stock watch, stock split

Begin Part 3 of 4

FISV (Fiserv--$56.21; +0.46; optionable): We are working on a date.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fisv.html
BACKGROUND: Last announced a 3:2 split on 3-25-99 in conjunction with its annual shareholder meeting. The stock price was $52. FISV's last two splits were announced in conjunction with its annual shareholder meeting. The company currently has sufficient shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: FISV is trying to make its way back up after having tested its breakout from a cup with handle (formed out of a large descending wedge). The stock hit up over its breakout high yesterday, hitting a high of 58 before pulling back. It held its 18 day MVA (55.06) at its lows, and is managing to close above its 10 day MVA (55.69), today with a loose doji on very low volume (414,200; average 1.46 million). We will see if it can hold the 10 day MVA, and if it can we will look for a strong move back up. Good relative strength.
BUY POINT: A move over 58 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or September $55 calls to buy (FTQ IK).

ADVP (Advancepcs--$63.71; +0.43; 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 held the 50 day MVA (58.84) after falling out of its steady, low volume trend up along its short-term MVA's (10 day and 18 day at 62.82 and 62.41), and has since pulled back up to settle along those short-term levels. It has pulled laterally the last couple of sessions, showing a perfect doji today with a long tail to the downside (hitting a low of 61.20). Volume was very solid at 1.09 million (average 951,000), the first time we have seen strong volume in a while (except with late-May selling), so the stock could be ready to make a move back up. The high is up at 68.59.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move over 65.30 on continued strong volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $60 calls to buy (QVD FL).

FDC (First Data--$67.00; +0.44; 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 might have found solid support at the 10 day MVA (66.65) after pulling back yesterday, showing a loose doji over that level today. The stock has visited the 64 range on its last two pullbacks (the high in the left side high in its former saucer pattern), so we will see if it can hold here. The stock has failed the last three attempts at a new high (68.76), so we will see if it can make a strong move up and take out the high.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A move up from here on increased volume (up today at 1.5 million; average 1.7 million). Breakout A new high on increased volume.
POSITION: Both buy points Stock and/or August $65 calls to buy (FDC HM).

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

New Pre-Split Play:

FRED (Fred's--$28.55; +0.60; no options): Retail. Splits 2:1 effective 6-19.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fred.html
STATUS: The stock broke from a cup in May, but after falling back from that move and testing its 50 day MVA (25.46), the stock has recovered and is making a move up along its short-term MVA's (10 and 18 day at 27.69 and 27.08). It made a move that took it as high as 30.20 before pulling back, but after catching support it made a move up today on big volume (110,700; average 64,0000). Looking for the move to continue as a pre-split run up to the high and beyond.
PLAY: A move up from here on continued strong volume, with stock.

Continuing Pre-Split Plays:

LH (Laboratory Corp--$162.41; +2.00; optionable): Health Services. Splits 2:1 effective June 11.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/l/lh.html
STATUS: Has made an outstanding pre-split move, running up from the 130 range. It has slowed down a bit, closing well off its high Wednesday but trying to move again today, although volume dipped back below the average at 438,100 (average 455,300). Splits Monday, and the run looks over, but the aggressive can look to see if it tries something Friday, protecting positions carefully on a continued move (high Wednesday was 163.50).
PLAY: Aggressive A move up from here, carefully protecting our positions, with stock and/or July $155 calls to buy (LH GK).

JNJ (Johnson&Johnson--$103.06; -0.04; optionable): Drugs. Splits 2:1 effective June 12.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/j/jnj.html
STATUS: Has made a nice move going into next Tuesday's split, but we will be careful to protect positions at this point. JNJ showed a doji Thursday, which could indicate a move back down after such a good move. However, volume lightened up a bit at 4.5 million (average 5.28 million), and we can still watch to see if this is a rest before a continued move. Ahead is the late-January high of 105.94 as the next major level of resistance. Relative strength has broken out, and money flow is solid. Protect the gains.
PLAY: A move up, with stock and/or July $100 calls to buy (JNJ GT).

OKE (Oneck--$41.31; -0.62; no options): Utility. Splits 2:1 effective June 12.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/o/oke.html
STATUS: The stock has dropped from what was shaping up as a pennant pattern, now looking more like a descending wedge. That is a bearish pattern, but we will see if it can hold here, in the range of its dual May lows, and make a move back over the most recent high at 43.20, breaking the string of lower highs. The May high is 44. We would look at a put play, but no options.
PLAY: Aggressive A move over 43.20, with stock.

SDS (Sungard Data--$57.61; +0.21; optionable): Announced a 2:1 split, effective June 18.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/s/sds.html
STATUS: Suffered a downgrade and dropped out of its fine pattern. The stock is holding its 50 day MVA (56.77) at the moment, so we will see if it can hold here and try to make a recovery. Nothing for now.

FCEL (Fuelcell--$82.25; +0.46; optionable): Splits 2:1 effective June 20.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fcel.html
STATUS: After a good move on the announcement the stock is slowly edging up, holding support at its short-term MVA's (10 day and 18 day at 80.10 and 78.42). The last two sessions the stock reached up to 84 but pulled back as volume remained below the average (down to 608,000; average 846,300). Looking for it to hold support here and go into a move toward its recent high, at 93.44.
PLAY: Aggressive A move over 84, with stock and/or July $80 calls to buy (FQG GP).

FHCC (First Health Group--$50.86; -0.50; 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. The stock held its May lows in the 50 range on its recent pullback, edging up since then. The stock moved back over its short-term MVA's (10 day at 50.84), pulling back to that level slightly today with a doji on low volume (249,500; average 437,000). Not real strong, but if it can hold here it could build strength and mount a move.
PLAY: Aggressive A move back over 52 with above average volume, with 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--$57.02; +0.19; 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 held the 50 day MVA (55.97) on the drop back from its handle consolidation (formed after its broke from a saucer pattern in late April). The move up from the 50 day is slowing, showing a spinning top after a doji yesterday, holding over the short-term MVA's (18 day at 56.60). The recent move up again suffered from the problem it has had every time it tries to make a move up: lack of volume. We need to see some volume behind a move back up toward the high of 58.50.
BUY POINT: Breakout Over 58.50 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $55 calls to buy (AQR GK).

BBT (BB&T--$36.10; -0.16; optionable): Banking.
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 consolidating over its 50 day MVA (35.94), continuing to hold in the range of its January-March consolidation, back in that range for over a month after having recovered from a dip back near 31. It has had a tough time with the 37 level, on which it ran against in May several times. It is not doing much, and we will need to see if it can finally make a move, but we will not give it much time.
BUY POINT: A move over 37.25 on above average volume (down to 688,500; average 801,000).
POSITION: Stock and/or June $35 calls to buy (BBT FG).

CBH (Commerce Bancorp--$70.41; +0.96; 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 and consolidating in the 68-70 range, most recently over the 18 day MVA (69.42). Today the stock moved over the recent high in the consolidation, but we will need to see more, and with more strength (volume was down to 124,000; average is 162,500). The breakout high was 72.90.
BUY POINT: Aggressive A strong move back over 72 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $70 calls to buy (CBH FN).

CECO (Career Education--$54.25; -0.76; 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 has been trying to make a move, but after reaching 56.10 Tuesday the stock has dipped back. Today CECO tapped down to its 18 day MVA at its low of 52.08 before recovering. The stock has been moving up, bouncing along its 50 day MVA (49.90), and has formed a small saucer. Volume was quite low at 99,200 (average 267,000); we will see if it can hold the 54 level, looking for a break from here back up over the high.
BUY POINT: A move back over 56.10 on above average volume.
POSITION: Stock only.

IFIN (Investors Fin Services--$66.74; -1.52; 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 company does not have sufficient shares for a 2:1 split.
STATUS: Gave us a put play, but slammed on the brakes and rebounded this week. After strong moves the preceding two sessions, the stock has run up against the 50 day MVA (68.41; the 200 day is at 69.06), and pulled back from that level on lower volume today. It is not showing us a put play now, but we need to see more to the upside before jumping on that bandwagon. Nothing for now.

End Part 3 of 4

stock watch
stock split