stock split, stock research

Begin Part 3 of 4

ADVP (Advancepcs--$60.91; +1.91; optionable): Health services. We are working on a date for this one.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/advp.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 2 for 1 split on 10-12-99 at a stock price of $50. The annual shareholder meeting was on 12-7-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The company does not have sufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split, but does have sufficient shares for a 3 for 2 split.
STATUS: ADVP finally dropped back, this time taking out its short-term MVA's (10 day at 62.50), finding support at the 50 day (57.97). The stock moved back up from that level today, on volume that was strong (1.2 million; average 925,400) but not as strong as Wednesday's selling volume. The stock had been moving up steadily along the short-term MVA's, but has been plagued by volume that has been low and below average along the way. It is not unusual for stocks in strong uptrends to visit their 50 day MVA, but we will see if the stock can hold here and make a move up again with stronger volume behind it. The high, made last week, is 68.59.
BUY POINT: Aggressive After holding support here, a move back over the 10 day MVA on continued strong volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $60 calls to buy (QVD FL).

FDC (First Data--$65.61; +0.84; optionable): Working on a forecast date. Earnings were announced on 4-12-01.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fdc.html
BACKGROUND: Last split was a 2 for 1 on 11-18-96 at a stock price of $80. The annual shareholder meeting was on 1-11-01 at which time authorized shares were increased. The company has sufficient shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: FDC found support at its 50 day MVA (63.88), which is in the range of the highs from its former cup pattern. The stock has been steadily giving back the gain it made on its breakout (that took it to 68.76), but the move up from the 50 day the last two sessions is encouraging. Today it reached 66.12 before closing right at its 18 day MVA. The aggressive momentum play is a move back over 66 on volume that is above the average (1.7 million; today 1.4 million).
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move over 66 on above average volume.
POSITION: Aggressive Stock and/or August $60 calls to buy (FDC HL).

PRE-SPLITS REMAINING PLAYS: With these stocks we keep an eye out, waiting for the start of a pre-split run.

DGX (Quest Diagnostics--$123.61; +1.96; optionable): Health services. Splits 2:1 effective June 1.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/d/dgx.html
STATUS: Could not muster much of a move on the last day before the split (hit 125.50 at its high), but is still in a good pattern, holding its 18 day MVA (120.70) in a lateral consolidation formed since pulling back from its nice pre-split run that saw it reach up to 133.50. We will see if it can hold this support post-split and then make another move.
PLAY: A move over 125.50 on increased volume (295,200 today; average 360,000), with stock and/or August $120 calls to buy (DGX HD).

FIC (Fair Isaac--$75.00; -1.64; no options): Splits 3:2 effective June 5.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fic.html
STATUS: Business services. Made a nice little move out of its flying plateau last week, but pulled back today off of consecutive dojis. It closed on its 10 day MVA, and if it can hold here we could get one more move going into the split. The high is 77.54. Again, we would carefully protect positions on a move.
PLAY: A move up from here. Stock only.

APPB (Applebee's--$39.78; -3.32; optionable): Splits 3:2 effective June 12.
http://biz.yahoo.com/a/appb.html
STATUS: A tough day for restaurants, and APPB was killed. The stock had dropped back to apparent support near 42, but today tanked back from the short-term MVA's (10 day at 42.83), closing back below the 50 day (40.54) on huge volume (1.2 million; average 404,000). No positions.

OKE (Oneck--$42.10; +0.28; no options): Utility. Splits 2:1 effective June 12.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/o/oke.html
STATUS: The stock had been moving in a pennant, but sold back below its most recent low, destroying the pattern of making higher lows. It did hold support at the 200 day MVA (41.46), however, but is currently stymied by the 50 day (42.50, with the short-term MVA's as well). There is some time, so we will see if it can garner the strength to move over the 50 day. From there we would look at the recent high of 44.
PLAY: Aggressive A move over the 50 day MVA, with stock.

FHCC (First Health Group--$50.20; +0.26; no options): The 2:1 split is effective June 25.
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: Since breaking from a cup in April FHCC has been bouncing around a bit, pulling back since announcing its split and currently holding at the lows in its recent range. After dipping back below its 18 day MVA (50.69) last week, the stock has pulled laterally with three consecutive dojis under resistance. This is key support, so we will see if it can hold; with the announcement behind it, that could add strength to it after it rests from its recent strong run. We often see stocks that have been very strong going into an announcement rest a big back on support and then make a move.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A strong move back over 52, with above average volume.
POSITION: Stock.

CONTINUING CANDIDATES REMAINING PLAYS: When splits are not announced, we will keep the best split prospects on the report rather than continue to carry all of them in case there is a an unexpected announcement. We will continue to monitor the stocks that are trimmed and add them again when we ascertain a revised split announcement date.

ASFC (Astoria Financial--$55.90; +0.18; optionable): Savings and Loan.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/asfc.html
BACKGROUND: Last split its stock in 1996 with the split at a price of $56. The annual shareholder meeting was on 5-17-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The company has sufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split. The next annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for 5-16-01 at 9:30 ET.
STATUS: ASFC broke from a saucer in late April, and was gradually forming a handle consolidation from it breakout high of 58.50 until the selling got a little more severe last week. The stock fell to the 50 day MVA (55.84), and is trying to hang onto that support, showing three consecutive dojis at that level. This level also represents some support from some highs in the middle of the stock's former cup pattern, so we will see if it can hang on. Not much to play for now, and we will see if it can recover from this possible shakeout. The stock has generally suffered from weak volume on moves up.
BUY POINT: Aggressive Over 57 on increased volume near the average. Breakout Over 58.50 on above average volume.
POSITION: Both buy points Stock and/or July $55 calls to buy (AQR GK).

BBT (BB&T--$36.15; +0.26; optionable): Banking. Did not get an announcement with earnings.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/b/bbt.html
BACKGROUND: The company has declared 21:20 splits in 1996 and 1997. The annual shareholder meeting was on 4-25-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The company has insufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split, but just enough for a 3:2 split.
STATUS: Is hanging on at the 50 day MVA (35.87), still moving in the range of January-March consolidation. It has been back in that range for over a month after having recovered from a dip back near 31, but it is having a tough time with the 37 level, on which it banged its head several times recently. It is now faced with its short-term MVA's (10 day at 36.24) as it tries to move up.
BUY POINT: A move over 37.25 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $35 calls to buy (BBT FG).

CBH (Commerce Bancorp--$68.60; -0.29; optionable):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/c/cbh.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 5 for 4 split on 6-29-98. The stock price was $54.63. The annual shareholder meeting was on 6-20-00 at which time no additional shares were authorized. The company has insufficient shares for a 2 for 1 split.
STATUS: Did not show us much on the recent breakout from its cup with handle, pulling back below the breakout point (70.40) last week. It has now made a lateral move with consecutive dojis under its short-term MVA's (10 day at 69.39), so it could be ready to fall back toward the 50 day MVA (66.77), but we will also see if it can move back over resistance. The breakout high of 72.90.
BUY POINT: Aggressive After holding here, a strong move back over 72 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $70 calls to buy (CBH FN).

CEC (CEC Entertainment--$43.70; -10.20; optionable): No announcement with earnings.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/c/cec.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 3 for 2 split on 6-24-99 at a stock price of $40.
STATUS: Chuckee Cheese is having problems. Absolutely tanked on giving a weak forecast, hitting 40 at its low before rebounding a bit. For stop limits in place, we could try and see if the stock makes a move toward its 50 day MVA (48.41) for a better exit point. Dropping.

CECO (Career Education--$50.36; -1.64; no options):
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 made a strong move out of its pennant pattern (over its 50 day MVA at 49.04) the last couple of sessions, but Wednesday's move had a topping sign of closing well off the intraday high. The stock followed that up by showing a common response, gapping up and then pulling back. However, volume was much lower on the selling at 136,900 (average 264,000) and the stock held to close on its 10 day MVA. We will see if it can hold and try to continue the move. The high on this move is 53.20, and the stock hit a high of 55 in late April.
BUY POINT: Aggressive Over 52 on increased volume near the average.
POSITION: Stock only.

KMP (Kinder Morgan--$71.70; +0.69):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/k/kmp.html
BACKGROUND: Based upon our research it does not appear that KMP has ever split its stock. KMP is a master limited partnership and therefore does not have annual shareholder meetings.
STATUS: Has made a strong run, with two good surges after breaking out of a saucer pattern last month with a gap. It hit a high of 73.99 on the last move, and has retreated a bit from there to show several consecutive loose dojis over the 18 day MVA (70.98). Volume is light in this consolidation (64,200 today; average 135,000), so we will see if its can make a move. Looking pretty good, but on a move we will protect profits carefully as it has been on the good run.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move back over 72.50 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or September $70 calls (KMP FN).

MERQ (Mercury Interactive--$59.24; -0.19; optionable):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/merq.html
STATUS: MERQ was punished with the big techs, and after gapping below the 50 day MVA (61.82) Wednesday the stock showed a second doji under that level today. Volume dipped back to 2.83 million (average 5.2 million) as the stock could not hold a move up to 63.32 intraday. It is at support from prior May lows, so we will see if it holds a move back over the 50 day, or if it retreats back in a weak market.
BUY POINT: Upside aggressive In a strong Nasdaq recovery, a move back over the 50 day on strong volume near the average. Downside After a failed test of the 50 day, strong selling back below 58 on strong volume.
POSITION: Upside Stock and/or July $55 calls to buy (RQB GK). Downside July $65 puts to buy (RQB SM).

MMM (Minnesota Mining--$118.58; +1.23):
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/mmm.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 2:1 split on 3-15-94 in conjunction with a board meeting. The stock price was $102. The annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for 5-8-01 at 10:00 am CT at which time no additional shares will be authorized.
STATUS: Has been in a steady pullback from its breakout (from a cup with handle) high of 127. It is now back in the range of its former handle, fighting to the upside again its short-term MVA's (10 day at 119.44). Volume has not been big on the drops (down to 1.56 million today; average 2.37 million), so we will see if it can hold in this handle range and break the downward trend with a strong move.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move back over 122.50 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $120 calls to buy (MMM GD).

End Part 3 of 4

stock split
stock research