brief and post some info. Today, the Dow took a dive of -82.29 on fears strong growth in the GDP (lol hey who figured this was supposed to be a bad thing!) and of course, rising interest rates (this rising interest rates play is becoming out of style). The NASDAQ (which we can see is in rally mode -because of the strong tech, internet and healthcare, retail and bio-tech comeback) actually closed up a few cents (+0.11). The S&P also closed down (-8.00).

So who did well today?

Plexus Inc (PLXS) which I have mentioned over a week ago at 20.10 (check out Plexus is Next on the List article on November 17, 2005) has hit a new 52wk high and a closed at the high of the day at 21.50

Plexus Inc (PLXS) 3 month chart

The stock is still showing strength as is the industry that PLXS is part of. I expect the stock to continue its rise (although a few bumps in the road should be expected) possibly even hitting 23.50 or higher. Notice that the Money Flow for PLXS has been down for a while and is starting to trend the positive area. Any new Institutional Ownership at this point will and can send this stock thru the roof!









Also, I'm back into American Retirement Corp (ACR). I sold my original position in the low-high 24 dollar range. I bought a few shares yesterday at the low 24 and mid to high 23 dollar range. Its a small position, so we'll see how that goes. I still like the stock, but I am worried that the Frist family name is associated with ACR. This could potentially lead the stock to its doom, so I am very careful with this. If there are no bumps in the road, ACR can easily see 27 bucks shortly. If not, its back down to 18 we go.

American Retirement Corp (ACR) 3 month chart


I have mentioned ACR numerous times, recommending it between a range of prices (high 16's -18). The first time I mentioned ACR was on September 4th, 2005 (My Real #1 Stock Pick is... article). ACR is currently trading at 24.62.











Solexa Inc (SLXA), one of my first picks, also had a nice day. SLXA has been flying all over the place the last few weeks, as the stock is trying to establish a sound following and a better chart. I believe that the stock has finally achieved both. At 8.79, SLXA may be offering a nice buy stage for the 2nd time (first time was when I mentioned it when it was no more than high 4's low 5's).

Solexa Inc (SLXA) 3 month chart

SLXA is currently trading at 8.79. Nice chart now, huh? My opinion is that it went up wayyy to fast for its own good. The top and pullback gave a good opportunity for a 1st stage profit (for those who got in early) and a nice 2nd chance to buy. Those who were unfortunate to buy at the top, have a chance to redeem themeselves, lol.










One stock that I am dissapointed to see drop, is Birner Dental Managment Services inc (BDMS). So yeah the stock has dropped to 17.85. The funny thing is, managment has issued a stock buy-back plan. Hmm..seem a little suspicious?! I wouldn't be surprised to see the stock drop a little more so that they can load up like crazy. I say you follow their lead and load up as well once the stock reverses its trend.



Birner Dental Managment Services Inc (BDMS) 3 month Chart

Gee, I wish I mentioned it as a buy here. But I didn't, my bad. Anyway, its still a buy in my book. I always treat a drop or a pullback as a buying opportunity on a good stock (as long as their aren't any skeletons in their closets that caused the drop).











Titanium Metals Corp (TIE) has been en fuego for a few weeks now. I know I recommended the stock in the past and I hope a few of you caught on to it. I first noticed it a while ago (before the split). Once the split had occured, insiders bought in like crazy in the 30 dollar range. At 63.15, it has practically doubled. The stock was downgraded by LongBow (what crack-a$$ firm is that, lol..), which I never heard of and obviously neither did anyone else (thats why its still going up, despite the stupid downgrade). So I guess LongBow wants to get in and grab some shares. Where were you LongBow when the stock was at 40 bucks?! Obviously not in TIE, thats for sure! My opinion, you can play it like your name's Mr. Risk and buy between low 60's and 62, or wait for a consolidation. Its up to you. This stock could realisticly hit 90 bucks. It is only trading at 18x earnings, which isn't bad. Anyway, the choice is up to you, just be careful buying at these levels. Buy a little by little, and take advantage of key dips and retreats near the 50day Ma.

Titanium Metals Corp (TIE) 3 month chart

Friggin' Sweet! I really like this chart, but with the 50day Ma at 46, its gots to come down, at least a little!











Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QSC) at 0.91 is a small biopharma company that I picked a few weeks back due to the increase in insider buying (actually, pretty nice insider buying). The stock took a big pop at that time and then slowly drifted down to the .70 cent range, where insiders loaded up even more. Finally its starting to form a more clear uptrend channel.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QSC) 3 month chart

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Sometimes IT IS all about Fun and Games...


Who says toys are just for kids?! Of course youth is what you make it, so go ahead and play a few games and toys! Now although I am not expecting to see you trying to ride your way up and down your street on a tricycle, I do expect you to check out some of these stocks that are all about having some fun...

Although the toy/game stock industry sector is in the pits, there are a few winners that have emerged once the dust settled. I have to say though, these stocks do have a higher degree of risk due to the lagging industry they are in.


Jakks Pacific Inc (JAKK) at 20.90 (on the NASDAQ)

Jakks Pacific Inc (JAKK) 3 month chart




















Mattel Inc (MAT) at 16.93

Mattel Inc (MAT) 3 month chart



















Mega Bloks Inc (MB.TSX) at 25.40

Mega Bloks Inc (MB.TSX) 1 yr chart

Just one more reason why it may be worth opening up a seperate account with Interactive Brokers to trade Canadian stocks. Just by looking at the chart, I can tell you this stock is hot! Ready for the next leg up?
















Mega Bloks Inc (MB.TSX) 3 month chart

























Being Overconfident Kills........


You know how it is: You've just started trading. As a matter of fact you're starting to get the hang of it. Pretty soon, you have a string of succesful trades and an inflated ego the size of Mt. Everest. Too much of a good thing must be true. Not quite, especially when it comes to overconfidence in the securities trading markets. Being very confident at a job interview may help you land the job, but when it comes to trading stocks (even options, etc), it will help you land a huge loss. You see, a little anxiety never hurt anybody. Being overconfident or in a manic state will often lead you to play grandiose and over the top risky plays and ideas. It can also draw down your anxiety level, thus leading you to miss important selling cues. Overconfidence can also lead you to slack off and not put too much effort or time into studying your current or future picks. The "hey I got this, no need to worry" attitude that comes with overconfidence can surely destroy anyones once blossoming portfolio.

So the moral of the story is....get real, get over yourself and stop the bragging. Keep your confidence in check and your wits about you because the market is a game that can quickly turn the player, into the played.

-Nick M. H

An unimpressive day, once again...


Ahhh, another boring consolidation day. Today is day #2! Its funny, how despite positive industry reports( the day started nicely, innocently enough), one mention of the word "interest rates" can send investors heading for the hills.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Todays market action was just plain ugly.....


As a matter of fact I couldn't even stand to look at the tape. Most of the glances I took were to see how some of my holdings and picks were fairing.

I suppose when you are used to a bullish rally, down days seem to come as a dissapointment or a fear that the rally has peaked (which I'm sure it hasn't yet).

Some of todays winners were Options Xpress (OXPS) and Neoware Inc (NWRE)-both of which I have recommended as picks not too long ago.

Other notables were CMED and MTXX and GMK and ACH (which I will mention a little later, as I have added a small position to each).

Is Yahoo! finally a better deal than Google??!!


"what goes up, must come down".
Issac Newton certainly knew this adage all too well when he developed his scientific theory of gravity (law). Certainly if Issac Newton were alive today, he would surely be talking about the stock market and the stocks that compose it.

All I know is, no matter how high up a stock moves, its bound to eventually lose steam and settle back down. Which is exactly why I SOLD my GOOG (Google) not too long ago. It had a nice ride and I was lucky enough to go along with it, but enough is enough. There are better deals out there. Better value from competitors. In order to gain an edge, you have to think outside the box. You can't be biased towards one stock. Many who like GOOG will tell you they hate YHOO (Yahoo) and vice versa. This type of thinking is not productive and it leads you to miss excellent opportunites in similar stocks. You have to drop the word "hate" and "love" when it comes to stocks and start thinking about them more mutually in strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons. Thats more like it. This isn't a relationship. There isn't a love or hate component. And there shouldn't be. With that in mind, lets take a look at a stock that I believe is a better value than GOOG.

Chances are that you've seen it and used it before. Its good 'ol Yahoo! of course!

Yahoo! (YHOO) 3 month chart


Its not just the chart that's attractive. At 41.11, YHOO is a bargain compared to GOOG. I believe that regardless of P/E, YHOO may have an edge technically ( just my opinion).

YHOO trades under 50xEarnings (around 54 for Forward P/E). In that respect, YHOO is cheap in stock price.
















Google Inc (GOOG) 3 month chart



GOOG, on the other hand trades over 90x Earnings. Clearly more expensive than YHOO.

*CORRECTION: Forward P/E on GOOG is actually 49.9, while Forward P/E for YHOO is 54. The gap is narrowing, but still GOOG IS STILL slightly cheaper than YHOO.

















So whats going on? Whats all this talk about GOOG being cheaper than YHOO (Cramer). That was over 100 points ago. That was then, this is now. Want a deal? My opinion is, go with the YHOO. Oh and check the accumulation and buying from mutual funds. I see 10,000-20,000 share block buys going on all day for YHOO. What about GOOG? 1000 share block buys if its lucky.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Making a list and checking it twice......

Hey folks...

It's that time again. Time for some more hot stock searching....I'll be checking in periodically to add more content to this post. I am also busy studying for ANOTHER exam that I will have on this coming Monday ( I know, the fun never ends!).

So here it is, my holiday wish list. These are the stocks that I wished I owned right now and through the holiday's. As you will notice, the list is pretty thorough, covering stocks from many different industries. So I am hoping that I gave you a few ideas and maybe a reassurance on a stock pick that you may have had in mind. Of course there are many other hot picks that I have under my sleeve, but you didn't think I was going to just lay them all on the table like that! I'll be sure to post some more hot ones soon. But for now HW time!

---------------------



Per-Se Technologies Inc (PSTI) is a NASDAQ stock trading at $23.56. It is in the Healthcare Commerical Services industry and arguably the most attractive out of that group. Accumulation from mutual funds and growth minded investors has been up the last few weeks. But thats not whats only been up. The stock has recently broke out of its base and is starting what looks like a new uptrend.

Per-Se Technologies Inc (PSTI) 3 month chart


There's the breakout at 20 and theres the stock begining its upward move. Its a beautiful breakout that is giving us one more chance to jump in before its too late! Also notice the increase in money flow (positive) at the bottom of the chart.









It seems as if as soon as we discovered that retail stocks have bottomed out, they took off like a rocket, without giving us a chance to plant our money into them. Thats where Urban Outfitters (URBN) comes in! URBN is one of my favorite stores. One of the reason is that I like the cool gifts (the Family Guy and Napolean Dynamite and some of the raunchy stuff as well, lol). Now I have another reason-the stock!

Urban Outfitters (URBN) 3 month chart


Under 33, URBN is a steal! If you are doubtful wait for the stock to establish a more sound breakout, but also be prepared to pay a higher admission fee.











Graham Corp (GHM) at 22.98 is a tiny, low float stock trading on the AMEX. Its in the Machinary-General Industrial Industry and the stock has been hot as of late. Since this is a low float stock thats trading on the AMEX, I have to stress the riskiness of it.

Graham Corp (GHM) 3 month chart


Make sure you don't go too crazy if you choose to buy GHM. It is very volatile, so keep a sharp eye on it and try to get it under 22 if possible. Always keep your eye on the dips and buy on them.










Those that want a taste of Vegas, but want a better chance of scoring big can opt to pour their money into the company stock instead of the companies slots and blackjack tables. I am picky when it comes to casino stocks, so this was an easy choice. So I picked the Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) which is currently trading at 45.41 on the NYSE.

Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) 3 month chart

Although a relatively new issue, LVS is already trying to establish itself as a real player. Notice how the stock is trying to finish the shape up of the right side of the base.













Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) 3 month chart


Here is a 3 month chart showing the bottom and the breakout of the stock at 34. The stock still has some way to go. You can either buy now or wait until it finishes the base and buy at the handle.











Ok, since I mentioned LVS, I gotta mention Boyd Gaming (BYD). Yep, BYD is another one that has bottomed out and is starting to heat up. BYD is currently trading at 50.04. So this is the 2nd and last casino stock that I will mention for a while.

Boyd Gaming (BYD) 3 month chart


The stock bottomed at 43 and is currently at 50. You can buy now or wait for a small drop to the 48/49 dollar level.












Motorola Inc (MOT) is a stock that I'd never, ever thought I would recommend. This is because I believed that the company had little to no growth left. Boy was I wrong. Fast forward a few weeks and look what we have. MOT is back and is ready to make a comeback. I am sure that with their new Razr Phones and the Apple I-tunes phone, they are making a killing. And its starting to show. So yeah, buy some MOT. Also this is a fairly safe stock, so don't be afraid to go buc-wild with the money, lol.

Motorola Inc (MOT) 3 month chart


Gotta love the way its stick above the 50 Day Ma. If you can buy below 24, go for it! If you don't feel like missing out, buy a few shares now and add to it if and when it falls a little.











Banco Santander Chile (SAN) is my favorite Latin American...wait, make that favorite foreign bank, period! It is currently trading at 44.50 on the NYSE and it has high growth prospects.

Banco Santander Chile (SAN) 3 month chart



Nice chart! Also slow and steady volume increases really help display SAN's high growth potential! A definite buy at these prices!











Drink and be Merry! Thats how most of us are during the holiday season! It starts with the big candy rush of Halloween, cuts through Thanksgiving, marched onwards thru the holiday season, and peaks at New Years Eve/Day! Yeah thats a lot of eating and drinking, which means a lot of us will have to find ways to trim the fat. So what can we buy in anticipation of this weight conscious attitude? Well we mentioned BFT (Balleys Total Fitness). I have a few more to throw in. The first is.......
Nautilus Inc (NLS) at 17.96. NLS makes work out equipment for the home and gym. Its been in the middle of a downward trend for a while (since it peaked at 29). Now it seems as if the stock has hit its first bottom.

Nautilus Inc (NLS) 3 month chart


My advice is, buy some for now and add to the position as it hangs above the 50day MA. This can be a sure fire winner this holiday season!













Weight Watchers Inc (WTW) is the other stock that I will recommend for the health conscious consumer! WTW is currently trading at 47.94 on the NYSE. As of late, it has been gobbled up by mutual funds, so its safe to say that they see some growth left in WTW.

Weight Watchers Inc (WTW) 3 month chart

Notice the nice increase in volume once the stock dropped? Thats the institutions grabbing shares at basement prices!













Lets face it: The Computer Medical Software industry has been hot! So how do we grab a piece of it? Well you can go with the big names like QSII or CERN. Or if you are like me, you want to grab some of the upstarts that just started their big moves. One of my favorites right now is...
Vital Images Inc (VTAL), trading at 27.05 on the NAz.

Vital Images Inc (VTAL) 3 month chart


With the stock just recently breaking out, it is far more of an attractive investment than QSII. At under 28, it is a steal!












The 2nd stock that I like in the group is Computer Programs and Systems Inc (CPSI). At 38.26, I believe its a good bargain for a great stock that has been shot down in the last few weeks. I believe that since the stock has shown some strenght and kept above its 50day MA, it will attempt a 2nd breakout. I believe it will be succesful this time around.

Computer Programs and Systems Inc (CPSI) 3 month chart


Notice that institutional investors picked the stock up when it fell and prevented it through slicing down through the 50day Ma.












Some of my favorite stocks are in the next group. I am talking about the Medical Systems and Equipment group! Personally, I'm tired of the ISRG's, the CUTR's the ELOS's, the IRIS's and the SMTS's. Those were good, but they had a run up. But I believe there are a few that haven't had their run up yet. My favorite in the group right now is Hologic Inc (HOLX). I believe its the next "ISRG". The stock is currently at 69.96 and is still gobbled up by institutions! It is a technical and safe stock that (so far) hasn't really strayed too far from its 50day MA. This is because HOLX is an excellent growth company that slowly improves itself, quarter after quarter.

Hologic Inc (HOLX) 3 month chart


Nice chart! I belive that HOLX's chart speaks for itself!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

hey ladies and gents!

I just wanted to pop up and wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day! I'm busy over here at my house, cooking like a mad man, along with my folks! We have about 40 or more guests coming a little later, so its a lot of work! So right now I'm done roasting the turkey and I'm busy roasting the pig, lol. Anyways guys, please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! And try to not eat too much! I tend to gain over 10 pounds after each turkey day! Like clockwork, it happens every year. Oh well, off to BFT (Balley's Total Fitness) we go!
Later guys!

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

What I'm into.....

Well first off, I sold my GOOG. It was about time. I made a nice gain (I'm not gonna lie) as I have been in it for a while (one of my 1st stocks). I'm kinda glad I sold because, I get the profit and I get to put my money to work again in other stocks. So lets see, what have I been eyeing....

Well I did like SRLS this morning...and I was going to buy, until I noticed the disgusting action. Once I saw the stock drop to the 21.50 level I knew it was better to wait. Also the large bids in the 19 dollar range also gave me a bad hunch. We'll see were it goes from here.

SRLS trips and falls.......

lol, eh heheh, bad call guys!

I have to admit, I was hoping the stock would come down in price, as to provide a good entry point, but this was a bit excessive! Having the stock down over 11% along with a 400% in volume is generally not a good thing. The other weird thing about it is its down another 40 cents AH. I don't know what to make of it at the moment (there is no PR or news out to take claim for the drop). I am hoping that the stock does not continue to get pummeled tommorow. If you see it bouncing off the 50day, grab it for a quick swing trade. Otherwise leave it alone, there are other stocks out there worth our time and money!

Paying attention to big intra-day buying...

Hey guys, this is especially important!

If you are wondering if a stock that you want to buy is being scooped up by institutions and big money players, you need to see some big block buys going thru the bid.

SLXA for instance has been hammered the last few days (the private stock placement and the quick run-up did more damage than good). Still the stock did not fall on extraordinary high volume (which would signal a massive sell off). Instead it fell with average volume (not a bad sign). And today, I see a few big buys in the 2500 share range (also a good sign). So I believe that by taking a look at those factors, you can assess how a stock is hanging in on less than ideal moments. The same can be said about QDEL. Although it dipped 20 cents from yesterdays impressive run, the stock is still peppered with big institutional buys (thousands of shares), while the sells are few and smaller (indicating some profit taking from regular investors and traders).

New hot buys.......

ASVI
ESC
INB
SRLS
CSU
SIFY

Message to the Readers: I'm currently at school right now, so the info I can post is limited. I have a test in a few hours and another one tomm, before Thanksgiving Break. I will try to catch up on stats and charts on the mini vacation. I have to apologize to the readers though on the lack of content and quality of my postings and discussions during the past few weeks. With school, work, and HW, keeping up with the blog is not that easy. I'm already running on a turbo-charged schedule. As a matter of fact, on average, I get about 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Sometimes only 3, if I have a lot of studying to do. The only time I have to research stocks is in the wee hours of the early morning 1-3 am, lol. So, the problem is the limited amount of time, not the quality of research that I put in, in recommending stocks and ideas. I appreciate those who do read my blog on a daily basis. The only thing I can promise you is my undying interest in the market and tradable equities. Because of this great interest, you can expect me to continue working on and improving the blog as time goes by. I am still a newbie at this as well. All i know is that the market is exciting and a wonderful place to make money (if done correctly and efficiently) and my goal is to go through this experience with anyone and everyone who reads my blog. Thats all! Have a good day and happy trading.

Defying the Rules of Gravity....

Hey guys,

Although the market is down a bit due to Oil and Gold price increases (among other factors, profit taking, etc), I can't help but notice a few favorites that buck the trend and continue to impress me. ACR is one of them. What can I say?! ACR's stock continues to make daily and 52wk highs. The stock hit a 52wk high of 24.98 (so far). It is currently trading around the 24.79 area.

Remember, take some profits time to time!
OH and if you like ACR, you may also like ESC and CSU (just broke out). I think that when funds permit, I will add these to the 'folio as well.

Monday, November 21, 2005

BOT, CME, NADQ........Exchange stocks that are worth more than some spare change

Guys,


When the market is hot, so are the exchange stocks! CBOT, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are redhot right now and so is the NDAQ, which you guessed it. Its the Naz's stock (Dave, thanks for bringing it up today, I almost forgot about it!). NDAQ is a definite buy, just let it dip a little. Short term, its going to $50. And also, we can play this even if the market turns sour. In that instance we would short the NDAQ. For now, long it.

BDSI, ACR, and QDEL continue to impress me...

On the other hand, SLXA has me scratching the back of my head, wondering "why?". I can only say this. A stock that runs up hard, can always run down hard. And thats exactly what is doing. I still think its okay. But I'm being a little cautious with it, just incase things turn really sour (never expect or assume that the worst is over, trust me!). Anyways, on the other hand, what do you guys think about OptionsXpress Holdings (OXPS)? A nice little gem, isn't it? Look at the volume today! Phenominal! Thats almost a 400% increase! You are looking at a $40 stock in the making! I also have a few other favorites. I also like MTXX (Cramer kinda beat me to it), QGLY, CLDN, PSTI, VTIV, MRGE, and a few others that I want to highlight! Gotta study for the exams though! I got one tomm morning, so duty's gotta call first!

Also check out ACR (wow, all time high), QDEL and PLXS (moving along nicely). BDSI is doing good so far. Oh and I want to maybe issue a warning on ACR! Not to scare you, but I have heard a rumor that a legal team has launced an investigative probe to see if that Bill Frist senator dude had insider info on his trade with ACR. Those who know what happened to HCA, know why I'm getting a little worried. I hate to say sell, but maybe a little profit taking wouldn't hurt! Its just that I would hate to see something like this destroy the terrific gains that we have been getting with ACR.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Time to take a profit on NNVC.PK

For those who have bought NNVC.PK when I first mentioned it (during the bird-flu craze), I recommend that you at least take some profits because the stock price has more than doubled since that point. Personally, I'm selling my entire position. You can do what you want, but at least sell half. That way if it goes up, it goes up. If it goes down, well at least you made your profit.

Stocks from the Gutter- Bottom Fishing for more forgotten gems......

Hey folks,


When bottom fishing for stocks, there are several important factors that you need to weigh in. You have to look at fundamentals. Have they changed? What poor fundamentals led the company to sell off and slide down (bad earnings, bad news, lawsuits, wrongful deaths, etc). You have to see if the fundamentals have turned favorable again. Has the company turned itself around? Have they issued upped guidance, debt reduction, improving earnings, new, exciting and innovative products? All these have a factor. Those are the fundamentals.

What about the technicals? These can include chart patterns, such as a double or triple bottom formation. Has there been a huge spike in volume when the stock made a bottom? Is there any increase in insider or institutional buying/ownership? Has the stock crossed over its 5oday or 200 day with above average volume (signaling insitutional support)? If yes, then you have a good contender. Just remember that the stocks that have fallen from grace have fallen from it for a reason. With that thought in mind, try to keep it neat and simple. Do not buy the shares with a dream that the company is going to make the comeback of the year and retest previous 52wk highs. Its probably not gonna happen. Instead, buy these stocks with a mindset of a swing trader. Its more like wam-bam-thankyou-M'am kinda relationship. You marry you fiance, you don't marry your stocks! From what I am told, one marriage is enough, lol!


Design Within Reach Inc (DWRI) is trading at 5.85 on the NAs.


Intralase Corp (ILSE) is a stock trading on the NASDAQ for 17.44. The stock looks like it has already bottomed out, as it has already broke out and above its 50day MA. Now only one question remains. Is ILSE ready to start an ascending pattern? Time will tell. Personally, I'd like to see more institutional sponsership. Then we'll talk. Also keep in mind that the Medical Systems and Equipment industry group is a hot group right now with such heavyweights such as CUTR, ELOS, ISRG, SMTS, IRIS, and many more. These may be more worth your time until ILSE further establishes a postive trend.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Online Brokerage house Highlight: Interactive Brokers.Com

Guys,

I have just discovered a pretty interesting online brokerage house/firm. It is called Interactive Brokers and you can check 'em out at www.interactivebrokers.com They allow you to purchase a wide variety of market instruments and securities from a wide variety of markets, world wide (including Canadian Stocks on the TSX and TSX Venture, Europe, Australia, etc). I will try to do some more research on them and I may actually open up an account! So far this is the hottest online brokerage that I have found! I always wanted to invest is some foreign equities (without having to purchase the ADR's or Pinksheet versions) and now I have my chance!

Don't rule out Manufacturers of Retail Goods......

Hey guys,


With so much emphasis on Retail Stocks making a comeback, few people include the companys that manufacture these retail goodies. Sure they have been hit too because of the oil prices. But did you notice they are making a comeback? Well they are. At least the good ones are. Most of these companies are clothing manufacturers, so just keep that in mind. The stocks are....

Volcom Inc (VLCM)
Under Armour Inc (UARM)
Coach (COH)
Phillips-Van Huesen Corp (PVH)
Jones Apparel Group Inc (JNY, for the ladies)
Tefron Ltd. (TFR, long term play)

All aboard the Options Xpress Train.......

Hey guys,


The OptionsXpress (Holdings) train (OXPS) has started running on the NaZ and its been full steam ahead!

OptionsXpress Holdings (OXPS) 3 month chart

Nice chart! The stock dipped down 2% on Friday. As a result, many people took that as an opportunity to buy.

The stock is currently trading at 22. If you can get some under 22, like in the 21 dollar range or lower, then load it up!




Wutzitdo?- OXPS provides an online brokerage service (specializing in Options, of course) to investors and traders thru its website, www.optionsxpress.com OXPS is a relatively new issue that debuted this past February (2005).

AMEX All*Stars

Hey folks,

Hey I know I have been slow with the postings and what not, but its becoming an increasingly busy end-of-the-month scramble. I have a couple of exams before Thanksgiving, so I have been studying like a madman over here. Also, my family and I always have a Thanksgiving Day party/dinner/gathering (we're Greek so just like Italians, we have a whole big family and relatives, lol). So I got a whole lot to do and also food shopping (I bet ya didn't know I could cook-master chef over here! Lol, jus playing.). So yeah, I gotta whole lotta. But! I still have a few minutes to spare, so I decided to show you a few stocks on the AMEX that have caught my attention the past few days. Here's the list. I will post some charts a little later. Check em' out and let me know what you think! Opinions are always welcomed! I wouldn't mind some STOCK RELATED chat from my guests! Everyone posts about Virus's, Private Construction, Kissing, Real Estate, et, blah blah blah (except for Big Dave, he's got my back!).


EZEM
CAS - deals with
BL - mail rder catalog (RETAIL) similar to Sportsman Guide
IVX- Generic Drug manufacturer, similar to HITK (HI-tech Pharma-which has been hot lately and is being added to the Bio-Tech Index)
That's right, just four stocks! The rest are trash and ETF-style securities.

E-Z-EM Inc (EZEM) 3 month chart

let the stock come down to you first, then buy. EZEM makes medical products that radiologist and gastroenterologists used to screen and diagnose gastointestinal inflictions.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Plexus is Next on the list.......

Hey folks,


Hunting through some stock charts today, I came across a stock that is just too hot to pass up. I would have put it in my Short Term/LongTerm Investment section, but I decided to give it its own post. I am a little pressed for time, so I will post some charts to show you the stock and why I like it. The stock is called Plexus Corp (PLXS) on the NASDAQ, and its currently trading at 20.10 (20.16 AH). So why do I like this stock?

Plexus Corp (PLXS) 2 year chart


The cup and handle shape is quite evident in the 2yr chart. In a way, PLXS's comeback has been 2yrs in the making. Amazing if you think about it. Reminds me of VPHM's and GLW's comebacks.








Keep your eye out for Under Armour (UARM)...

Hey folks,


I know I didn't finish last nights stock special, but I have been swamped with HW. There is so much to do before Thanksgiving, its just plain bananas. Anyway, I haven't forgotten about it. I will try to finish it, piece by piece. For now I want to draw your attention to Under Armour (UARM) which should be debuting today (or tomm?). This stock is going to be hot, unlike CCO which in my opinion was a waste of time. Keep an eye out for it!

Also keep an eye out for gold stocks today (as gold is up today)
also keep an eye out for GOOG which may open up at 400+ today!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Stocks for the Holiday Stockings: High Potential Short Term Trades and Short - Long Term Investments...

Hey guys,

I have a couple of stocks that have potential. Potential to give you back some fat returns for this holiday season and then some. So what are we looking for? We are looking for stocks that are attractive. We want a stock that is starting to become hot and under accumulation of insiders and institutions. We want a stock that has hot product/service. We want stocks that have sound charts with beautiful uptrending channels. We want it all. And I have a couple of ideas that can point you in the right direction. I have compiled a couple of stocks that I believe have potential.

Okay ladies and gents. Lets see......

American Retirement Corp (ACR) at 22.19. I hate to state the obvious, but ACR is definitely one of the top stocks that I can recommend. People are still buying it, even at this level. The stock is growing in demand. Think of it. ACR is moving quite nicely on decent volume. Sure it has its days when the volume is above average. Yet the stock still rises gracefully, without becoming very messy and hanging all over the chart. Add to the fact that the baby boomers are soon (and inevitably) going to contribute to the assisted living industry and you have yourself a recipe for a hot stock in the making!

American Retirement Corp (ACR) 3 month chart

It's looking friggin' sweet!












Res-Care Inc (RSCR) is another assisted living company that I really like! The stock is currently trading at $17.11 and it is looking great not only technically, but also fundamentally as well. The chart is looking very bullish as well.

Res-Care Inc (RSCR) 3 month chart

You gotta love the way the volume has been picking up. Its all about the accumulation, baby










America Movil S.A (AMOV and AMX) is a Latin American (Mexican?) telecom service provider with huge growth potential. Strangely enough, America Movil trades on both the NYSE and the NASDAQ, lol. On the NYSE, it trades as AMX (more exposure and volume) and on the NASDAQ, it is listed as AMOV (thinly traded). Both are trading at the 27 dollar level. Personally, I like AMOV better. I know, I know. You are probably thinking I'm nuts because I picked the thinly traded version. This is because I believe the AMOV is a lower priced stock that I believe will be a better longer term trade or investment. AMX is better as a short term trade or investment. Its really up to you!

2 of the Big 3 are still standing (ACR, QDEL, SLXA)

hey guys,

while ACR and QDEL quietly consolidated during a rather slow day, SLXA took a huge plunge (-12.31 %) and even further (-16.96%) in AH. That just sucks and all. But if you are like me, it kind of makes you ask what happened? Did the company announce any bad news? Nope! Was there some huge sell off due to a negative rumor? I don't know if thats the case, but I am not worried-just yet! The truth is the stock needed to come down. The stock is wanted my many institutions and they didn't take touch it as it propelled itself into the high 9's low 10's. Now that it has cosolidated, I expect some more buying to commence. As a matter of fact, I remember seeing an order for 500shares at the 8.65 level earlier on during the day. This is not rocket science folks! MM's drop the price to create better entry points. Its all about greed, ladies and gents.
So who else did good? Quigley Corp rose to 13.80 (+0.97 / +7.56%). I did pick some up at low 13's, and so far no complaints.

BDSI poked thru its 50day MA and actually closed over it for the first time. Volume did pick up and I have to say, this play may have just started warming up. 2.78 a share, anyone?

RGLD blazed up to 24.84 (+9.81%) because of the rise of gold prices.

GOOG is getting close to hitting the $400 mark. The stock had stopped at 399.99 AH, lol. Its gonna take one huge push to get it over the $400 bump.

ESLR has hit a new 52wk high and a new "highest" close. The stock closed at 11.58.

GLW is back in the 20 dollar range. I am hoping this stock will continue and take out its 52wk high.

CNQ is doing rather well. The stock is back above its 50day MA and closed at 47.48

Bottom Fishing Part 2- Finding Stocks with the LOWEST P/E Ratio...

hey guys....

When I look for stocks, I sometimes like to look for bargins. I am talking about stocks that have dropped from grace and are cheap in regards to earnings per share. Among these fallen stocks, I look for companies that are close to bottoming out, along with what looks like a bottom supported with a substantial volume increase. I get even more picky! Once they meet the first set of criterion, I then look for the stocks that have healthy earnings growth or fundamentally sound. Of course the last thing I look for is if the stock is technically ready for a break out above the 50day or 2oo day MA. Yah, I know its asking for a lot, but thats only because I do not want to end up with a extremely crappy stock that although looks like a bargain, yet it may be far from it.

Okay, out of over 80 stocks, I have weeded out a few favorites: 1st class favs- IIG, GNTA, AUXL, TWW VSTY 2nd class favs- FICC, TBSI, BCGI 3rd class favs- None

Imergent Inc (IIG) is a stock in the internet network solutions industry. I like the stock because it looks like it has finally bottomed out and is starting to change into a bullish phase

Imergent Inc (IIG) 3 month chart

Looking good so far. I'm waiting for the stock to poke thru 1st and then I'll buy some. This of course is my suggestion. If you don't mind a little risk and want a bigger reward, you can buy now.








Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL) at 4.65

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL) 3 month chart


AUXL is ready to poke thru.












Terremark Worldwide Inc (TWW) at 3.75
















Genta Inc (GNTA) at $1.53

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

US Global Investors Inc can help spurt your portfolios GROWth..

Hey folks,


US Global Investors Inc (GROW) is a hot stock that I have been keeping an eye on. I've been watching for a perfect opportunity to enter and I believe that the time has come! You want something thats perfect for a swing trade? Well GROW has got you covered. You want something for a longer term period (few weeks, months maybe even a year) well GROW has you covered in that as well! See GROW is all about a growth story. The stock has recently reported earnings on Monday (yesterday, November 14). How did it do? Well it posted a 400% increase over last year. Thats pretty darn good! So whats the problem? You may be asking, if earnings were so good, how come the stock is down. My belief is that the people who were in at $3 or below wanted to take some profits. Also others may have jumped in for a short term trade, hoping that earnings would propell the stock to $10. It doesn't always work that way. So the stock is down somewhat, back down to the $7 trading range. You gotta love how the stock has held onto its trend. If this stock were more risky, it could have easily taken a dive to $6 or maybe even lower. Instead if just retraced a little in order to consolidate and others took notice. There are more buyers now, gobbling up thousands of shares at this low to mid 7 dollar range than their are sellers. So this is good.

US Global Investors (GROW) 3 month chart

Nice chart! I have a feeling that GROW is one of "those" stocks again!
Keep an eye on this one, guys!











Gotta love the nice increase in volume!

Under Armour is coming soon to a trading platform near you...

UnderArmour Inc (UARM) is a recent IPO that is looking more promising than CCO, lol. I kid you not! It is already under the radar of many people (unlike CCO) and is ready to debut this week. I have used some of their products and I have to say, they have top-notch quality gear! Their protective clothing is perfect for those that want heat retaining clothing for those cold winter runs and cooling clothing for those hot summer nights on the basketball court. This is the sort of company that can recieve a buy-out bid from NIKE or other athletic company! Keep an eye on UARM's IPO! Im serious this time!!

NVAX is back for more....

hey guys,


looks like NVAX is back for more! I close my position on NVAX at the end of todays session ( the remaining shares). I figured this was a nice pop. I had a feeling it was going to run up today because I saw a lot of big orders yesterday (25,000-45,000share blocks). For now I think NVAX is done consolidating. I may buy more in the upcoming days for some quick swings, but nothing more. It doesn't pay to hold onto ANY stock for too long (at least not anymore, lol). I believe the "get some profit and get the heck out" strategy rules on these risky small caps, regardless if they are bio-tech or retail.

Novavax Inc (NVAX) 3 month chart showing some technicals


Okay, 1st and foremost, I hope most of you sold half your position when the stock jumped to the 5 dollar range. The huge volume spikes (the highest volume ever) should've been the signal to sell. From then on (after the first week of November) the stocks volume began to dwindle down (circle 1) which marked the consolidation phase. In this phase, the stock drifts around (sometimes down) until volume picks up or more positive news is announced. You can use the 50day MA as a support indicator. The stock Did Not go below the 50day Ma, which was a good sign to hold on or buy more at those levels. Finally, yesterday (November 14) was marked with more big buys (this is why it is important to watch the bids and asks. I will get into the detail of using Level 2 quote software another time). When I saw buys of 45,000 shares at 2.80, I knew that marked the bottom, as only idiots would drop so much money into a stock if they weren't sure it was going to go up, lol. So today, the stock has finally bounced up as you can see (circle 2) with more volume confirming the move (circle 3). So NVAX is safe for now. I will continue to keep an eye on it and play it for some more swing trades, as it is a very technical stock.

AdStar Inc (ADST) is releasing their Earnings Results......

....after the close today, at 4:15pm. The numbers are in already, and so far so good. I am just hoping that investor sediment is still feeling optimistic about the stock. So how did ADST do?

For the 3 months ending at September 30, 2005, ADST reported a 10% increase in net revenues.
$1,393,000 VS. $1,264,000 (3rd Quarter of 2004)
Gross Profit has increased 29% to $922,933 VS. $714,732 (September 30, 2004)
In addition, ADST also had decreased their net loss by 29%

Like I said, this is all very nice on paper, but lets see how the stock reacts.

Sometimes I wonder how they do it.......

Hey guys,

I've been busy trying to finish some hw and study for Exams before Thanksgiving break. Its been rough the last few weeks with HW and its been really killing the research time that I usually set aside to look for hot stocks. I had a few minutes to kill so I wanted to show you a pretty amazing stock chart! Enjoy!

Nutrisystem Inc (NTRI) 1yr chart


I don't know what it is about this stock, but it keeps defying the rules of graviy. The sad thing is, I used to own this stock when it was $8 ( when I first started). Like a dumbass, I sold it waaaayyyyy to early, as I am sure most people did. Anyways i just wanted to show this chart because it represents the type of ROE (return on your investment) that we Traders and Investors dream about. By the way, any one interested in buying some at these levels, lol?

Monday, November 14, 2005

HOM reported record earnings!

HOM is up nicely Pre-market! Check it out!

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Birner Dental Management Services is all smiles

Ya know, although the word "investor" is in the title of my blog, I have come to the realization, that investments are hard to come by. And why is that? Because an investment is something in the future tense. You can't know something is a good investment presently until and unless you've held onto it for a few years (lets say 3) and it has consistently placed you in a position to receive a positive return. Now you know why the stock world is sprawling with traders! And who can blame them? In a 'wham-bam-thank you-m'am' environment, it only makes sense to take the money (profit) and run! Still from time to time, we find stocks that defy the 'trade-only' rule. One of these stocks is ACR. Another that I found is Birner Dental Management Services Inc (BDMS) on the NASDAQ. So whats so special about BDMS?

Birner Dental Mgmt Services Inc (BDMS) 3 year chart


BDMS is a great place to park your money and forget about it for a while. You gotta love the chart! This stock has been a steady winner over a long period of time. Check it out! The 3yr chart even looks good with 10day MA

Recommended Reading #1 - You can finally persuade your spouse that "swinging" is not such a bad thing.

Recommended Reading #1 - Swing Trading by Jon D. Markman of MSN Money


Hey folks!

From time to time, I am able to sneak some time into reading books (you mean they still make those things?!). Yep, thats right books (I know I'm such a nerd)! One such book that I picked up and find quite useful, is Swing Trading by Jon D. Markman. If you are an amateur or novice such as myself, this is an excellent book to pick up on. Even more so if you are interested in Trading. You see, this is more of a trader's book since it outlines some of the basic concepts (and more advanced concepts as well) or Swing Trading. Swing Trading is position- based trading based soley on stock and chart technicals rather than fundamentals within a relatively short period of time (few days). The book explains chart patterns -reversals, double tops, double bottoms, head and shoulder tops/bottoms, upside/downside breakouts, triangles, flags and other technical chart patterns are discussed and illustrated. So yeah, I recommend it as a good read!

Investopedia Definition of 'Swing Trading'- "A style of trading that attempts to capture gains in a stock within one to four days".

Additional Investopedia commentart on 'Swing Trading'- "To find situations in which a stock has this extraordinary potential to move in such a short time frame, the trader must act quickly. This is mainly used by at-home and day traders. Large institutions trade in sizes too big to move in and out of stocks quickly. The individual trader is able to exploit the short-term stock movements without the competition of major traders. Swing traders use technical analysis to look for stocks with short-term price momentum. These traders aren't interested in the fundamental or intrinsic value of stocks but rather in their price trends and patterns".

'Swing Trading' definition and commentary appears courtesy of Investopedia.com
www.investopedia.com

Got a ton of Hw to finish........

Hey folks!


Hows your weekend going? Mine kinda sucks in the meantime since I am knee-deep in HW! Yikes, theres a lot of stuff to do! So I woke up early, around 7am and began doing my hw. I got a couple more hours to go. If I have time, I will begin posting some of the Retail special that I promised. I will save it though and not publish it until its complete. I am taking this approach because if I publish it now and I am not finished, it will eventually get lost in a sea of new posts days later. I have compiled a few charts and stocks already. The only problem is that the retail sector is arguably one of the largest sectors! There are a lot of stocks to sift through, so I am trying my best. Okay, Im off to do more hw. Later guys! I hope you enjoy your Saturday!

Friday, November 11, 2005

I found ACR's long lost younger sibling, lol

Hey guys,


Just when I thought it couldn't get any better with the retirement home indutry, I am shocked once again! That is because I believe that I found another ACR in the making. World, meet Res-Care Inc (RSCR) on the Naz. RSCR is currently trading at 16.85 and is looking quite tasty at these levels. So what do I think of RSCR? $$$Cha-ching$$$! Yah, that means its a trade, or a buy or whatever you wanna call it! Just buy some, cause I know I will!

Res-Care Inc (RSCR) 3 month chart


Now that a nice stock! Bet it look even better in my portfolio!

CCO is not worth it for today......

Although I like CCO as a long term trade, I cannot recommend it as an IPO day trade today. The only decent entry that I was presented with was in the 18.50 dollar range and that was it. The high of the day was 19.00. Big deal. I was expecting something more explosive. CCO is done for now in my book. As the stock progresses, I will take another look at it and see if its worth a buy. For now, there are other stocks that are more worth my dough...

CCO became tradable.

CCO finally became tradable. It is currently at 18.73.

Making a quick day trade out of IFO

I picked up some Infosonics Corp (IFO) yesterday a little above $8. So far I'm up near 15%. Planning on getting rid of it by the end of the day. =P

Infosonics Corp (IFO) 3 month chart

Um, yeah can you say wayy over extended?! Um yeah! I wish I bought at $5, lol











I'm out already. I sold between $9.45-9.47. Thats a return of +16.50%

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Waiting for CCO...

hey guys,


I'm in school, doing hw and waiting to see if CCO is ever going to debut. I hate how they are very vague on the exact time (and sometimes date) to which these IPOS are supposed to debut. Nevertheless, I am patient. If it doesn't debut today, it may tommorow. I am planning on making a quick trade on it. I' m not sure if anyone else is planning on playing this IPO> If you are let me know. Don't be afraid to leave a comment.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

IPOs can provide a nice opportunity for a quick profit....

hey folks,


I don't have to tell ya. Those that played BIDU and BOT know that there is plenty of money to be made on hot IPO's. And I'm talking about big and quick money. How does it sound to invest $6,000 on an IPO and quickly make a 50% profit in a day or two? Sounds pretty damn good to me! Has anyone seen the action of todays IPO's? SFUN and IRBT wowed investors when they surged 50% and 11% respectivly. As a matter of fact, IRBT is up another 13% after hours. So what do we do? These companies already debuted and have risen quite a bit. The best thing to do is catch the next one coming up, of course!

Tommorow, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (CCO) will debut on the NYSE. CCO is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications that has spun-off as a seperate publicly traded company because of its huge profit making ability in the advertising industry. So how is the company looking finanically? Well its expecting to raise $735,000,000. Thats pretty good! So why is this company hot? Go to the nearest city or urban area and you are sure to catch CCO's flashy billboards and advertisments which are filled with dazzling 3d effects as well as even smoke machines! I saw a pic of one of their billboards that advertised Coca-Cola's Full Throttle energy drink (in the IBD). It was pretty wild! It had 3d pipes (header style pipes) coming out of the can, along with smoke that blew out of the pipes (real smoke, yup,lol). Amazing, I know. So anyways, the moral of all this is: If CCO premiers in a positive way, buy a whole crap load of it. Cash it in either at the HOD or wait another day for another last minute runup. After you sell it, enjoy the fruits of your labor and buy yourselves a nice gift, ok?

P.S. CCO is supposed to open up between 20-22 dollars. If there is enough they may raise the offering price. This would be bullish. So if the news seems bullish, then buy. If it doesn't, then forget about it. Good luck to everyone playing this one tomm!

Sometimes bottom fishing can get you a nice "catch".......

If theres one thing I love, its fishing. Yeah, I know it sounds boring but it really relaxes the nerves and muscles after a hard week. But the one thing I like more than fishing, is bottom fishing for hot stock deals! I have a couple of hot stocks that I believe will be a great catch once they show signs of a reversal. I like to keep a little something something on the side incase one of these decides to cross its 50day (or 200day) MA. Just so you know, most of the ones I will list have some insider buys as well, further confirming that there is a good chance that the stock(s) will go back up sometime.

You know, back in August, nobody believed that a tiny small cap biotech stock named Solexa Inc (SLXA) was going to rise in price and double. I did, as well as a few other investors and a couple of institutional funds. So you want to find more stocks like SLXA? Of course we do! Here are a couple of hopefuls that I like. Some may seem familiar, while others are new.

Allied HealthCare (AHCI) 3 month chart


I have pumped this stock many times in the past and I still think its a hot buy at 6.35. If you still have doubts, wait a little more until the uptrend is more visible and reassuring.

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