Archives

Companies currently out of favor with investors. These companies usually have low valuation ratios (price/earnings less than the S&P 500, price/sales ratio less than 2, price/book ratio less than 2). 

A longer period of time when prices in the market are generally declining. Bear markets typically are much shorter-lived than bull markets, but are usually more severe given the time period involved. We try to play corrections and bear markets to the downside as they can generate tremendous returns in a short time period.

This occurs when a stock trades sideways in various signature patterns (e.g., cup with handle, saucer base, flat base) while it is under accumulation prior to its next move up. We look for these stocks as they can lead to explosive moves out of the bases.

We often write about stocks that test their breakout prices. Stocks breaking to new highs or out of consolidations often come back to test the breakout point before continuing with the breakout. This is most likely due to certain investors taking profits. If the breakout is a strong one, buyers come back in at some point before the stock falls below the breakout. This starts the stock back up on the next leg. This test can happen the next day, or it can happen after a week of upward movement. That is why we advise those in on the breakout move to watch for a test. If the stock has had a good move, you don?t want to lose profit on a big test-you can always get back in when the stock moves back up. For a small test soon after the break, you can ride it down, but you have to be careful the stock does not fall back within its previous trading range. Good breakout volume is a sign that this is less likely to happen. There are two plays on the breakout test: when the stock turns back up on good volume, or when the stock tops its breakout high. The former is riskier in that the breakout high can act as resistance, but we will play this move if the other indicators are good-volume, money flow, relative strength. The safer play is the break over the recent breakout high as this shows there is no resistance. If the volume is still good, the stock will most likely continue its breakout.

Cash in bank and all securities that can readily be converted to cash within three months or less. 

An investor involved in financing a company’s operations before going public in exchange for an ownership percentage.

A longer period of time when prices in the market are generally declining. Bear markets typically are much shorter-lived than bull markets, but are usually more severe given the time period involved. We try to play corrections and bear markets to the downside as they can generate tremendous returns in a short time period.

Analyst working for mutual fund or other institutional investor. We don’t usually get to see their reports.

A false signal which indicates that the rising trend of a stock or index has reversed when in fact it has not.

A dividend/distribution that is paid in cash.