That's really the only way to describe the market action this week -- Sideways. Not a lot of bad news but nothing to write home about either. Let's look at the 3 yardsticks I use each week with the data I mine from Barchttp://www.barchart.comhart to get an objective view of what happened. I use 3 because no single indicator tells it all.

Value Line Index - contains 1700 stocks so its more representative of the market than the narrower S&P 500 or very narrow Dow 30. What can I say -- sideways

1 - Index down .23% for the week but up 7.77% for the month
2 - Up on Monday and Friday-- down on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
3 - 40% Barchart short term buy
4 - 16% Barchart overall buy - 6 of the 13 indicators are buy
5 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy
6 - Closed on Friday at 2394.84 just above its 50 day moving average of 2339.01

Barchart Market Momentum -- Contains approximately 6000 stocks -- Percentage of stocks that closed above their Daily Moving Averages for various time frames -- above 50% always good -- slightly weaker than last week but better than last month

1 - Friday 79.12% closed above their 20 DMA, 72.29% above their 50 DMA, and 52.26% closed above their 100 DMA
2 - Last Week 82.14% closed above their 20 DMA, 68.69% closed above their 50 DMA, and only 49.88% closed above their 100 DMA
3 - Last month only 25.16% closed above their 20 DMA, only 23.60% closed above their 50 DMA and only 28.58% closed above their 100 DMA

Ratio of stocks hitting new highs/hitting new lows for various time frames -- 1.0+ bullish, 1.0 neutral. below .99 bearish -- We have a bright spot here

1 month new highs/new lows -- 1147/262 = 4.38
3 month new highs/new lows -- 498/161 = 3.09
6 month new highs/new lows -- 381/104 = 3.66

Summary and Investment Strategy -- Although we had a good month the week ended a little flat. I'm not looking for anything magical to happen next week but at this time we are fully invested but will cull anything that turns south. We had a caution on FLIR and it closed above its 50 DMA and still has a Trend Spotter (tm) buy. The other caution ANH although closing below its 50 DMA still has a Trend Spotter (tm) hold.

Portfolio results:

Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio was up 2.36% for the week -- up for the last 12 months by 36.92% vs the S&P 500 up by 15.28% -- We're still ahead of the benchmark by 21.63%

Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio was up 6.70% for the week -- up 27.20% for the last 12 months vs the S&P 500 up 15.28% -- We're still ahead of the benchmark by 11.92%

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Comments: View Comments |  Friday July 30, 2010

My portfolios are full but when screening on Barchart for stocks hitting the most frequent new highs I came across the Turkish Investment Fund (TKF). It's a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company managed by Morgan Stanley. The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investments primarily in equity securities of Turkish corporations. The fund is concentrated in 23 issues and the top 5 comprise over 45% of the portfolio. 87% of the fund is in 5 sectors: Financial Services, Consumer Goods, Telecom, Industrial and Energy.

I'm considering the fund on technical reasons but after researching the economy in Turkey I've got some other reasons too. The IMF is predicting that the Turkish economy is stable and expected to grow between 3.5% - 4.0% in the next few years. Turkey has the 17th largest economy in the world and S&P just raised their sovereign bond rating a notch. Turkey has instituted financial restraints on their economy and didn't need to be bailed out like some of the smaller Euro countries. The country stands at the cross-roads of trade between Europe and Asia and even Israel makes sure to stay on Turkey's good side although recently some problems with relief efforts to Arab areas had to be worked out.

The Fund hit new highs on 15 of the last 20 trading sessions including 4 of the last 5. In the past month the price has appreciated 14.23% and trades around 15.25 with a 50 day moving average of 13.73. Barchart gives the Fund both an 80% short term technical buy and a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal.

Wall Street brokerages have an unwritten rule about recommending other firms managed investment funds but over on Motley Fool the CAPS members think the Fund will beat the market by a vote of 101 to 8 with the All Stars in agreement 32 to 2.

If you'd like to invest in the Middle East here are some points to consider regarding the Turkish Investment Fund (TKF):

1 - There are some ETFs available to invest in Turkey but I'd rather go with a managed fund instead of an index fund when investing in foreign countries
2 - Morgan Stanley has a pretty good reputation and track record investing overseas
3 - The Fund had a recent and consistent appreciation in price
4 - Barchart has both an 80% technical buy and a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
5 - Turkey is the most stable country in the region and seems to be able to keep Europe, Asia and even Israel in their good graces
6 - These is a large and positive investor sentiment in the Fund's ability to beat the market.

While researching for this blog I came across How to Invest In Turkey by World Market Pulse on Seeking Alpha. I'm not familiar with their analysts but the article is well written and warrants your attention.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Thursday July 29, 2010

I'm adding NL INDUSTRIES, INC. (NL ) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio. The company conducts its operations through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kronos, Inc. and Rheox, Inc. Kronos, Inc. produces titanium dioxide pigments, chemical products used for imparting whiteness, brightness and opacity to a wide range of products, including paints, paper, plastics, fibers and ceramics. Rheox, Inc. produces rheological additives that control the flow and leveling characteristics for a variety of products, including paints, inks, lubricants, sealants, adhesives and cosmetics.

This stock is solely a price momentum play hitting 16 new highs in the last 20 sessions including 5 in the last 5. The stock enjoyed a 32.17% price appreciation in the last month. It is a 80% Barchart technical buy and also rates a Trend Spotter (tm) buy rating. The stock trades around 8.28 with a 50 day moving average of 7.02.

On Motley Fool the CAPS members think the stock will beat the market by a vote of 35 to 19 with a similar vote from the All Stars of 14 to 8.

The stock pays a 6.4% dividend at the current price

The stock will be added to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio because:

1 - Recent price appreciation of 32.17% with a 6.4% dividend

2 - 80% Barchart short term buy signal

3 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal

4 - 16 new highs in the last 20 trading sessions

5 - Positive investor sentiment
Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday July 27, 2010

I'm adding Active Power, Inc. (APCW) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculagtive portfolio. The company designs, manufactures and markets power quality products that provide the consistent, reliable electric power required by today's digital economy. The company is the first company to commercialize a flywheel energy storage system that provides a highly reliable, low-cost and non-toxic replacement for lead-acid batteries used in conventional power quality installations. The company has developed a battery-free power quality system which is marketed under the Caterpillar brand name.

This penny stock is moving and hit 15 new highs in the last 20 sessions. The last month's price appreciation of 34.94% has given the stock a 96% Barchart overall technical buy signal with 12 of the 13 technical indicators signaling buy. The stock trades around 1.11 with a 50 day moving average of .86.

Believe it or not Wall Street has noticed this stock and has 3 buy recommendations out for their clients. Their consensus estimate of increases in sales are 41.30% for this year and 22.30% next year. Earnings per share is the real story with an estimate of a 52.90% increase in EPS this year, 75.00% next year and a 5 year annually compounded EPS growth rate of 25.00% expected. These are very aggressive estimates.

The CAPS members on Motley Fool think the stock will beat the market with a vote of 32 to 10 with the All Stars split 7 to 7.

If you're looking for a penny stock that has Wall Street recommendations here are some points to consider:

1 - Barchart 96% overall technical buy signal
2 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
3 - 15 new highs in 20 sessions
4 - Wall Street recommendations based on a double digit increase in sales and earnings
5 - Positive investor sentiment

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday July 27, 2010

I'm adding Aegon NV Preferred shares (AEH) to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio. Aegon based in the Netherlands is one of the largest Life and Health insurance companies in the world. This is a pure price momentum play and shows how investors are flocking to the safety of preferred shares.

I found this stock when screening on Barchart for stocks that are hitting the most frequent new highs. This stock hit 15 new highs in the last 20 sessions including 5 out of the most recent 5. This is a 100% Barchart technical short term buy and is confirmed by a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal. The stock had a 33.60% price appreciation last month and trades around 8.39 with a 50 day moving average of 7.01.

Not a lot of US investors are following foreign preferreds but on Motley Fool the CAPs members who do vote 13 to 4 that the stock will beat he market and the All Stars agree 8 to 1.

If you're looking for a preferred stock that pays an 8.60% dividend and has potential for capital appreciation here are some things to consider:

1 - 100% Barchart short term buy
2 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
3 - 33.60% price appreciation last month
4 - 15 new highs in the last 20 sessions

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday July 27, 2010

Every weekend I step back and make an evaluation of the market based on data only, no headlines or prognostications. For you old Dragnet fans you might remember Sargent Friday say: " Just the facts ". I'll use my 3 standard yard sticks because although each measures the trend of the market they each do it in a slightly different way. All the data comes from Barchart. Let's see what happened.

Value Line Index -- Contains 1700 stocks so it's more representative of the market than the narrow S&P 500 or very narrow Dow 30 -- Marked improvement this week but still not a full blown trend

1 - Index up 5.77% for the week but only up about 1.83% for the last month
2 - Barchart technical indicators have 6 out of 13 indicators signaling a buy for a 16% overall buy signal
3 - Barchart Trend Spotter (tm) is still on hold
4 - Index closed Friday above its 20 and 50 day moving average but is still below its 100 day moving average
5 - Index closed on Friday at 2400.25 slightly above its 50 day moving average of 2347.37

Barchart Market Momentum -- Contains approximately 6000 stocks -- Percentage of stocks closing above their Daily Moving Averages (DMA) for various time frames -- Above 50% is bullish, below 50% bearish -- For the week good but still not a trend

1 - For the week 82.16% closed above the 20 DMA, 68.90% above the 50 DMA, 50.15% above the 100 DMA
2 - Last week only 41.69% closed above their 50 DMA, only 40.44% closed above their 50 DMA, only 33.90% closed above their 100 DMA
3 - Last month only 42.46% closed above their 20 DMA, only 29.22% closed above their 50 DMA, only 39.97% closed above their 100 DMA

Ratio of stocks hitting new highs/new lows for various time frames -- 1.0+ bullish, 1.0 Neutral, below .99 bearish -- Many more new highs than new lows

1 month new highs/new lows -- 2315/259 = 8.94
3 month new highs/new lows -- 591/136 = 4.35
6 month new highs/new lows -- 494/90 = 5.49

Summary and Investment Strategy -- There is no doubt that this week was a remarkable week but I'm still cautious, We have had a downward trading trend since April and I'll call last weeks action more of a recovery than a rally. I will continue to stick to my strategy of culling from my portfolio stocks that aren't keeping up with the market and only replacing with stocks that have hit new highs in at least 50% of the recent trading sessions.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Comments: View Comments |  Saturday July 24, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio. I'm adding Colonial High Income ( CXE) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for price appreciation reasons.

COLONIAL HIGH INCOME MUNICIPAL TRUST (CXE) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company, whose investment objective is to provide high current income, generally exempt from Federal income taxes.

Recently many of the high income closed end funds had a run up in price and I'll stay on the ride as long as it lasts.

CXE hit 18 new highs in the last 20 sessions including 5 for 5 recently. The stock had a 5.54% price appreciation last month and pays a 7.50% dividend that is Federally tax exempt. It has a 96% Barchart technical buy and a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal. You can buy around 5.09 with a 4.97 50 day moving average for a suggested stop loss.

Investor sentiment is very split on this stock because investors can't decide if its a price momentum play or a time to pick up a great dividend in a weak market. I say both so let's hold on to it for a little while but monitor the price closely.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Friday July 23, 2010

Today's addition to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio is a small defense contractor. We are looking at this as a short term price momentum play not a long term investment.

CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CVU) is comprised of two distinct entities: CPI Aerostructures, Inc. and Kolar, Inc. CPI Aerostructures, Inc. engages in the contract production of structural aircraft parts for the United States Air Force and other branches of the U.S. armed forces as a prime contractor or subcontractor for other defense prime contractors primarily in the United States. The company, as a prime contractor, offers skin panels, leading edges, flight control surfaces, engine components, wing tips, cowl doors, nacelle assemblies, and inlet assemblies for military aircraft. As a subcontractor, it offers various pods, and modular and structural assemblies for military aircraft; and various kits and assemblies for the S-92 civilian helicopter, as well as operates as a subcontractor to prime contractors in the production of commercial aircraft parts. The company was formerly known as Consortium of Precision Industries, Inc. and changed its name to CPI Aerostructures.

The stock came up on my daily Barchart screening for stocks hitting the most frequent new highs. This one hit 15 new highs in the last 20 trading sessions including 5 in the last 5. Last months price appreciation of 17.58% has given the stock a 96% Barchart technical buy and a Trend Spotter (tm) buy. The stock trades around 10.79 with a 50 day moving average of 9.43.

Wall Street hasn't discovered this stock yet and only 1 analyst follows it but he thinks the stock will have a 25% 5 year annual compounded EPS growth rate.

Investors also haven't found it either. On Motley Fool the 2 investors that have given opinions think it will beat the market.

I'm adding CPI Areostructures ( CVU) to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio but will keep a very close eye on it. Points to consider:

1 - 15 new highs in the last 20 sessions
2 - 17.28% price appreciation last month
3- 96% Barchart technical buy signal
4 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
5 - Wall Street analyst prediction of a 25% EPS growth
6 - Extremely small but positive investor sentiment
7 - Get in early but be prepared to get out early too

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Friday July 23, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

I adding SAPPI LTD (SPP) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio. The company is the world 's leading producer of coated fine paper. They hold major market shares in Europe, North America and Africa. They have customers in over 100 countries worldwide. Their manufacturing operations span eight countries on three continents. This may be a biggest little company you never heard of.

The company came up on my Barchart screening for stocks hitting the most frequent new highs. The stock hit 12 new highs in the last 20 sessions and had a 12.78% price appreciation last month. It has an 80% Barchart technical buy for both the short term and overall time frames plus a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal. The stock trades at 4.50 with a 50 day moving average of 3.91.

Wall Street brokerages have 2 buy and 3 hold recommendations based in an expected sales increase of 18.60% this year and 1.60% next year. The figures I find hard to believe are an estimated increase of 115.40% this year and 700.00% next year. These are their figures not mine so put a tight stop loss on this one.

Investors have noticed this one and the Motley Fool CAPS members vote 54 to 9 that the stock will beat the market. The All Stars have a similar vote of 27 to 4.

I'm adding it to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio because:

1 - It is a world leader in it's particular niche
2 - 12 new highs in 20 session
3 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy
4 - Barchart 80% technical buy
5 - Wall Street buy recommendations on expected increases in sales and earnings
6 - Positive investor sentiment

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Thursday July 22, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

I am adding the Wells Fargo Advantage Utilities and High Income Fund ( ERH ) formerly called the Evergreen Utility and High Income fund to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio. The fund is a leveraged close-ended balanced mutual fund. The fund invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations operating in utility sector. For the fixed income component of its portfolio it seeks to invest in non-investment grade securities. The fund invests in utilities ( 77% ), energy ( 13% ) and telecommunications ( 10 % ). The fund is leveraged 51% and pays a 9.26% dividend.

The fund hit 14 new highs in the last 20 trading session and had a 7.34% price increase last month. It trades around 11.26 with a 50 day moving average of 10.56. Barchart's technical indicators signal an 80% short term buy and this is confirmed by a Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal.

Wall Street analysts have an unwritten code of not giving opinions on others firms funds so there are no brokerage recommendations here.

Investors have found this stock though and on Motley Fool the CAPS members think the stock will out perform the market by a vote of 26 to 7 and the All Stars agree 13 to 4.

This is a nice play:

1 - 80% Barchart short term technical buy
2 - Trend Spotter (tm) buy
3 - Price appreciation of 7.34% last month
4 - 9.26% dividend
5 - 51% leverage

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.
Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Thursday July 22, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

YM BioSciences Inc.(YMI) is being added to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio. The company engages in the licensing and commercialization of drug products and technologies primarily for the treatment of cancer or cancer-related conditions worldwide. Its approved product Nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor, is used for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinomas, head and neck cancer, refractory children glioma, adult glioma, and stage III/IV glioma. The company is also developing Nimotuzumab for various other epithelial cancers; and AeroLEF, a proprietary formulation of free and liposome-encapsulated fentanyl administered by pulmonary inhalation for the treatment of severe and moderate acute pain, including cancer pain.

Recent price appreciation of 16.24% last month plus hitting 11 new highs in the last 20 trading sessions is a reason to take notice. Barchart Trend Spotter (tm) signals a buy and the stock is trading above its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages. The stock trades at 1.36 with a 50 day moving average of 1.28.

Wall Street brokerages have 2 buy recommendations for their clients based on a prediction of a 190.70% sales increase next year. Earnings per share are estimated to increase 13.00% this year and 25.00% next year. Pretty aggressive estimates.

The investing community has noticed this stock and the Motley Fool CAPS members think the stock will beat the market by a vote of 91 to 1.

The reasons I'm adding YM Biosciences (YMI) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio:

1 - 11 new highs in the last 20 sessions
2 - Barchart Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
3 - Wall Street recommendations to buy based on increased sales and earnings
4 - Positive investor sentiment

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Wednesday July 21, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

Time for a little south of the border action. If US banks aren't lending, banks in other countries are. Banco De Chile (BCH) is being added to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio. The bank is principally engaged in commercial banking in Chile, providing general banking services to a diverse customer base that includes large corporations, small and mid-sized businesses and individuals.

The recent priced action of a 16.28% increase last month has given the bank a
Barchart 96% short term buy signal with a confirmation from the Trend Spotter (tm). The stock hit 12 new highs in the last 20 sessions and was 5 for 5 recently. It trades above its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages at about 73.65 with a 50 day moving average of 62.19.

Wall Street brokerages have 2 buy recommendations published based on expected sales increases of 9.90% this year and 10.20% next year. Earnings increases are the real story with an EPS increase of 36.380% this year and 16.00% next year forecasted.

Investors are just beginning to discover this stock and the Motley Fool CAPS members vote the stock will beat the market 71 to 9 with the All Stars in agreement 30 to 3.

Banco de Chile (BCH) is being added to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio because:

1 - Recent price momentum has give it a Barchart 80% technical buy signal
2 - Barchart Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
3 - Trading above its 20, 50 and 100 day moving average
4 - Wall Street buy recommendations based on expected increases sales and double digit increases on EPS
5 - Investor sentiment is positive and growing

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Wednesday July 21, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio. DCP Midstream Partners, LP (DPM) is added to the Barchart Jim Van Meerten New High portfolio. The partnership is a midstream master limited partnership that gathers, treats, compresses, processes, transports and markets natural gas and transports and markets natural gas liquids. DCP Midstream Partners, LP is managed by its general partner, DCP Midstream GP, LLC, which is wholly owned by Duke Energy Field Services, a joint venture between Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips. It is a midstream master limited partnership formed by Duke Energy Field Services to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream assets. Supported by its relationship with Duke Energy Field Services and its parents, Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, it intend to acquire and construct additional assets and have a management team dedicated to executing our growth strategies.

The stock hit 13 new highs in the last 20 sessions including 5 in the last 5. The price appreciation has been 14.84% in the last month and it trades at 35.09 with a 50 day moving average of 31.08.

Wall Street brokerages are very high on master limited partnerships in the energy sector right now and have 3 buy and 4 hold reports published. They estimate sales increases of 56.00% this year and 10.20% next year. Earnings are expected to increase 9.00% this year, 3.47% next year and continue for a 5 year compounded EPS growth rate of 5.00%. Growth with a 7.1% dividend!

Positive investor sentiment in this sector is confirmed by the CAPS members on Motley Fool who vote that the stock will beat the market by a vote of 152 to 11. The experienced All Stars are more confident that it will beat the market by a vote of 55 to 2.

I know that my portfolio is getting a little over weighted in the sector but we will keep tight stop losses and be prepared to bail if the price falters. I'm adding because:

1 - The stock hit new highs in 13 of the last 20 sessions including 5 in the last 5
80% Barchart short term technical buy signal confirmed by the Barchart Trend Spotter (tm)
2 - Positive investor sentiment
3 - Wall Street buy recommendations based predicted increases in sales and earnings
4 - 7.1% dividend while we wait.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.
Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday July 20, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

Everyone seems to want to get on the alternative energy band wagon so here is your chance. TRINA SOLAR LTD (TSL) is currently one of the few private manufactures who have developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. They are led by an international management team from over 6 different countries with deep solar private industry experience. They have reached long term partnerships with leading technology suppliers in Switzerland, Italy and Germany, which provide the latest technology for their production facilities in China. These partnerships are another quality guarantee for their end customers and enable them to work jointly towards a brighter future.

Wall Street brokerage firms have found this company in a big way. They have 23 buy and 4 hold recommendations published based on estimates that sales will increase by 53.20% this year and 11.60% next year. Earnings are also expected to be stellar with a 25.60% increase this year, 8.50% next year and maintain a 5 year compounded annual EPS growth rate of 20.80%.

Their recommendations have caused a price movement of 23.22% last month and the stock hit new highs in 5 of the last 5 trading sessions. Barchart has a 100% short term technical buy signal and an overall 64% buy signal. Their Trend Spotter (tm) also signals buy.

The general investors have taken note and on Motley Fool the CAPS members vote 983 to 185 that the stock will beat the market with an agreement vote of 214 to 74 from the more experienced All Stars.

I'm adding this stock to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio but because of its recent price movement would advise a tight stop loss at the 50 day moving average of 18.87. Buying points:

1 - 100% Barchart short term technical buy signal
2 - Gained 23.22% last month and hit new highs in 5 of the last 5 trading sessions
3 - Wall Street recommendations based on stellar sales and earnings projections
4 - Large and positive investor sentiment

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.
Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday July 20, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) is a leading integrated provider of processing and transportation services to producers of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) and consumers of NGL products. The Company fractionates for a processing fee mixed NGLs produced as by-products of oil and natural gas production into their component products: ethane, propane, isobutane, normal butane and natural gasoline; converts normal butane to isobutane through the process of isomerization; produces MTBE from isobutane and methanol; and transports NGL products to end users by pipeline and rail car.

This stock had price appreciation of 7.78% last month and pays a 7.2% cash dividend. Investors have noticed this stock and on Motley Fool the CAPS members vote 993 to 21 that the stock will beat the market with the All Stars in agreement by a vote of 335 to 6. Fool follows Wall Street columnists and notes that all 11 of the recent articles have been positive.

This is a 96% Barchart technical buy and hit 13 new highs in the last 20 sessions including 5 in the last 5. The stock trades around 37.57 with a 50 day moving average of 34.53.

Wall Street brokerages look for an increase in sales of 29.20% this year and 9.00% next year, Earnings growth is estimated to be 20.50% this year, 5.70% next year and 6.03% for the next 5 years.

If you're looking for a dividend stock with price appreciation Enterprise Products (EPD) has :

1 - 96% Barchart technical buy signal
2 - Recent price appreciation of 7.78% last month plus a 7.2% dividend yield
3 - Very solid investor sentiment that the price appreciation will beat the market
4 - Wall Street brokerages looking for increased sales and EPS
5 - Cash flow with ample dividend coverage

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Monday July 19, 2010

I try not to fall in love with a stock but this one keeps coming up on my radar. 99 Cents Only Stores (NDN) is a deep-discount retailer of name-brand, consumable general merchandise. The company's stores offer a wide assortment of regularly available consumer goods as well as a broad variety of first-quality, close-out merchandise. They provide customers significant value on their everyday household needs and an shopping experience in customer-service-oriented stores which are attractively merchandised, brightly lit and well-maintained. Lately the company has been able to increase prices, lower inventory shrinkage ( shop lifting ) and get a handle on SG&A expenses. They try to lead the market is having lower fresh produce prices than the nearby general grocery stores. Low prices and fresh produce seems to be a winning combination.

Last month the stock price appreciated 14.81% and on its way up hit 11 new highs in the last 20 trading session. Barchart rates it an 80% short term technical buy and Barchart's Trend Spotter (tm) also signals a buy. The stock trades around 16.16 with a 50 day moving average of 14.74.

Wall Street brokerage analysts like the company's prospects and estimate the sales will increase by 5.80% this year and 6.70% next year. Any time I see double digit earnings growth projected I take notice. Analysts think EPS will increase 16.10% this year, 12.90% next year and continue for an annual 5 year compounded growth rate of 15.50%.

Investors are starting to notice NDN and on Motley Fool vote that the stock will beat the market with a vote of 173 to 50 with the more experienced All Stars in agreement 52 to 12. Of the Wall Street columnists Fool monitors articles have been favorable 5 to 1.

99 Cent Only Stores might be a nice addition to your portfolio if you like:

Recent price appreciation of 14.81% last month

80% Barchart short term technical buy signal

Wall Street analysts estimating increases in sales and double digit EPS growth

Solid investor sentiment that the stock will beat the market
Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Monday July 19, 2010

When I was a kid I was always fascinated by the stock market. I saw it as a way to make money without having to run a business and not have personnel or supply problems and all that drama that goes along with being a business owner. My childhood heroes were Sir John Templeton, Warren Buffet and Peter Lynch.

I read all the articles about the conflict between the random walk theory and how these 3 beat it. In college I became an accounting major and spent hours in the library reading Trendlines, Standard & Poors and Value Line. When I graduated I even bought subscriptions to Value Line.

I became convinced that there were no secrets or magic to investing. Later I became a Financial Advisor but of course was limited to the investments recommended by my research department.

About 5 years ago I became frustrated and wanted to test out my own theories. About the same time I can across Forbes Best of the Web and saw some recommendations by the Forbes editors for stock screeners and stock simulation games. I decided to test my theories and started a model portfolio on Marketocracy and began using Barchart for my stock screener because it was easy to use and free.

Before long some of my portfolios were consistently ranking in the top quartile of the 100,000 portfolios evaluated on Marketocracy. After a few years I started to have some of my portfolios hit in the top 100 for various time frames. Last year I became a full time financial blogger and now I have funds that consistently hit in the top 100 of the 100,000 and even a fund that is in the M100. I started posting my ideas on Barchart Portfolio Blogs and Seeking Alpha and now I have almost 14,000 followers of my postings. I want to help you become a better investor.

Here's my challenge to you: I want you to help me prove that anyone, from any walk of life and from any educational background can beat the market by using a little guidance, some common sense, an easy to use stock screener and data base plus a lot of discipline.

Your challenge is to open a free $1,000,000 simulated stock simulation portfolio on Marketocracy, learn to use the Barchart tools by reading my postings on
Barchart Porfolio Blogs and Seeking Alpha, ask questions and share your ideas in a Marketocracy forum that I will set up under Investing Strategies using the title Barchart User Forum and test your ideas.

Your goal will be:

1 - Have a positive rate of return on your simulated portfolio
2 - Beat the S&P 500
3 - Beat as many of the 100,000 portfolios on Marketocracy as you can.

Let's get started on your way to become a better independent investor.

Comments: View Comments |  Friday July 16, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio.

Covenant Transport, Inc. (CVTI) is a truckload carrier that offers just-in-time and other premium transportation services for customers throughout the United States. They do it all from driving the rigs, loading and unloading the trucks and keeping track of where your inventory is, when it will be delivered and also performs billing services. As the economy recovers they should land their share of new business.

The stock had recent price appreciation in 15 of the last 20 sessions with a price increase of 30.40% last month. This is a 100% Barchart technical buy and trades at 8.75 with a 50 day moving average of 8.30.

Analyst for Wall Street brokerages have 1 buy and 3 hold reports published and estimate that sales will increase 11.60% this year and 8.30% next year. The recent price action may be attributed to estimates that the EPS will increase by 121.90% this year 133.30% next year and continue at a 5.00% rate for the next 5 years.

Investors haven't discovered this stock yet but on Motley Fool those that have vote for the stock to out perform the market by a vote of 13 to 5 with the All Stars voting 3 to 2.

I'm adding this stock to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio because:

Recent price appreciation of 30.40% with 15 new highs in the last 20 trading sessions
Wall Street analysts predicting increases in sales and earnings
Undiscovered but positive investor sentiment

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Monday July 12, 2010

On Barchart Portfolio Blogs I bring to your attention stocks you might want to consider for your portfolio. Last week we discussed the merits of some oil pipe lines, this week lets look at a natural gas pipeline.

TC PipeLines, LP ( TCLP ) is a United States growth-oriented Master Limited Partnership (MLP). It was formed by TransCanada PipeLines Limited to acquire, own and actively participate in the management of United States based natural gas pipelines and related assets. The Company's portfolio of interstate natural gas pipeline investments in the United States includes a 100% general partner interest in Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company (Tuscarora), a 46.45% general partner interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (Great Lakes), and a 50% general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company (Northern Border). Its general partner is TransCanada, a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas pipelines, power generation, gas storage facilities, and projects related to oil pipelines.

The publicly traded partnership can to my attention while screening for stocks hitting the most frequent new highs on Barchart. The stock hit 13 new highs in the last 20 sessions and had a 7.69% price appreciation in the last month. 12 of the 13 technical indicators on Barchart have a buy for an overall 96% buy signal. The stock is trading above its 20, 50 and 100 day moving average and has a Barchart Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal. The stocks trades at 41.72 with a 50 day moving average of 38.50.

Wall Street likes the stock too and has 2 buy and 6 hold recommendations published. Although I like it for its recent price appreciation, Wall Street likes the 8.7% dividend which seems to increase almost every year.

Investor sentiment measured on Motley Fool is high with CAPS members voting 141 to 9 that the stock will beat the market and the more experienced All Stars agree with a vote of 60 to 2.

For older investors this stock has a one-two punch: a nice dividend for income and price appreciation for the future. I'm adding it to my Barchart New High Portfolio because:

The stock has recent and consistent price appreciation
Wall Street has both buy and hold recommendations published based on forecasts of increases in sales and income
General investor sentiment is high

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.
Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Monday July 12, 2010

I'm not sure if that is light at the end of the tunnel or a train coming from the other way. When things look the darkest we all look for optimistic signs but let's try not to go over board. Weed through all the talking heads on TV and the headlines on the financial news and evaluate where the market really stands.

This weekend look at my 3 yardsticks for evaluating the market. I use 3 because no single yardstick tells the whole picture. Barchart is the source of all my data.

Value Line Index -- contains 1700 stocks so I think it's more representative of the market than the narrower S&P 500 or the very narrow Dow 30 -- Index closed up for the week but still no long term trend

1 - Index gained 5.43% last week
2 - Index gained 2.05% last month
3 - Index was up for 3 of the last 5 weeks
4 - Still rated as a Barchart 40% technical sell
5 - Friday closed at 2253.61 and approaching its 20 day moving ave age of 2324.87

Barchart Market Momentum -- Contains approximately 6000 stocks -- The percentage of stocks closing above their Daily Moving Averages for various time periods -- Above 50% is always good --One bright note among many sour notes

1 - Friday 52.63% closed above their 20 DMA, only 43.18% closed above their 50 DMA, only 38.28% closed above their 100 DMA
2 - Last week only 24.97% closed above their 20 DMA, only 23.59% closed above their 50 DMA, only 28.36% closed above their 100 DMA
3 - Last month only 43.05% closed above their 20 DMA, only 24.10% closed above their 50 DMA and only 38/.22% closed above their 100 DMA

Ratio of stocks hitting new highs/new lows for various time frames -- 1.0+ bullish, 1.0 neutral, below .99 bearish -- We've got some strong bullish signs here

Ratio of stocks hitting 1 month new highs/new lows -- 754/219 = 3.44
Ratio of stocks hitting 3 month new highs/new lows -- 288/152 = 1.89
Ratio of stocks hitting 6 month new highs/new lows -- 238/116 = 2.05

Summary and Investment Strategy -- Something is beginning to happen, Whether it's the light at the end of the tunnel or the train coming our way I'm not sure. You can run these yardsticks at the end of each day yourself and be able to get a market pulse.

The best sign is that more stocks are hitting new highs than new lows so the market is off it's bottom range. Since only 52.63% of the stocks are trading above their 20 DMA but not their 50 and 100 DMA the trend is very short. I will continue to trim stocks that trade lower and add a stock only if it meets my strictest criteria. Daily caution should be your Standard Operating Procedure for this week.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing here and on
Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com.

Disclosure: No positions in the stock mentioned at the time of publication

Comments: View Comments |  Saturday July 10, 2010