#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper is in a pullback after meeting profit targets. Gold is a new short. Silver is stopped out of the long trade.

Crude is a new short. Nat Gas has met profit targets.

The US 30 Year Treasury Bond is looking for a new long trade.

The US Dollar futures are at the top end of a trading range.

_____________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Still in the move down from the 2730 level. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes closed the month of January as neutral. The next target down is 2372. A close above 2900 would confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – Rallied thru and closed below the 2721 upside target. Trade pressures are up in the neutral zone. Volumes have been bullish for the last four weeks. The next target up is 2816. A close below 2588 would confirm any daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. Completed a move down to the 2686 target on the hourly charts. Trade pressures are up. Volumes closed as bullish.

The next hourly target down is 2655.
A close above 2702 would signal higher on hourly.

The daily technical pressures are down. The earnings estimates for the S&P 500 are being lowered by the analyst community. 1Q19 and 2Q19 are down to 2 and 3 percent growth. The 2H19 looks better but is still subject to downward revisions.

____________________

Navellier Top 8 – The $100,000 virtual portfolio is up $14,000 for the YTD. The portfolio companies have reported good 4Q18 earnings and positive guidance for the upcoming quarters. As the average earnings expectations for the general market are reduced by analysts, these better fundamentals will be increasingly attractive to the fund managers.

{The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper has made nice move up. Gold and Silver also have moved but are now looking toppy.

Crude oil continues the move up but is very close to upside targets, expect retracement. Natural Gas is moving down in the midst of one one of the coldest weeks on record.

The US 30 year Treasuries are in a shallow pullback, looking for higher.

The US Dollar futures are testing the prior lows. Could have a bounce.

____________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Very near a 62% retracement of the move down from the 2951 high. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. The next target down is 2372. A close above the 2900 level would confirm any new weekly move up.

Weekly – The sixth week of the move higher. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are still bullish. The next target up is 2721. A close below 2566 would confirm any daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. Looks to be the fifth wave in this move up from 2412. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 2721. A close below 2597 would signal lower.

Price has moved just above the 2695 level reclaiming all the 2108 losses and now even ahead of the 2017 yer end close.

Crude, Gold and the S&P index are all at upside targets, be alert for a new move down in all three.

__________________

Navellier Top 8 Stocks are doing well in the earnings season. The $100,000 Virtual portfolio is up about $12,000 in this month of January. A fast move up and not likely to continue at this rate.

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper in a new move up. Gold and Silver in a rally on the Venezuela worries.

Crude oil also reacting to possible sanctions on Venezuela. Natural gas is in a new short trade.

The US 30 year Treasury Bond is in a move down, but watch carefully for a possible move up.

The US Dollar futures are in the move down as the FED slows the asset sales.

_________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – The monthly bar appears to recover fifty percent of the December move down, but still in the move down. Trade pressures are down. Volumes Closed the month of December as bearish. The next target down is 2368. A close above the 2900 level would confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – Five weeks into this retracement move up. Trade pressures are still down but rising. Volumes are now neutral. the next target up is 2721. A close blow the 2528 level would confirm a new daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. In the move up from the 2412 long entry level and thru the 2566 target. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bullish. The break above the downtrend resistance at 2642 has resulted in consolidation. The next target up is 2721. A close below 2558 would signal lower.

___________________

Navellier Top 8 – Lamb Weston (LW) will replaced with Veeva Systems (VEEV). Arbor Realty Trust (ABR) and Capital Southwest Bank (CSWC) will be replaced by BG Staffing (BGSF) and Medifast (MED) on Monday at the open. Performances of the Virtual portfolio are in line with the market.

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

The following is provided by Navellier with technical comment from South Ocean Management – pls do your own due diligence.

https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/

Navellier says,

High-Growth Investments

CME Group, Inc.

CME Group, Inc. (CME) remains a Top 5 Stock for February as it continues to outperform the S&P 500. As we’ve talked about before, CME runs the world’s leading marketplace, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Simply put, CME Group dominates the world of options trading. In fact, its tagline is that it is “where the world comes to manage risk.” For those of you who aren’t as familiar with the CME, or “the Merc,” it trades several types of financial instruments: Interest rates, equities, currencies and commodities (like energy, agricultural products and metals). CME Group executes trades through its electronic trading platforms, and it also provides hosting, connectivity and customer support for electronic trading.

CME made a couple of records recently. It saw Asia Pacific average daily volume (ADV) increase 45% to 921,000 contracts in the fourth quarter. On a global scale, there was an 18% increase to 19.2 contracts ADV.

I expect this strength to be reflected in the company’s upcoming fourth-quarter report on February 14. Analysts are expecting earnings of $1.72 per share on revenue of $1.2 billion. This represents 53.6% annual earnings growth and 32% annual revenue growth.

In addition, the company continues to reward its shareholders. CME just paid a special dividend of $1.75 per share on January 16. All shareholders of record on December 10 should have received the dividend. Continue to buy this Conservative stock up to $199.

SOM Technicals:

11-30-18: Closed at 190.08. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Support at 184.15.

12-8-18: Closed at 187.11. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The 25×5 day MA is holding as support.

12-15-18: Closed at 187.54. Trade pressures are up in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Holding support at the 25×5 MA.

12-22-18: Closed at 182.65. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish.Now in the downtrend with support at 181.

12-29-18: Closed at 186.11. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Resistance is at the 189.70 target.

1-5-19: Closed at 184.68. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes have changed to bullish. In the move up. The next target up is 190-86.

1-12-19: Closed at 180.55. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are now neutral. The 200 day MA at 171 is support.

1-19-18: Closed at 183.43. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. In the new move up to the 186.91 target.

1-26-19: Closed at 185.94. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 192.91.

2-2-19: Closed at 183.44. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. 186.91 is the next target up.

2-8-19: Closed at 178.20. Trade pressures are now down. Volumes are neutral. Bounced off the 200 day MA. need a move above 177.50 to get going again.

2-16-19: Closed at 175.40. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now bearish. At support on the 200 day moving average.

 

DexCom, Inc.

DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) is now officially a Top 5 Stock for two months in a row. I really like this company because it has been innovating the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) industry. In case you are unfamiliar with CGM, it’s a technology that enables patients and their doctors to better manage diabetes.

With DXCM’s technology, a diabetic does not need to prick their finger to test their blood glucose levels. Instead, he or she inserts a small sensor under the skin. The diabetic will then be notified via a display device when their glucose levels are either too low or high. It’s simple, user-friendly and pain-free.

As the leader in CGM, DXCM offers a variety of products, including the Dexcom G6 CGM System, Dexcom G5 CGM System, Dexcom CLARITY, Dexcom Apps, Dexcom Studio and insulin pumps. These products have helped improve patient experiences, add real-time glucose data with alerts and alarms, share data and reduce costs.

Here’s the opportunity: The current CGM market includes six million people. That market will expand to 60 million people who suffer from diabetes, as CGM is expected to play a key role in helping to manage the disease. So, DXCM should see strong demand for its products and services going forward.

DXCM will release its fourth-quarter results on February 21. It has a strong history of beating estimates, and I expect this quarter to be no different. The Street view is for earnings of $0.17 per share, up 70% from last year’s $0.10 per share. Revenue is set to rise 35.6% to $299.67 million, up from $221 million last year. Earnings per share estimates have been revised higher in the past week alone, so a quarterly earnings surprise is likely. This Aggressive stock us a buy under $170.

SOM Technicals:

12-22-18: closed at 108.32. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 99.47. Now sitting on support at the 200 day MA.

12-29-18: Closed at 118.28. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 127.38.

1-5-19: Closed at 116.24. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are now neutral. At the 200 day MA and support.

1-12-19: Closed at 142.00. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. Moved sharply up off the 200 day MA. Now at the retracement target and should consolidate here.

1-19-18: Closed at 149.62. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes are bullish. At the 141.18 target, expect consolidation here.

1-26-19: Closed at 146.00. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are bearish. Support is 141.00.

2-2-19: Closed at 141.78. Trade pressures are now down. Volumes are bearish to bullish. The 25×5 MA is lower at 136.52.

2-8-19: Closed at 145.53. Trade back up into the neutral.zone. Volumes are bullish. In the up trend. The next target up is 163.51.

2-16-19: Closed at 148.49. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 163.51.

 

Fortinet

Fortinet (FTNT) is a solid Top 5 Stock, as it’s set to benefit from a shift in leadership to cybersecurity companies. Fortinet provides unified security solutions that can be deployed over digital networks to protect users against malware, spam and network intrusions. The company provides its security solutions to data centers, enterprises, carriers and distributed offices around the globe. Fortinet currently boasts a portfolio of more than 530 patents worldwide.

Those security solutions have helped the company grow nicely. For the third quarter, it brought in $453.9 million in revenue. This represented a 21% increase over Q3 2017. This also beat the $450.9 million consensus estimate. Meanwhile, net income soared 120% year-over-year to $58.7 million, or $0.33 per share. Adjusted earnings came in at $0.49 per share. Analysts were expecting earnings of $0.42 per share, so Fortinet posted a 16.7% earnings surprise.

Earnings are expected to continue to climb in the fourth quarter. Results are scheduled to be released on February 6. Analyst expectations are for earnings of $0.52 per share on $496.4 million. This represents a 62.5% in average annual earnings and 19.1% in average annual revenue.

While FTNT has been volatile lately, the company’s long-term story remains intact. And strong fourth-quarter report should ultimately drive the stock higher. This Moderately Aggressive stock is a buy up to $82.

SOM Technicals:

9-29-18: Closed at 92.27. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 99.90.

10-7-18: Closed at 86.10. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Support is at 83.83.

10-13-18: Closed at 79.95. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The old upside target of 277.70 could hold support.

10-20-18: Closed at 81.20. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. 84.20 signals a new long entry.

10-28-18: Closed at 78.19. Trade pressures are down but showing some divergence. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is 76.14.

11-3-18: Closed at 72.56. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The 200 day is the next support at 65.28.

11-10-18: Closed at 74.73. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are neutral to bearish. Need a close above 79.15 to get going again.

11-17-18: closed at 73.45. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. At support/ Need the close above 79.16 to resume the move up.

11-24-18: Closed at 67.96. Trade pressures are now down. Volumes are mixed bullish to neutral. At the 200 day MA. Need a  close above 72.11 to resume any move up.

11-30-18: Closed at 73.84. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. The 200 day MA was support. the next target up is 77.70.

12-8-18: Closed at 71.61. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are neutral. At the new long entry of 72.11.

12-15-18: Closed at 72.91. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. 68.91 is support at the 200 day MA.

12-22-18: Closed at 65.84. Trade pressures are down. volumes are bearish. At the 200 day MA support. The prior low is 64.65.

12-29-18: Closed at 70.34. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish. A close above 72.11 would start another move up.

1-5-19: Closed at 66.91. Trade pressures are back down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 58.81.

1-12-19: Closed at 73.27. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The downtrend resistance is just above at 74.53. Need a break above that level.

1-19-18: Closed at 70.50. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Sitting on the 200 day MA and the new short entry at 70.17.

1-26-19: Closed at 73.59. Trade pressures are now up. Volumes are bullish. In a new uptrend. The next target up is 77.18, the prior high pivot.

2-2-19: Closed at 78.90. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. 79.14 is new long entry. Support is now at the 200 day MA @ 72.16.

2-8-19: Closed at 81.02. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are bullish to neutral. 75.23 would signal a new move down.

2-16-19: Closed at 83.11. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 89.00.

 

Lululemon Athletica

Lululemon Athletica (LULU) has exhibited tremendous relative strength recently, so I continue to like it as a Top 5 Stock. Over the past two decades, Lululemon has led the athleisure fashion movement. Initially, LULU grew by word of mouth, pop-up shops in yoga studios and brand ambassadors. Lululemon has more than 400 stores across four continents. And for workout buffs who are too busy to drive to their nearest store, there are multiple Lululemon e-commerce sites and mobile apps.

Even as it has grown its global footprint and customer base, Lululemon has kept true to its founding values. It differentiates itself by making some of the highest quality and most comfortable workout clothing that money can buy.

The company is also expanding into mass sports distribution and capturing market share from big-name athletic apparel companies like Nike (NKE) and Under Armour (UAA). That expansion was reflected in Lululemon’s third-quarter earnings report, where it beat estimates on the top and bottom lines.

Company management expects to open six more stores in the fourth quarter, which should attract new customers. It is also working on expanding its outerwear line, building a bigger footprint outside of the U.S. and improve its website.

So, I’m anxiously awaiting the company’s fourth-quarter report. The consensus estimate calls for earnings of $1.74 per share on $1.15 billion in revenie, which translates to 23.5% annual revenue growth and 30.8% annual earnings growth. Earnings estimates have been revised 6.1 higher in the past two months, so a fifth-straight quarterly earnings surprise is likely. This Conservative stock is a buy below $170.

SOM Technicals:

7-30-18: Closed at 120.00. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating at the prior 119.00 target level.

8-4-18: Closed at 126.08. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Still in the consolidation zone. Need a close above 130.05 to start a new move up.

8-10-18: Closed at 130.52. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 150.12.

8-18-18: Closed at 130.19. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. One of the few with an upward bias in August.

8-26-18: Closed at 138.76. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 150.12.

9-1-18: Closed at 154.93. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. Big earnings surprise puts LULU above the 150.12 target. The next target up is 170.18.

9-8-18: Closed at 150.82. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 170.18.

9-15-18: Closed at 153.71. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 170.18.

9-23-18: Closed at 156.99. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 170.18.

9-29-18: Closed at 162.49. Trade pressures up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 170.18.

10-7-18: Closed at 153.84. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is the 25×5 moving average at 148.50.

10-13-18: Closed at 143.71. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The initial long entry at 130.05 is the the next support.

10-20-18: closed at 136.77. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. the prior long entry at 130.05 is support.

10-28-18: Closed at 134.82. Trade pressures are down. volumes are bearish. the next target down is 131.02.

11-3-18: Closed at 142.02. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish.  144.25 is the new long entry.

11-10-18: Closed at 137.56. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are bearish. support at the 133.13 low pivot.

11-17-18: Close at 139.02. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are mixed, bullish to bearish. At support need a close above the 144.35 level to resume the move up.

11-24-18: Closed at 120.86. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. At the 200 day MA. Need a close above 129.64 to start a new move up.

11-30-18: Closed at 132.55. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Again a nice bounce off the 200 day MA. This close above 129.64 restarts the move up.

12-8-18: Closed at 113.87. Trade pressures are into neutral zone. Volumes are very bearish. Next target down is 103.91.

12-15-18: Closed at 119.12. Trade pressures are down but showing divergence. Volumes are bearish. At the 200 day MA and holding.

12-22-18: Closed at 113.74. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Now below the 200 M day MA and at the 114.68 downside target level.

12-29-18: Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Need a close above the 131.20 level to restart the move up.

1-5-19: Closed at 128.55. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is the downtrend resistance at 130.

1-12-19: Closed at 131.52. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are now bullish. In a new move up, the next target up is the old high of 164.

1-19-18: Closed at 152.07. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. In the new move up from the 137.77 level. The next target up is 164.82.

1-26-19: Closed at 151.89. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. In consolidation. The next target up is 164.82.

2-2-19: Closed at 146.12. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are now bearish. Support at 143.00.

2-8-19: Closed at 148.62. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish closing bullish. The next target up is 164.82.

2-16-19: Closed at 151.09. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bearish. Support a t 144.00.

 

Veeva Systems

Veeva Systems (VEEV) has been on fire since I recommended it in our January Monthly Issue, up about 30%. The company is a leading provider of cloud software solutions for the life sciences industry. Veeva System’s solutions help pharmaceutical and life sciences companies use cloud-based architectures and mobile applications for their businesses.

Today, VEEV offers a variety of cloud computing solutions that fall under the Veeva Commercial Cloud, a suite of multichannel customer relationship management (CRM) applications, and Veeva Vault, a cloud-based enterprise content management application for managing commercial functions. The company has a number of well-known clients, including AstraZeneca, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Bayer.

For the third quarter, Veeva System’s revenues rose 26.7% to $224.7 million, compared to $177 million a year ago. VEEV’s earnings increased from $0.25 per share to $0.45 per share – a whopping 80% year-over-year increase. These results came in well above analysts’ expectations for earnings of $0.38 per share on $216.2 million in revenue. This represents an 18.4% earnings surprise and 3.9% revenue surprise.

Company management will announce fourth-quarter results in late February, and earnings momentum is expected to continue. The consensus estimates are for earnings per share of $0.40, a 74% year-over-year jump from the $0.23 per share. Revenue should grow 22.7% year-over-year to $226.9 million.

I think the company could easily top estimates given the healthy double-digit growth in the healthcare computing industry. Its results have beat the Street view more than six quarters in a row, and odds are good we’ll see that again in the fourth quarter. This Moderately Aggressive stock is a buy up to $123.

SOM Technicals:

1-26-19: Closed at 109.22. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. At resistance . The next target up is 114.84.

2-2-19: Closed at 113.27. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bullish. Good move into earnings. The next target up is 114.84.

2-8-19: Closed at 114.90. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. Consolidating at the 114.84 target.

2-16-19: Closed at 120.81. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 130.00.

 

Elite Dividend Payers

BG Staffing, Inc.

BG Staffing, Inc. (BGSF) is back as a Top 3 Stock list this month. For more than a decade, BG Staffing has provided temporary staffing, including individual placements and turnkey solutions, for positions across the U.S. The company provides skilled office and maintenance personnel, IT professionals, administrative and clerical personnel, as well as finance and accounting professionals. BG Staffing is based in Plano, Texas.

Since its founding in 2007, the company’s business has rapidly expanded, thanks in part to strategic acquisitions. For example, in 2017, BG Staffing acquired Zycron, Inc., which is a leading provider of IT temporary staffing for companies in the southeast. The acquisition expanded BG Staffing’s reach to include Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga, where Zycron’s offices were located.

The strengthening U.S. economy remains a good catalyst for BGSF’s future growth. It was reported last Friday that jobless claims fell to a five-week low. This means that companies are hiring more, which should directly benefit BGSF since its job is to supply skilled workers.

The company will report its fourth-quarter results in late January or early February. Earnings are expected to come in at $0.39 per share on revenues of $75.3 million. This a huge 490% increase from the $0.10 per share loss reported a year ago. Revenues are forecast to be slightly down year-over-year from $75.7 million.

Overall, BGSF’s earnings growth remains very strong, and the stock also carries a solid 5.4% dividend yield at current prices. Buy this Aggressive stock up to $26.

SOM Technicals:

1-26-19: Closed at 23.23. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. At the 200 day MA and acting as resistance. The next target up is 25.59.

2-2-19: Closed at 26.27. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. Nice move up and thru the 25.59 target. 29.90 is the next target up.

2-8-19: Closed at 26.50. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 29.11.

2-16-19: Closed at 27.75. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 29.11.

 

Medifast, Inc.

Medifast, Inc. (MED) is back as one of our Top 3 Stocks, and remains one of my favorite dividend plays. The company is in the business of helping people achieve their nutritional and weight-loss goals. Based in Maryland, Medifast is a nutrition and weight-loss company that provides several programs to help people lose weight and eat healthier.

The company is known for its Medifast Meals, which are fortified with nutrients and vitamins, as well as include low-fat protein and fiber. So the meals provide essential nutrition, while helping people lose weight.And with the New Year celebrations behind us, folks are looking to achieve their New Year’s resolutions with a little guidance from Medifast.

Along with its meal plans, Medifast also offers OPTAVIA, a brand that includes wellness products, programs and coaching. The goal of OPTAVIA is to help people make a life change, not just diet. So OPTAVIA provides resources that allow people to develop healthier lifestyles.

Looking forward, Medifast is expected to continue to report stunning earnings and sales growth for the fourth quarter. Currently, the analyst community is looking for 101.7% annual earnings growth and 83.1% annual sales growth. Considering that earnings per share estimates have been revised higher recently, Medifast is likely to post even stronger results. Buy this Aggressive stock up to $152.

SOM Technicals:

1-26-19: Closed at 123.80. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. In a long move down. Need a crossover of the 25×5 MA and the downtrend resistance line at 127.00 to see a new move up.

2-2-19: Closed at 124.09. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now neutral. Trying to turn up and out of the long basing move.Resistance here.

2-8-19: Closed at 129.28. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bullish. In the new move up, but still below the 200 day MA.

2-16-19: Closed at 132.82. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are neutral to bullish. Need a close above the 153 level to start a new long term move up.

 

Insperity, Inc.

Insperity, Inc. (NSP) is a repeat customer on the Top 3 Stocks list, and it’s no surprise as to why. As a quick refresher, Insperity offers full-service human resources solutions that range from health insurance options to payroll, accounting and benefits services to employee relations, workman’s comp and liability advice.

As with BG Staffing, Inc. (BGSF), NSP is set to benefit from the strong U.S. economy. This should be reflected in the company’s upcoming fourth-quarter results. The analyst community is looking for earnings of $0.65 per share, up 18.2% from the $0.55 per share earned last year. Revenues are expected to increase 16.1% year-over-year to $959.2 million.

Let me also say that NSP offers a modest 0.8% dividend yield, and has a 9.0% annual dividend growth rate. In addition, it’s maintained its strong dividend track record, rewarding shareholders for 55-consecutive quarters. With a good dividend history and potential for additional upside, buy this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $116.

SOM Technicals:

1-5-19: Closed at 92.56. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now neutral. Tracking just below the 200 day MA in the downtrend.

1-12-19: Closed at 95.21. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. At the lows and below the 200 day MA. Need a close above 106.03 to get moving again.

1-19-18: Closed at 100.69. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes are bullish. Just above the 200 day MA. 106.30 would start a new move up.

1-26-19: Closed at 105.13. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes remain bullish. The next target up is 119.24.

2-2-19: Closed at 107.01. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. In the new move up. The next target up is 121.15.

2-8-19: Closed at 110.90. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 130.26.

2-16-9: Closed at 129.74. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 137.44.

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper is now a new long. Silver and Gold are in a pullback.

The US crude is a long trade but volumes suggest the sellers are increasing. Natural gas is also a new long trade, but be wary of this one.

The US 30 year Treasury bond is in a short trade and at the 25×5 MA.

The US Dollar is at some temporary equilibrium after rising for the week (inflows of other currencies).

_____________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Still in the downtrend after the December rout. Trade pressures are down. Volumes closed the Month of December as bearish. The next target down is 2368. A close above 2900 is required to confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – In the four week move up. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now neutral. The new daily move up was confirmed by the weekly close above 2591 level. The next target up is 2818. A close below 2528 would confirm any new daily move down.

Daily – Flat. In the move up from the 2412 long entry level in December. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes remain bullish. The next target up is 2721. A close below 2558 would signal lower. This 2558 level would also act as a stop for any long positions.

_____________________

Navellier TOP 8 – Up approximately 10% in this early January rally. Early results from this January earnings reports are showing strength.

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper while still in the downtrend is moving up to a new long entry price. Gold and silver remain in their respective moves up.

Crude oil is in a new long trade. Natural gas remains in the counter move down.

The US 30 yr Treasuries are now in a move down.

The US Dollar futures are in a new move down also.

____________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – In the move down from the 2726 short confirmation level. Trade pressures are down. Volumes closed the month of December as bearish. The next target down is 2368. A close above 2900 would confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – In an retracement up within the longer move down. Trade pressures are down and trending. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is 2240. A close above 2591 would confirm any daily move higher.

Daily – Flat. In the move up from the 2412 level. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish.

Thru the 2566 level and the at the 25×5 MA.

The next target up is 2679.

A close below the 2481 level would signal lower.

____________________

Navellier Top 8 – The Navellier Top 5 is now the Navellier Top 8.

The 2018 results were slight above break even. The 2018 portfolio has now been replaced. The new portfolio for 2019 starts fresh at zero with $100,000 virtual cash balance.

____________________

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

Market Pressures_

Copper is in the move down but should move up with the equity markets. Gold and silver had good rallies in the December swoon but now may sell off.

Crude is showing some signs of a possible move up. Natural Gas is looking for a consolidation level after the rally and the fail.

The US 30 year Treasuries are beginning some consolidation here; may be a correction trade to watch for.

The US Dollar futures are showing the effects of an outflow of dollars and may have a retracement move down in the offing.

________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – The 2368 target was touched and now seems to act as support. Trade pressures are down. Volumes closed the month of December as bearish. The next target down is the 2368 level. A close above the 2900 level would confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – In the move down from the 2716 short level. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are now neutral. The next target down is 2240. A close above the 2591 level would confirm any daily move higher.

Daily – Flat. In the move up from the 2368 level. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 2535.

The week’s close is up against the lows for the 2018 February selloff.

A close below 2416 would signal lower.

_____________________

Navellier Top 8  – SOM is now following the Top 8 stocks recommenced by Navellier Growth Stocks. Last year the portfolio ran up 20 percent early in the year and gave it all back in the last quarter. The Top 8 adds some dividend stocks as a means of reducing volatility.

 

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper continues the slide to the recent lows. Gold and silver have good weeks as the negative news flow pushed them higher late in the Christmas week.

Crude looks about to signal a new move up. Natural gas gave all the prior rally back and now sitting on support.

The US 30 year Treasury Bond is consolidating at the 144-145 highs.

The US Dollar futures are consolidating around the 96 level, but with a downward bias.

______________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Moved down hard to the 2368 target and the 25×5 MA. Trade pressures are down. Volumes closed the month of November as bullish. The next monthly target down is 2010. A close above 2900 would confirm any new weekly move up.

Weekly – The downside target of 2385 has held as support. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 2240. A close above 2591 would confirm any new daily move up.

Daily – Flat. Exhausting week? Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bearish all week, even the up days. Late day rallies forced the move up, but the total volumes were bearish. Something to watch next week; to see if the daily volumes turn bullish.

In a new move up from the 2368 new long entry the day after Christmas. Thru the first target of 2451 in the same day. The next target up is 2535.

A close below 2404 would signal lower once again.

______________________

Navellier TOP 5 – The late week rally has moved the Virtual portfolio to a breakeven on the year. The addition of DXCM helped the results with a very good week.

For 2019, the portfolio will zero out the results and initiate the new portfolio at the Jan 2nd opening prices to start a new year.

Also, this next year SOM will add three dividend payers to form a TOP 8 portfolio.

_____________________

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]

The following is provided by Navellier with technical comment from South Ocean Management – pls do your own due diligence.

https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/

Navellier says,

CME Group, Inc.

CME Group, Inc. (CME) is staying as a Top 5 Stock for January due to its continued strong relative performance. As a quick refresher: CME runs the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Simply put, CME Group dominates the world of options trading. In fact, its tagline is that it is “where the world comes to manage risk.” For those of you who aren’t as familiar with the CME, or “the Merc,” it trades several types of financial instruments: Interest rates, equities, currencies and commodities (like energy, agricultural products and metals). CME Group executes trades through its electronic trading platforms, and it also provides hosting, connectivity and customer support for electronic trading.

CME posted double-digit earnings growth for the third quarter. Last quarter, the company earned $411.8 million, or $1.21 per share, on $904 million in revenue. Compared with Q3 2017, this represented 33% annual earnings growth and 1.6% sales growth. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.45 per share. Analysts were expecting adjusted earnings of $1.43 per share on $913.3 million in revenue, so CME Group posted a 1.4% earnings surprise and a slight sales miss.

For the fourth quarter, the consensus estimate calls for earnings of $1.61 per share on $1.06 billion in sales, which represents 17.8% annual sales growth and 43.7% annual earnings growth. The analyst community has raised their earnings estimates over the past two months. As you know, this is a good indication of upside earnings surprises.

The company also has a history of rewarding shareholders. The quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share will be paid on December 27, so all shareholders of record on December 10 will receive the dividend. Buy this Conservative stock up to $200.

SOM Technicals:

11-30-18: Closed at 190.08. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Support at 184.15.

12-8-18: Closed at 187.11. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The 25×5 day MA is holding as support.

12-15-18: Closed at 187.54. Trade pressures are up in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Holding support at the 25×5 MA.

12-22-18: Closed at 182.65. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish.Now in the downtrend with support at 181.

12-29-18: Closed at 186.11. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Resistance is at the 189.70 target.

1-5-19: Closed at 184.68. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes have changed to bullish. In the move up. The next target up is 190-86.

1-12-19: Closed at 180.55. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are now neutral. The 200 day MA at 171 is support.

1-19-18: Closed at 183.43. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. In the new move up to the 186.91 target.

 

 

DexCom, Inc.

After one month on the Buy List, I’d like to add DexCom (DXCM) to our Top 5 Stocks list given its strong growth potential. I really like this company because it has been innovating the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) industry. In case you are unfamiliar with CGM, it’s a technology that enables patients and their doctors to better manage diabetes.

With DXCM’s technology, a diabetic does not need to prick their finger to test their blood glucose levels. Instead, he or she inserts a small sensor under the skin. The diabetic will then be notified via a display device when their glucose levels are either too low or high. It’s simple, user-friendly and pain-free.

As the leader in CGM, DXCM offers a variety of products, including the Dexcom G6 CGM System, Dexcom G5 CGM System, Dexcom CLARITY, Dexcom Apps, Dexcom Studio and insulin pumps. These products have helped improve patient experiences, add real-time glucose data with alerts and alarms, share data and reduce costs.

Here’s the opportunity: The current CGM market includes six million people. That market will expand to 60 million people who suffer from diabetes, as CGM is expected to play a key role in helping to manage the disease. So, DXCM should see strong demand for its products and services going forward.

This was evident in the company’s third quarter report. Sales rose 44.5% year-over-year to $266.7 million, compared to $184.6 million a year ago. During the same period, adjusted earnings were $0.52 per share versus an earnings per share loss of $0.02 in the third quarter of 2017. Excluding extraordinary items, operating earnings were $0.17 per share, beating the Street view for an operating loss of $0.10 per share. This equates to a massive 270% earnings surprise.

Continue to buy this Aggressive Stock below $125.

SOM Technicals:

12-22-18: closed at 108.32. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 99.47. Now sitting on support at the 200 day MA.

12-29-18: Closed at 118.28. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 127.38.

1-5-19: Closed at 116.24. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are now neutral. At the 200 day MA and support.

1-12-19: Closed at 142.00. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. Moved sharply up off the 200 day MA. Now at the retracement target and should consolidate here.

1-19-18: Closed at 149.62. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes are bullish. At the 141.18 target, expect consolidation here.

 

Fortinet, Inc.

Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is another premium cybersecurity play on the High-Growth Investments Buy List, which is why I’m keeping it on our Top 5 Stock list this month. Fortinet provides unified security solutions that can be deployed over digital networks to protect users against malware, spam and network intrusions. The company provides its security solutions to data centers, enterprises, carriers and distributed offices around the globe. Fortinet currently boasts a portfolio of more than 530 patents worldwide.

Clearly, the company’s products are in high demand. For the third quarter, the company brought in $453.9 million in revenue. This represented a 21% increase over Q3 2017. This also beat the $450.9 million consensus estimate. Meanwhile, net income soared 120% year-over-year to $58.7 million, or $0.33 per share. Adjusted earnings came in at $0.49 per share. Analysts were expecting earnings of $0.42 per share, so Fortinet posted a 16.7% earnings surprise.

Looking ahead to FY 2018, Fortinet expects revenue will range between $1.785 billion and $1.795 billion. The company is also targeting adjusted earnings in the range of $1.72 to $1.76 per share. This represents 19.8% to 20.5% annual revenue growth and 65.4% to 69.2% annual earnings growth.

In the meantime, the company has made some positive headlines, which should help continue to fuel strong growth. Its FortiMail received a top AAA rating in a SE labs email security test, with 100% detection of phishing attacks with zero false positives. Given the continued phishing onslaught people and companies receive, this is solid proof that Fortinet’s software works and will drive more customers.

In addition, it expanded its partnership with Symantec. Fortinet’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) capabilities will be integrated into Symantec’s cloud-delivered Web Security Service (WSS). The company wants to “work with an industry leader, and Fortinet was at the top of our list,” which is high praise coming from another platform security giant.

I like that FTNT has held up well amid the broader market selling, and I see a great future ahead for the company. Buy this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $73 per share.

SOM Technicals:

9-29-18: Closed at 92.27. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 99.90.

10-7-18: Closed at 86.10. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Support is at 83.83.

10-13-18: Closed at 79.95. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The old upside target of 277.70 could hold support.

10-20-18: Closed at 81.20. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. 84.20 signals a new long entry.

10-28-18: Closed at 78.19. Trade pressures are down but showing some divergence. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is 76.14.

11-3-18: Closed at 72.56. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The 200 day is the next support at 65.28.

11-10-18: Closed at 74.73. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are neutral to bearish. Need a close above 79.15 to get going again.

11-17-18: closed at 73.45. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. At support/ Need the close above 79.16 to resume the move up.

11-24-18: Closed at 67.96. Trade pressures are now down. Volumes are mixed bullish to neutral. At the 200 day MA. Need a  close above 72.11 to resume any move up.

11-30-18: Closed at 73.84. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. The 200 day MA was support. the next target up is 77.70.

12-8-18: Closed at 71.61. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are neutral. At the new long entry of 72.11.

12-15-18: Closed at 72.91. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. 68.91 is support at the 200 day MA.

12-22-18: Closed at 65.84. Trade pressures are down. volumes are bearish. At the 200 day MA support. The prior low is 64.65.

12-29-18: Closed at 70.34. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish. A close above 72.11 would start another move up.

1-5-19: Closed at 66.91. Trade pressures are back down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 58.81.

1-12-19: Closed at 73.27. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The downtrend resistance is just above at 74.53. Need a break above that level.

1-19-18: Closed at 70.50. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Sitting on the 200 day MA and the new short entry at 70.17.

 

Lamb Weston Holdings

Lamb Weston Holdings (LW) was added to the Buy List in our November issue. I liked it so much I made it a Top 5 Stock in December and am keeping it on that list for January. The company is a leading supplier of frozen potato and vegetable products. When it comes to frozen potatoes, Lamb Weston is the top supplier in the United States, and the second-largest in the world.

Lamb Weston caught my eye because it’s a strong, predominantly domestic company that’s not adversely impacted by a strong U.S. dollar. Also, Lamb Weston is benefitting from strong restaurant sales—about a third of its revenue comes from the foodservice industry. When it comes to French fries and other potato products, Americans can’t seem to get enough.

Just look at the company’s latest quarterly results. Last quarter, Lamb Weston’s sales climbed 11.9% year-on-year to $914.9 million. Meanwhile, earnings jumped 30.4% year-on-year to $107.8 million, or $0.73 per share. This beat the $0.68 consensus estimate by 7.4%.

And Lamb Weston is expected to keep that momentum going. The company will report its fiscal second-quarter results on January 4, and analysts are very positive. They are calling for earnings of $0.72 per share on $897.1 million in revenue. This represents 33.3% annual earnings growth and 8.8% annual sales growth. For the full year, expectations are for $3.65 billion in revenue, a 6.5% increase from a year ago

As we’ve discussed, domestic companies should do well in 2019, and I expect LW to be one of the go-to domestic names for specialty food. Buy this Conservative stock up to $79.

SOM Technicals:

11-30-18: Closed at 76.70. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 73.69. The 200 day MA is 67.40. Need a close above the 25×5 MA at 79.72 to get the uptrend moving again.

12-8-18: Closed at 73.45. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Some consolidation here at the 73.69 downside target.

12-15-18: Closed at 75.83. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are neutral. Consolidating after reaching the downside target of 73.89.

12-22-18: Closed at 73.60. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Support at the 73.69 downside target level.

12-29-18: Closed at 73.61. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Support is now at the 69.35 200 day MA.

1-5-19: Closed at 75.59. Trade pressures are now up. Volumes are neutral. This close above 75.53 starts anew leg up.

!-12-19: Closed at 69.47. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Sitting on the 200 day MA.

1-19-18: Closed at 70.88. Closed at 70.88. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The new long entry is at 70.89.

 

Lululemon Athletica, Inc.

Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (LULU) stays on our Top 5 list following its excellent third-quarter earnings report. Over the past two decades, Lululemon has led the athleisure fashion movement. Initially, LULU grew by word of mouth, pop-up shops in yoga studios and brand ambassadors. Lululemon has more than 400 stores across four continents. And for workout buffs who are too busy to drive to their nearest store, there are multiple Lululemon e-commerce sites and mobile apps.

Even as it has grown its global footprint and customer base, Lululemon has kept true to its founding values. It differentiates itself by making some of the highest quality and most comfortable workout clothing that money can buy.

The company is also expanding into mass sports distribution and capturing market share from big-name athletic apparel companies like Nike (NKE) and Under Armour (UAA). And that expansion is already being reflected in Lululemon’s top and bottom lines.

For the third quarter, earnings of $0.75 per share topped the consensus estimate, which called for $0.70 per share. This represented a 7.1% earnings surprise, and it was also well above the $0.43 per share earned a year ago. Revenues increased 21% year-over-year to $748 million. This was also above expectations for $737.5 million. Same-store sales increased 18%, also above the expected 13.9%.

Looking forward to the fourth quarter, LULU is expecting earnings of $1.64 per share to $1.67 per share on revenue of $1.1 billion. That represents 23.3% to 25.6% annual earnings growth and 21% annual sales growth. Analysts have also upped their earnings per share estimates by 3%, which means a quarterly earnings surprise is likely.

I look for LULU to head higher in the New Year, so buy this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $128 per share.

SOM Technicals:

7-30-18: Closed at 120.00. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating at the prior 119.00 target level.

8-4-18: Closed at 126.08. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Still in the consolidation zone. Need a close above 130.05 to start a new move up.

8-10-18: Closed at 130.52. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 150.12.

8-18-18: Closed at 130.19. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. One of the few with an upward bias in August.

8-26-18: Closed at 138.76. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 150.12.

9-1-18: Closed at 154.93. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. Big earnings surprise puts LULU above the 150.12 target. The next target up is 170.18.

9-8-18: Closed at 150.82. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 170.18.

9-15-18: Closed at 153.71. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 170.18.

9-23-18: Closed at 156.99. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 170.18.

9-29-18: Closed at 162.49. Trade pressures up and trending. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 170.18.

10-7-18: Closed at 153.84. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is the 25×5 moving average at 148.50.

10-13-18: Closed at 143.71. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The initial long entry at 130.05 is the the next support.

10-20-18: closed at 136.77. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. the prior long entry at 130.05 is support.

10-28-18: Closed at 134.82. Trade pressures are down. volumes are bearish. the next target down is 131.02.

11-3-18: Closed at 142.02. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish.  144.25 is the new long entry.

11-10-18: Closed at 137.56. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are bearish. support at the 133.13 low pivot.

11-17-18: Close at 139.02. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are mixed, bullish to bearish. At support need a close above the 144.35 level to resume the move up.

11-24-18: Closed at 120.86. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. At the 200 day MA. Need a close above 129.64 to start a new move up.

11-30-18: Closed at 132.55. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Again a nice bounce off the 200 day MA. This close above 129.64 restarts the move up.

12-8-18: Closed at 113.87. Trade pressures are into neutral zone. Volumes are very bearish. Next target down is 103.91.

12-15-18: Closed at 119.12. Trade pressures are down but showing divergence. Volumes are bearish. At the 200 day MA and holding.

12-22-18: Closed at 113.74. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Now below the 200 M day MA and at the 114.68 downside target level.

12-29-18: Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Need a close above the 131.20 level to restart the move up.

1-5-19: Closed at 128.55. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is the downtrend resistance at 130.

1-12-19: Closed at 131.52. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are now bullish. In a new move up, the next target up is the old high of 164.

1-19-18: Closed at 152.07. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes are bullish. In the new move up from the 137.77 level. The next target up is 164.82.

 

Elite Dividend Payers

Arbor Realty Trust

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR) remains one of my favorite REIT plays right now. For more than two decades, it has partnered with real estate clients to reach their financial goals. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Arbor Realty primarily deals with loans and services for senior housing, multifamily housing, healthcare and other commercial real estate assets. And the REIT has a fee-based servicing portfolio that amounts to more than $16.6 billion.

For the latest quarter, the REIT announced net income of $27.7 million, or $0.36 per share, up 68.9% from the $16.4 million, or $0.26 per share posted in the third quarter of 2017. Analysts were looking for earnings of $0.37 per share, so ABR missed earnings estimates by a hair.

Arbor Realty Trust also reported that adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) came in at $36.4 million, or $0.37 per share. That’s a 73.3% jump over the $21 million, or $0.25 per share achieved in the same quarter a year ago.

As a REIT, ABR is required to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends. Its annual dividend yield now stands at 10% with a 98.2% payout ratio. A special treat for investors is the $0.15 per share special dividend, which company management announced on Monday. Shareholders of record on December 28 will receive the $0.15 per share on January 31, 2019. ABR is a Conservative Buy below $11.

SOM Technicals:

1-5-19: Closed at 10.62. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Rising to the 200 day MA and the new buy level at 10.63.

1-12-19: Closed at 11.32. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. In the move up. The next target up is 12.50.

1-19-18: Closed at 11.33. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes are bullish. The 9% percent dividend yield is supporting the equity, but watch the interest rates.

 

Capital Southwest Corporation

We added Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC) in our last monthly issue, and I like it as a Top 3 Stock for us now. It is an internally managed business development company based in Dallas, Texas. The company focuses on providing flexible financing solutions to support acquisition and growth of middle market businesses, like emerging growth, buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital investments. CSWC has supported 285 companies over the last 57 years.

For the fiscal second quarter, the company beat both top- and bottom-line forecasts. It reported earnings of $0.34 per share, well ahead of the Street view for $0.28 per share. That represented a 21.4% earnings surprise. This isn’t too surprising, as the company beat earnings estimates three out of the last four quarters.

Revenues were also strong, coming in at $12.60 million versus the consensus estimate of $11.35 million. This was a 48% year-over-year increase from $8.51 million in the same quarter a year ago. Again, the upside surprise isn’t very surprising since revenues have beat estimates over the last four quarters.

For the next quarter, analysts are looking for earnings of $0.36 per share and fiscal 2019 earnings of $1.44 per share. CSWC is a Conservative Buy under $19.

SOM Technicals:

1-5-19: Closed at 18.11. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now neutral. 18.90 is the new long entry just above the 200 day MA.

1-12-19: Closed at 20.72. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. In the move up . The next target up is 21.66.

1-19-18: Closed at 21.60. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. At the 21.68 target. Expect consolidation.

 

Insperity, Inc.

Insperity, Inc. (NSP) stays as a Top 3 Stocks list for us this month. Remember, Insperity offers full-service human resources solutions that range from health insurance options to payroll, accounting and benefits services to employee relations, workman’s comp and liability advice. More recently, it has been benefiting from the record low unemployment levels as more people reenter the workforce, which has boosted its professional employer organization (PEO) solutions revenues, as well as the growth in average number of worksite employees paid per month.

For the most-recent quarter, net income soared 89% to $36.2 million, or $0.86 per share. Excluding special items, adjusted earnings came in at $0.96 per share. Analysts were expecting earnings of $0.82 per share, so Insperity posted a 17.1% earnings surprise.

Over the same period, revenues jumped 16% to $925.1 million. While this missed the $935.6 million consensus sales estimate by 1.1%, investors didn’t react to the sales miss. That’s because Insperity also updated its guidance for the fourth quarter and FY 2018. This quarter, Insperity expects adjusted earnings will range between $0.63 and $0.67 per share. This represents between 15% and 22% annual earnings growth.

For FY 2018, Insperity is targeting adjusted earnings between $3.69 and $3.73 per share. This represents between 51% and 52% annual earnings growth.

NSP also continues to reward its shareholders. The company declared a quarterly dividend on November 30 of $0.20 per share. Shareholders of record on December 13 will receive payment on December 28. This represents a 33% increase from the $0.15 per share dividend declared last year. Continue to buy this Aggressive Stock up to $97.

SOM Technicals:

1-5-19: Closed at 92.56. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now neutral. Tracking just below the 200 day MA in the downtrend.

1-12-19: Closed at 95.21. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. At the lows and below the 200 day MA. Need a close above 106.03 to get moving again.

1-19-18: Closed at 100.69. Trade pressures are up and extended. Volumes are bullish. Just above the 200 day MA. 106.30 would start a new move up.

 

#emini #spfutures #SP500 #ES

Market Pressures_

Copper is now in a move down towards the lower channel bound. Gold is the safe haven in all this chaos. Silver is dormant.

Crude is falling below the $50 dollar level as the global economic stability is now is question. Natural gas has given up almost the prior rally and is on the way to closing the gap of that run-up.

The US 30 year Treasury is now in a new move up after the move to the 144 highs.

The US Dollar futures are seeing inflows as the international situation deteriorates.

_____________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Whatever that trump rally was, is completely gone now. Trade pressures are down. Volumes closed the month of November as bullish. The next target down is 2368. A close above the old highs at 2947 would confirm any new weekly move up.

Weekly – In the second leg down. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 2385. A close above 2684 would confirm and y daily move up.

Daily – Flat. 5 down days and non-stop negative news from the White House. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish.

A FED interview of a softening of the interest rates decision sent market up 400 points in less than five minutes. But was immediately reversed by political maneuvering, closing down 400 taking out all the prior downside target  levels on the way.

The next target down is 2383. A close above 2460 would signal higher.

The S&P projected earnings are 172 dollars. The net present value of the ten year steam of earnings growing at 8% is 2430, so the market is at fair value here.

_____________________________

Navellier TOP 5 – Now below breakeven for the year by about $4000. Dexcom (DXCM) will replace Burlington (BURL) on Monday.

[The author may have long or short positions in any of the securities mentioned.]