Archive for ‘ Stocks

Searching for Bottomed Out Stocks 02 February 2010 at 1:54 pm by winner

In this week’s screen, I’m searching for companies I ordinarily don’t search for – bottomed out stocks that have recently hit, or are trading near, their 52-week lows. If the broader markets indeed have hit bottom (and I believe we likely saw the bottom on July 15th when the Dow hit 10,827), then most solid companies should see their stock prices go higher.

But in this screen I’m particularly interested in those stocks that have recently hit a potential bottom. Not just any bottom, but a recent 52-week low.

I’m looking for these kinds of stocks because some spectacular stocks have completely bucked the falling market’s downtrend. And while many of these stocks will continue to do so, some will now fall or become out of favor as new Sectors and Industries take on leadership roles.

But as the market recovers and these stocks begin to get noticed, they should have some excellent upside potential. Read the rest of this entry →

+ Top Performing Stocks for the Week Ended Aug 8 By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:53 pm and have No Comments

The five best performing stocks on the Zacks #1 Rank List last week were: Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (FSYS), Almost Family, Inc. (AFAM), USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (USNA), China Medical Technologies, Inc. (CMED) and Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI).

Increasing demand for alternative energy led shares of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (FSYS) higher by approximately 47.3% last week. On Thursday, the company announced that second-quarter revenues surged 50% year over year to $98.3 million, compared to $65.6 million. Furthermore, earnings per share beat both the consensus and year-ago result. FSYS also increased its 2008 consolidated revenue outlook to $350 million.

Earnings estimates for this year are up 17.2% over the past 2 months. However, one of the most appealing aspects of this company is its future potential. FSYS – which already has extensive exposure in Europe, Asia and Latin America – sees important medium-term opportunities in the U.S. Analysts are currently estimating that next year’s earnings per share will be about 27.4% better than this year’s.

Earnings estimates for Almost Family, Inc. (AFAM) have jumped in the past 7 days as the provider of home health nursing services reported strong second-quarter results on Aug 5. The company reported earnings per share of 50 cents on net service revenues of $48.7 million. EPS eclipsed the consensus by more than 31% and advanced easily from the prior year’s 35 cents, while revenues improved 50% from second quarter 2007. The company was particularly pleased with the 33% organic revenue growth rate in its Visiting Nurse segment.

Analyst expectations for this year and next are up 24.5% and 28.9%, respectively, in the past week. They also currently expect 2009 profit to be about 18.6% better than that of 2008. AFAM made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List last week with a gain of approximately 20.1%.

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (USNA) made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for last week as shares advanced 12.8%. Earnings estimates for this year are up 11.5% in two months, including a gain of 2.7% in the past 30 days. Analysts currently expect a 10.8% profit increase next year over this year.

In late July, the company – which develops and manufacturers nutritional, personal care and weight management products – announced second-quarter results. Net sales of $109.2 million advanced year over year by 1.5% from $107.5 million, due mainly to new incentive programs and stronger foreign currencies. Earnings per share of 62 cents was ahead of the consensus by about 1.6%.

China Medical Technologies, Inc. (CMED) announced solid fiscal first-quarter results last week, which included year-over-year revenue growth of almost 50%. Furthermore, earnings per ADS advanced from the previous year as well, while also topping the consensus. The medical device company said it was pleased with the change in its major source of revenues from selling medical equipment to selling diagnostic reagents. As for the full year, CMED reaffirmed its targets.

Shares of the company advanced 12.1% last week, which was enough to make it a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank. There is currently only one analyst covering the stock, but that analyst has been boosting estimates for the year ending March 2009 significantly for weeks. Over the past two months, the expectation is up 53%, including a gain of about 13.1% in seven days.

Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) announced on Friday an increase in its quarterly common stock dividend of 22.2% to 11 cents from 9 cents. This marks the company’s 16th straight year of increased dividend payments. It is payable Sep 15 to shareholders of record Aug 29. The company, which manufacturers and markets flow measurement products, made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for the week ended Aug 8 with shares that advanced 9.8%.

In late July, BMI announced second-quarter earnings per share of 48 cents, which topped the consensus by more than 11.6%. The result also improved from the previous year. Net sales from continuing operations advanced 20.1% to $74.7 million from $62.2 million, driven by its utility products. Over the past month, earnings estimates for this year have advanced approximately 4.4%. For more information please visit http://www.win-e.net


+ Stock Market Trading: Tips To Earn Easy Money By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:53 pm and have 4 Comments

Are you looking to make a little extra money? If so, then you may have considered investing in the stock market. It is one of the most popular methods of investing money for your future, or for your retirement. You can invest on your own, or you can do so with the help of a broker. Either way you choose to do it, it can be a way to reach your financial freedom.

Stock market trading is not a term that refers to one single action. Instead, this term covers all the different parts of stock market investing. The most common activity within this term is the simple purchase and sale of stock market shares. Shares are a segment of ownership of a given company.

You can purchase shares in a variety of different ways. There are many different broker companies out there that will be happy to help you set up a portfolio. You can also purchase shares online using one of the various online brokerage programs. If you choose to take this method, however, you need to have some knowledge about the stock market and how it works.

An additional aspect of /”stock market trading”/ is called options trading. This is a more complex arena within the market because it involves buying an option which enables you to purchase the stock at a future point in time. Be sure to have an /”option strategy”/ established prior to trying to buy options. Be certain that you are just utilizing risk funds in your options dealing.

You’ll be able to get tons of useful information about stock market trading on the Internet. Plenty of web sites are able to provide you with the raw materials to create your own option trading strategy. You’ll also be able to discover facts about the tools used to diagnose the prospects of firms that you might invest in. The Internet is the best introduction to stock market trading that you can find.

Without the concern as to what part of the stock market you are exploring, they all link together. If you are in need of other information regarding the stock market it’s just as easy to look for it and just ask. Many brokers are happy to share information that they know with you and help to answer your questions for free when you are starting out. Just don’t be afraid to ask for help they are there for any apprehensions.

Stock market trading does not mean a single act. It includes all the different pieces of investing in the stock market. The most frequent action inside this name is the straightforward sale and purchase of shares in the stock market. Shares are a piece of ownership of a particular company. It is best to have an option strategy developed before attempting to start. You can learn everything you need to know about stock trading online. There are many web sites out there that will give you a basis for your own option trading strategy.


+ Option Trading At The Stock Market By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:53 pm and have No Comments

The investor can make a steady profit from the stock market and the various opportunities for investment that it provides .One such method for earning with the stock market is option trading. The stock market is a large market with many huge securities and funds that are traded on a daily basis.

With a superior and practical strategy you will be able to earn a stable income from the stock market. As pointed out earlier, one of the most lucrative techniques existing now a days is the ability to trade options. Credit spreads are among the other popular option strategies which are available and it is said to be quite beneficial.

When you create a credit spread, it remains in your account for use in future trades. You can use credit spreads instead of debit when purchasing stock or alternative. That’s why they’re called “credit spreads.” The accredited resources are yours to keep if the options expire in the credit spread, as long as the share price hasn’t reached a certain level.

You may wonder why this does not produce a debit, but instead produces a credit. The reason for this is easy. You are disposing an option at a value which is similar to the current cost.

At the same time you are keeping the risk of the investment in check by buying an equal number of options at the spread-out cost, with each of them expiring at the same time. Doing this when you’re option trading will keep your sell option closer to the cash or available share value, which is usually higher than the buy option for which you can get a credit.

A main ploy of this kind of option trading is to trade credit spreads which has a short expiry period, which lets you to take benefit of the time delay feature in options. Options generally possess a time decay which comes down as the date of expiry draws nearer.

Consequently, the most valuable term for expiration of your credit spread would be the 5-6 week range. It is possible to choose an expiry time as low as two week, however, this requires a watchful eye. The movement of the share has a shorter time frame with this choice. In either scenario, using the MACD indicator is your best bet.

Option trading is one of the prime opportunities available to build your assets. By deploying a sensible investment plan you will be able to make steady proceeds from the stock market. Credit spreads are amongst the other well-liked option strategies which are obtainable and it is said to be fairly advantageous. The most valuable term for expiration of your credit spread would be the 5-6 week range. It is possible to choose an expiry time as low as two week, however, this requires a watchful eye. The movement of the share has a shorter time frame with this choice. In either scenario, using the MACD indicator is your best bet.


+ Researching stock trades By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:52 pm and have No Comments

It is important to keep track of stock market events when trading. If you do not you may often encounter sudden suppresses.

The first thing you want to be aware of is the federal meetings. Every now and then the feds cut or raise interest rates. This can have a big impact on the movement of the market. Stocks may rally on the news of an interest rate cut and fall on news of an increase in the interest rate. This due to the fact that lower interest rates help businesses and aid growth, higher interest rates can hurt growth.

Another thing you may want to keep an eye out for is earnings announcements. If a company has good earnings there stock is likely to go up. If they have bad earnings there stock is likely to go down. Predicting earnings can be risky, it can be a good idea to stay away from a stock announcing its earnings.

You may also want to check on the company itself to make sure that it is a good company. Every time I place a trade I take a quick look at the company itself to see how they are doing. You do not want to buy a stock that is going to go bankrupt tomorrow.

Finally you always want to check out the technicals of a given stock before you buy it. Is it up trending? Forming any chart patterns or candlestick patterns? That can be very important in deciding which way to trade the stock, or if to trade the stock at all. Checking the trend of the industry group and overall market may be helpful as well.

There is a lot of homework to be done for every trade. Just remember not to overdo it. While it is important to put the odds in your favor, you need to pull the trigger if you want to make money. You can’t wait until everything is perfectly aligned before you act.

For more information about the stock market visit http://www.win-e.net


+ Online Stock Trading By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:52 pm and have No Comments

Active and Passive Profiting in the Stock Market

The passive way of profiting in the virtual stock trading industry would be if you own stocks or, should we say, the company to which the stocks belong. However, while you will still profit this way, you wouldn’t be earning as much as when you are in the business as an active stock trader.

An active stock trader buys and sells at the same time. Knowing when to purchase stocks and the right time to put them back into the market is the main skill in this business. This way, you get to profit more. You get financial yields in a very short span of time.

Definition of Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

In the stock trading market, stocks are categorized in two. There is the common stock which is the stock that you often see being sold and bought during stock trading. These are stocks that companies are willing to let go. Common stock holders have the privilege of voting during the companies’ board meetings as well as other activities that need voting. Aside from the voting rights, common stock holders are second only to preferred stock holders.

A preferred stock on the other hand – as the name emphasizes – holds the ace in a company. If you own a preferred stock in a company, you have higher privileges than others. Although you have no voting rights during elections or appointments, your shares speak of higher influence. You also have priority label along with your shares.

You only have to weigh the possibilities and the opportunities between the two kinds of stocks and see which will give you greater profit.

Profit and Loss in Stock Trading

Just like any other kind of business anywhere, there is always the possibility of losing and gaining in the business of trading stocks. This is a risk that one cannot eliminate. Even in our life’s day-to-day activities, facing risks and the possibilities of winning are always there. It is all a part of life. However, the risk of losing is greatly minimized if one is wise and exercises great acumen in the conduct of business endeavors.

In stock trading, the reliability of the economy to retain its stability is not guaranteed. Even if there are predictions from economists, there are always unexpected events that could cause havoc to stock market trading.

Evaluating the profit and loss of stocks on hand or the stocks you intend to buy or sell is the wisest move to make. Just like doing mathematical calculations, computing the rate of loss against possible profit is the key to making a wise decision. In stock, trading you cannot just rely on your guts and intuition. A logical and sharp mind is always the best instrument to ensure profitable deals.

A solid example of this profit and loss business is when you own stocks. There are stocks that you can keep for as long as you like, if you don’t feel like selling them at present value. But there are too many risks involved in retaining stocks. One possibility would be if the market suddenly plummets and the company suffers great loss in which it can no longer recover. In this scenario, your investment will surely go down the drain. On the other extreme, if that company recovers in due time, then your stocks will no doubt return great profit for you. Please bear in mind that if you are faint of heart and you panic at the first sign of trouble, stock trading is not for you.

Provides complete guide for online stock trading.Learn the basics to trade your stocks,its types,risks taken,technical analysis of US stock market and individual stock trends.


+ Nigeria stock markets By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:52 pm and have 1 Comment

Whether you are a Nigerian working abroad or an astute investor looking for effective means to grow your money, investing in the Nigeria stock market is one of the most outstanding means to exceptional financial growth. With the right Nigeria stock market education, there is no reason why you should not profit from the steadily growing Nigeria stock exchange market. You can start shaping your humble investment into impressive millions within the short period of less than 5 years. Taking advantage of the Nigeria stock exchange rate will certainly increase your wealth into manifold proportions.

The Nigeria stock markets are some of the fastest growing stock markets in the world. This means that if you invest now, even with just a minimal amount, you can expect your money to grow in the subsequent years. Working abroad will surely have afforded you a certain amount of savings, and converting it to the Nigerian currency will make it a larger amount. However, the high cost of living and advanced lifestyle in many first world countries can strip anyone of his or her precious savings in no time at all. Furthermore, if you choose to invest or buy stocks from international companies, you could be spending more than you can afford.

Nigeria stock exchange rates are continually improving, and the better news is that buying Nigeria stock need not require a whopping amount of money. The beauty of investing in Nigeria stock is that you can start small and still earn big. Once you make the investment, you can only anticipate it to improve in value over time. Nonetheless, making wise investments is crucial in this point. Not all stocks will yield you the best possible returns in a given period of time. In buying Nigeria stock, you have to be armed with the right information on how to make the right investments, how much to spend, and which companies to choose.

You need to be able to participate in Nigeria online stock trades competitively and effectively. With online trading, you can communicate with Nigeria stock brokers anytime you need to, and to keep yourself updated on the best and least performing stocks in the market. In order to get the most out of the Nigeria stock markets, it is not enough to have an amount for investment. You have to be educated on how the Nigeria stock exchange rates work, and to use this information for optimal profits. Through this, you are assured of multiplying your wealth in the Nigeria stock market even as you continue to work overseas.

Today is the best time to make enormous returns by investing in the Nigeria stock markets. It is always wise to ride on the wave of developing stock markets such as those in Nigeria. The Nigeria online stock trades will allow you convenient stock trading 24 hours, seven days per week. Investing in Nigeria has never been as attractive or as profitable. Stock up on Nigeria stock market education today and be one of the key players in the stock trading venture.

If you want to know more about buying Nigeria stock and participating in Nigeria stock markets, there is one website ideal for you and be educated further on the Nigeria stock exchange and building your wealth through Nigerian investments.


+ Different Types of Stock Orders By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:52 pm and have No Comments

Having so many different orders types available can be confusing. How do you know which order is right for you and your specific goals? Well first you should learn what all of the orders do.

1.Market Order, This Order simply tells the broker to buy or sell a stock at whatever price the stock is trading at. This can be beneficial if you just want to get in and out of a position.

2.Limit Order, This tells your broker only to buy or sell a security if a certain level is reached. For example if a stock is trading at $30 and you place a limit order to buy at $25 that means you will not buy the security unless it goes to $25 or lower. This can be beneficial if you want a stock to break above a certain level before entering it.

3.Stop Order, This order turns into a market order once a stock hits a given price. This can be ideal if you are already in a position and want to put a limit on the amount you can lose.

4.Stop Limit order, this is an order that turns into a limit order once a target price is hit. This is similar to a stop order except the stock does not sell right away if the stop is hit. For this order to be filled it must also meet the conditions of the limit order.

5.Contingency Order, This order allows you to buy or sell a given security based on a given condition.

6.Trailing Stop, This is when you want to follow a given security up. For instance you buy a stock at $50 and put a trailing stop $3 lower than the stock. The stop will move up with the stock. So if the stock goes to $59 the stop will be at $56.

Don’t let all of these order types scare you; you can get the hang of them in time. If you are just starting out in the stock market remember to keep it simple. Market orders are the easiest way to enter a position. Using a stop can be the easiest way to exit a position. It all comes down to your strategy and what you are trying to accomplish.

For more information about the stock market visit http://www.win-e.net


+ How to invest in penny stocks? By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:51 pm and have 1 Comment

How to Invest penny stock?

Ask any investor what a stock trading under $5 is and they will tell you it is a penny stock, microcap stock, or nano stock. These three terms are for the most part interchangeable. However the broader definition of a penny stock refers to a business’s aggregate value of its outstanding common shares, are more commonly known as its market capitalization rather than its stock price. However there is no set term that completely defines a penny stock.

To calculate the market capitalization of a company (the market cap) you must multiply the stock price of the company by the amount of shares that are outstanding. By carrying out this calculation you can find out what the total dollar value of all shares in the company are at any given moment in time. Penny stocks are not traded on a stock exchange like other stocks but they are traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. For the trading of most stock an agent will act on the investors behalf and arrange a transaction directly between the investor and a third party. The broker then receives a commission for facilitating the trade.

A large proportion of all penny transactions are charged by brokers as principle transactions. This means that the broker is not paid any commission but rather makes its money on the spread, and by buying and selling at advantageous times. There is no single price at which penny stocks are bought and sold, but rather there are a number of different prices. The difference between the bid and ask price is known as the spread. The spread of many penny stocks are usually around 25-33 or even more. There are also always two bid and two ask prices, these are known as the inside and outside bid and ask. Keep in mind that it is the outside bid and ask that is of most interest generally. Penny stocks are also subject to mark up pricing. This is where a broker has held the penny stock in its account and has therefore taken some of the risk associated with market price fluctuation.

Although penny stocks are quite complicated and there are many problems associated with trading penny stocks as well as millions of dollars of loss, many companies still trade in them because they can help for example, struggling companies just starting up. The best way of finding a good investment is by consulting with your broker. However in the penny stock market be very wary of brokers who are only trying to sell and may not have your best interests in mind.

Penny stocks are low-priced stocks – usually with a value of less than $5 – of small companies. These stocks are traded on the Over-The-Counter-Bulletin-Board (OTCBB) and the Pink Sheets. Both these trading venues do not have the same kind of minimum requirements of exchanges such as Nasdaq or the NYSE set by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Companies which issue penny stocks may be new businesses or close to bankruptcy. A new issue of stocks could be a way to inject quick capital to try to save the business.

All of these factors – low price, lack of standards, and lack of stability – make penny stocks one of the riskiest investments around. It is true that if a company succeeds the payoff will be great, but the vast majority of penny stocks end in bankruptcy. Other reasons why penny stocks are risky include…

– Lack of information about the company. Companies listed in the Pink Sheets or the OTCBB do not have to issue financial statements. Most companies also have little reportable history.

– Low liquidity. Penny stocks are infrequently traded, so finding a buyer may be difficult. The price may have to lowered substantially to interest someone in buying the stock.

– Potential fraud. Due to their unregulated nature, penny stocks are often used by con artists who sell them through spam email or off-shore brokers.

So penny stocks are risky but are there any benefits to them?

Not all penny stocks are frauds or companies facing bankruptcy. Some represent hard-working businesses that are struggling to meet the requirements to get listed on Nasdaq or the NYSE. Investing in these companies offers real growth potential – you have the opportunity to get in at the ground floor and ride all the way to the top.

The difficulty is finding which companies have this growth potential. Getting this information requires a lot of research and unless you are willing to take the time to personally investigate a company, you may again be the victim of fraud. Some companies specialize in offering ‘inside information’ about companies selling penny stock, but they may simply be fronts for pushing a particular stock on unsuspecting investors.

There are two ways to play the penny stocks – do research or play craps. The low cost of these stocks means that you will not lose a lot money if the company goes under, and as long as you are prepared to lose this money penny stocks can be an interesting and fun addition to any portfolio. It must be stressed, however, that penny stocks should only make up a small portion of any portfolio. The odds are that most penny stocks will end up in a total loss.

+ How to Find a Stock Broker, Exposed (Part 2) By winner 02 February 2010 at 1:51 pm and have No Comments

?Full Service Brokers

A full service broker means exactly that – full service. Some of you may remember the full service that service (gas) stations use to have years ago. The word “service” isn’t really associated too much with gas stations these days. Anyway, in a full service gas station you would pull up in your car, roll down your window and a nice, pleasantly dressed person would greet you with a smile. He/she would then ask you what grade of gasoline you would like. After starting to fill your tank, he would proceed to check your tire’s air pressure, check the oil and fluid levels under your hood, wash your windows and ask if there is anything else you required. Full Service.

This is the same kind of atmosphere that full service agents are creating for their clients, something expected and a step above the norm in this world where norm is expected. In their competitive efforts to be top dog on the block, full service brokerages have provided an environment of services that would make any client lightheaded with delight. These firms have products and services such as stocks, bonds, the brokerage’s own mutual funds, tax information and advice, options, futures, money market accounts, insurance, checking and savings accounts and most of all the always sought after advice and research which never seems to end.

This advice is delivered by squads of analysts and managers employed by these brokerages. They analyze, investigate and dissect trends, corporations, market sectors then produce investment reports to be distributed on a regular basis to their brokers and clients. Some of these analysts/managers have a heavy voice and large impact on various areas of the marketplace, as their investment reports sway, to some degree, how clients invest their dollars and where. Having the advantage and information available to their clients is the name of the game and this is where full service brokers shine. Shiny things usually come with a price and this is no exception. Higher commission costs are always adjacent with the extras of full service.

If your lifestyle demands that they do the work with you overseeing his tasks, then the full service is just what you are looking for.

?Discount Brokers

The definition of discount broker concludes more than paying less on commissions. Many veteran traders like discount agents because it fits their trading needs like a glove. Some traders feel more comfortable researching their own trades with the sense of being in control of their investing choices. These traders have a higher affinity with discount and online service. They will vary in their advice content from no advice to little. This is sometimes due to the liability of giving such advice and being accountable for it.

Many of these agents do suggest trading strategies and investments to help their clients but this is in a limited amount. Cost per trade will deviate from firm to firm but most keep in the same range so as to stay competitive. Traders may also pay more for orders other than market or limit orders, such as option spreads, short sales, covers and margin orders. Keep in mind that (even more so) with discount representatives, you are responsible for every aspect of your investments and trades. Ensure you know what is taking place with every trade and why.

You’re not going to be paying the expensive full service prices, but they are bit more than the online representative and in many cases it’s worth it. This is the middle ground for brokers and if you are up to doing some of your own research, this area can be very rewarding and can increase your financial knowledge to a marked degree.

?Online Brokers

The internet, as you know, has changed the world and the way we perceive it in all aspects of our lives. This is blatantly evident as the internet changes so does the business and economics of corporations, countries and the world. This could be good or not so good depending upon how you wish to view it and/or use it. The liabilities of online investing are fewer today than five years ago and many more traders are flocking to online brokers just because of the convenience it offers to the trader. As long as you have a computer and an internet connection – you’re in. Anything is possible.