stock watch, stock split

Begin Part 4 of 4

CECO (Career Education--$50.80; -0.20; no options): Did not get the announcements.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/c/ceco.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 2 for 1 split on 8-1-00 in conjunction with earnings. The stock price was $57. The annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for 5-11-01 at 1:00 pm CDT at which time additional shares will be authorized. The company has sufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split without increasing authorized shares.
STATUS: CECO is now holding just over its 18 day MVA (50.36) with three consecutive dojis. The stock held its 50 day MVA (48.42) as it has done several times the last couple of months before its breakout from a small ascending wedge, but the move up this time has stalled in the range of the highs of that former pattern. Volume spiked up today on the doji, so we will see if the stock will try the 50 day again. It has been on a nice, steady run, and we are still watching for a split announcement, but it appears to be struggling here. The recent high was 55.
BUY POINT: Aggressive Over 52 on increased volume (281,700 today; average 254,000).
POSITION: Stock only.

FHCC (First Health Group--$51.90; +0.72; no options):
http://biz.yahoo.com/f/fhcc.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 2:1 split on 5-19-98 at a stock price of $29.57. The annual shareholder meeting was on 5-16-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The next annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for 5-22-01.
STATUS: Recently broke from a cup pattern (dating to December), but after gapping up to 55.15 the stock has come back to test that break. It is trying to bounce again from its 18 day MVA (50.04), today getting a surge in volume as it continued its move (453,200; average 392,000). We will see if it can continue up after this test of the breakout.
BUY POINT: May need to consolidate a bit, and the aggressive can look for a continued move over 52.50 on increased volume.
POSITION: Stock.

GENZ (Genzyme--$101.81; -0.23; optionable):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/g/genz.html
BACKGROUND: Last split a 2:1 in July 1996, at a price of $47. The annual shareholder meeting on 5-25-00 at which time no additional shares were increased. The company has sufficient shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: Biotechnology. Had been very strong, but after announcing the issuance of some convertible notes the stock abruptly dropped two weeks ago. It is back in the range of the high in the left side of its former cup pattern, showing a doji today after pulling back from the high on last week's move, 108.50. We want to see GENZ hold on here, perhaps consolidate and find its legs for a move back up. The high on the breakout was 111.50. Not a play from here.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move over 105 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $100 (GZQ GT).

IFIN (Investors Fin Services--$68.49; +0.49; optionable):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/i/ifin.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 2:1 split on 5-15-00 in conjunction with a board meeting. The stock price was $82. Prior to that announced a 2:1 split on 2-18-99 in conjunction with a board meeting. The stock price was $40.76. The stock reported earnings January 11. The annual shareholder meeting was on 4-18-00 at which time authorized shares were increased. The company does not have sufficient shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: Has continued to gradually move down in a consolidation in the bottom of its handle to a double bottom pattern. The handle has now extended a month, now trying to hold its 200 day MVA (66.83). It needs to hold here, having already dropped more than we would like in this protracted consolidation. However, it is still a pattern from which we could see a solid move. The stock has some recent resistance at 75, with the handle high at 80.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move over 71 (the 10 day MVA is 69.91) on increased volume near the average (336,000; today 160,800)
POSITION: Stock and/or July $65 calls to buy (FLQ GN).

MERQ (Mercury Interactive--$59.25; -1.80; optionable): No announcement today with its annual shareholder meeting.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/merq.html
STATUS: Could not make a move off of Monday's doji, today pulling back a bit more after hitting up to 63.70 at its intraday high. Volume was up but still low at 3.87 million (average 5.27 million) as the stock holds its 50 day MVA (58.96). Looking for this level to hold, and watching for a good move from the stock in a solid tech market. The current pullback has been a gradual drop from a recent run that hit 73.25.
BUY POINT: A move over 63 (10 day MVA is 62.44) on increased volume in a good tech market.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $60 calls buy (RQB GL).

SRCL (Stericycle--$45.01; +0.25; optionable): Did not get the announcement.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/s/srcl.html
BACKGROUND: Based upon our research it does not appear that SRCL has ever split its stock. The annual shareholder meeting was on 5-11-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The company has sufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split.
STATUS: Could not continue the strong move made last Friday off of the 50 day MVA (42.32). Monday saw the stock reach 48.30 but pull way back to close with a loose doji, and today the stock could only manage a slight move. We will see if it and hold its 10 and 18 day MVA's (together at 43.73) and regroup for another try.
BUY POINT: Aggressive After holding support at the short-term MVA's, a strong move back up over 45 with above average volume (208,400 today; average 225,000).
POSITION: Stock and/or August $40 calls to buy (URL HH).

STI (Suntrust Banks--$60.08; +0.08; optionable):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/s/sti.html
BACKGROUND: Last split its stock in February 1996 at a stock price of $75. The annual shareholder meeting was on 4-18-00 at which time authorized shares were increased. There are enough shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: Got killed on news of a deal. Dropping.

POST SPLITS REMAINING PLAYS:

CAH (Cardinal Health--$69.17; -0.83; optionable): Splits 3:2 effective 4-23-01.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/c/cah.html
STATUS: Broke out to a new high Friday (out of its 2001 range), but has come right back to test recent highs and its 10 day MVA (68.37) in subsequent sessions. The stock tapped the 10 day at its low today, with the pullback coming on lower volume than we saw on the recent ascent (1.36 million today; average 1.45 million). Looking for it to hold here, above the high in the left side of the small saucer it has formed since early March.
PLAY: After holding, a strong move back over 70, looking for increased volume, with stock and/or September $66.63 calls to buy (CKJ IX). Target: 75.50 to 79.

CHKP (Check Point--$54.91; -1.09; optionable (KEQ): Security Software. Split 3:2 effective February 13.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/c/chkp.html
STATUS: CHKP has shown a second consecutive doji, bleeding back a bit more today. We need to be ready to exit put positions if the stock makes a move back off of these patterns. To the upside there is little short-term potential, with the 10 day MVA at 60.67 and the 50 day at 64.59. On continued selling, watch positions with care toward the target of 50. No new positions.

EMLX (Emulex--$37.59; +1.18; optionable (UMQ): Computer Hardware: Peripherals
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/e/emlx.html
STATUS: EMLX looks to have caught its recent drop at the 50 day MVA (35.78), showing a second consecutive doji on that level, this one a bullish "shooting star." Volume picked up on the day, coming in at 9.2 million (average 6.5 million). In a rally we could get a strong move back up that will hold. It has formed a cup with handle since its big drop in February, with the handle high at 47.85.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move back over 40 (10 day MVA 39.22) in a Nasdaq rally.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $35 calls to buy (UMQ GG).

JNPR (Juniper--$53.15; -0.62; optionable (JUX): Computer Hardware http://biz.yahoo.com/p/j/jnpr.html
STATUS: Could not hold the move over the 50 day MVA (60.05) earlier this month and has continued to fall back. It has now shown three straight tight dojis under its 18 day MVA (55.76), with volume spiking back up today to 30.3 million (average 28.5 million). Not a bad consolidation, slightly decreasing on volume that has generally been below the average, but we want to see it hold at 51 (gap up point) for an aggressive entry point on a strong move up.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A strong move back over 56 in a strong Nasdaq.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $50 calls to buy (JUX GJ).

MKT (Advanced Marketing--$18.00; -0.50; no options): Basic Materials. Split 2:1 effective 5-14-01.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/mkt.html
STATUS: Made a great run going into the split on a breakout from a nice, tight pennant pattern. The stock hit a breakout high of 19.36, and on the split today the stock gapped up but reversed. We will see if it can hold the 10 day MVA (17.51) on a test of the breakout. If it can hold there, we can look at it again on a strong move up. Post-split moves can be tough, but it broke from a solid pattern.
PLAY: A move back up on strong volume after a lower volume pullback that holds the 10 day. Stock only.

PPDI (Pharmaceutical Prod Dev--$31.64; +0.32): Health services. Split 2:1 on 5-14-01.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/p/ppdi.html
STATUS: Made a very nice pre-split move for us, and now it is holding over its 10 day MVA (30.65), tapping that level at its lows the last two sessions before closing with tight dojis. Not showing great action here, creeping slightly as its move has stalled (after testing the break from its cup pattern). We will see if it can form a nice lateral to slightly descending consolidation along the 10 day.
PLAY: Aggressive A move back over 32 after a lower-volume (772,200 today; average 418,600) move to the 10 day, with stock and/or July $27.50 calls to buy (PJQ GY).

PFGC (Performance Food--$26.05; 0.00; optionable): Food wholesale. Split 2:1 on 5-1.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/p/pfgc.html
STATUS: Tried a move back over its 50 day MVA (26.10) the last couple of sessions, but cannot hold it. The stock has dropped back below that support several times this year before turning back around and making nice moves up. Not much of a pattern, but we will give it a bit more time to make a 2-3 point move. An aggressive play, and we prefer to play patterns, but we will see if it can turn back up and make a move.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move back over the 50 day on increased volume (continued weak at 109,200 today; average 149,400), with stock and/or September $22.50 calls to buy (PGU IX).

RMCI (Right Mgmt Consultants--$20.10; +0.15): Business Services. Split 3:2 effective April 9.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/r/rmci.html
STATUS: After its move Friday the stock has stalled a bit. Not surprising, given the low volume on the move up, but the stock has been resilient and is not giving up ground easily. We will see if its holds the 10 day MVA (19.26)on a lower volume pullback (63,200 today; average 52,000) for a run back up over Friday's high of 20.25.
PLAY: After a lower volume pullback that holds the 10 day, a stronger move back up. Stock only.

SOTR (Southtrust Corp--$23.74; +0.33; optionable): Banking. Split 2:1 effective 5-14-01.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/s/sotr.html
STATUS: Tested its break from an ascending wedge made in late April, and finally was able to make a move out of its recent range along its short-term MVA's (10 day at 23.42). Good volume accompanied the move up (1.34 million; average 900,600), so the aggressive can look for more of a move up toward the high of 24.60.
PLAY: Aggressive A continued move on strong volume, with stock and/or September $20 calls to buy (SHQ ID).

STZ (Constellation Brands--$35.17; +0.59; optionable): Wineries. Split 2:1 May 15.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/s/stz.html
STATUS: Made a little move Monday going into the split, and was able to continue the momentum today. It had looked like it was trying to form a head-and-shoulders, and is now at the highs of what would be the left shoulder. We will see if it turns over or not, as volume on the session today was not encouraging (126,600; average 170,500). From here we would need to see a strong move up to be convinced to the upside. We will not give it much time. The recent high is 36.99.
PLAY: Aggressive A move over 36 on above average volume, with stock and/or July $35 calls (STZ GG very low open interest) to buy. On a move we would be carefully protecting positions.

Good Investing!
Jon Johnson and the Stock Split Report Staff.

All of the foregoing is commentary for informational purposes only. All statements and expressions are the opinion of Online Investment Services, LP or its paid consultants and are not meant to be a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. We are not licensed or registered in the securities industry. The information presented herein and on our related web site has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. The security portfolio of Partners of Online Investment Services, LP or its paid consultants may, in some instances, include securities mentioned herein and on our web site. Estimates, assumptions and other forward-looking information are subject to the limits of forecasting. Actual future developments may differ materially due to many factors.

stock watch
stock split