Market Pressures_

Copper is pressing up against a breakout to the upside. Gold is is a new long trade but needs confirmation. Silver is consolidating at a downside profit target.

Crude oil triggered a second leg up. Natural Gas is signaling lower.

The US 30 Year Treasury Bond futures are approaching the July highs.

The US Dollar futures are signaling lower.

__________________

S&P 500 Futures_  #emini #spfutures

Monthly – Near the old highs. Trade pressures are up and trending. Volumes closed the month of July as bullish. The next target up is 3102. A close below 2883 would confirm any weekly move lower.

Weekly – Remains in the uptrend. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 2927. A close below 2749 would confirm any daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. In the move up from the 2740 long entry. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 2894. A close below 2824 would signal lower.

The time cycle expired on the 23rd and the next day the market has a rally.

The Navellier Top 5 have held up well and rallied into the weekend.

Market Pressures_

Copper rips down thru the prior lows. Gold is testing the yearly lows. Silver is under similar pressures down.

Crude Oil futures are in the second leg down. Natural gas is at resistance with pressures pointing up.

The US 30 year Treasury Bonds are at a new decision point.

The US Dollar futures are at target and experiencing consolidation.

______________

S&P 500 Futures_ #spfutures

Monthly – Up against a potential MACD crossover. Trade pressures are up and leveling out. Volumes closed the month of July as bullish. The next target up is 2887.A close below 2634 would confirm any weekly move lower.

Weekly -Resistance has been broken and now in a new uptrend. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is the prior high at 2887, then 3226. A close below 2738 would confirm any daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. The prior long trade was stopped out at the 2789 level, but turned back higher the next two weeks. Trade pressures are still in the neutral zone. Volumes remain bullish.

The next target up is again the prior high of 2887. Support has been the 2800 level.

A close below the 2803 would signal lower.

The Navellier Top 5 are sagging in this low volume August, but the expected sales and earnings growth  exceeds that of the general market. These Top 5 are still up roughly 10% on the year.

Market Pressures_

Copper is consolidating with a bias to the upside. Gold and Silver in similar consolidation, but gold still has pressures on the downside, while silver seems to see accumulation.

Crude oil’s upward retracement has failed. The Natural Gas break out is up against resistance.

The US 30 year Treasury bonds are rising as the dollar rises.

The US Dollar futures are in a new breakout above the prior consolidation at 95.

________________________

S&P 500 Futures_ ESU18  #spfutures

Monthly – Remains in the move up. Trade pressures are up but in a decline. Volumes closed the month of July as bullish. The next target up is 2887. A close below 2534 would confirm any weekly move lower.

Weekly – Thru the upside resistance and in a mew move up. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is the old high of 2887. A close below 2734 would confirm any Daily move lower.

Daily – Flat. The drop near the end of the week spurred by currency fears stopped out the long trade with a 109 pt profit. Trade pressures are still up but have declined to near the neutral zone,. Volumes are bearish at the close of this last week.

Technically the move up is still intact. The expected resistance at the 2866 level rejected price. A close below 2803 would trigger a new move lower.

August 23rd is an end of a series of time cycles; so, look for downward pressures into that date.

The Navellier Top 5 are experiencing a sell off despite some good earnings reports. Maybe a “tell” for the market?

 

Market Pressures_

Copper ran up to a target the retraced to get stopped out at the entry price. Gold and Silver remain under downward pressure.

Crude oil is in a move up with our much conviction. Natural Gas is in a new move up but also with no momentum.

The US 30 year treasury Bond had a nice short trade but was stopped at the first profit target.

The US Dollar futures are in a move up and retesting the prior highs.

________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Into the fifth month of a rally off the February-March 2018 correction. Trade pressures are up but showing some divergences. Volumes closed the July month as bullish. The next target up is the 2887 prior high. Another close below the 2667 level would confirm a weekly move lower.

Weekly – Since April, no move down has lasted more than two weeks. Trade pressures are up, but diverging from price. Volumes have returned to bullish. In the new move up from 2800. The next target up is the prior high of 2887 and then the 3226 61% target. A close below 2730 would confirm a daily move lower.

Daily – Long. In the move up from the 2740 July long entry. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. The next target up is 2866. A close below 2789 would signal lower. Timing signals show some downward time pressure Aug 16th to Aug 21st.

[8-7-18: OCO, one cancels the other. Raise the stop to the 60 min short entry of 2849. Set the profit stop at the 2866 profit target.]

[8-10-18: Long trade stopped out at the 2849 short entry. No short entry til an upside retest of the 2869 area.]

The Navellier Top 5 have have experienced earnings misses and paid the price. Both Abiomed and HollyFrontier have missed and dropped in price. But earnings growth remains intact, so Navellier keeps them on the list.

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

HollyFrontier Corp.

HollyFrontier Corp. (HFC) once again claims the top spot on the Top 5 list. HollyFrontier is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that serves the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Southwest regions of the U.S. The company produces gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, specialty lubricant products, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil, and specialty and modified asphalt. HollyFrontier operates five refineries in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah.

Just a few weeks ago, HollyFrontier announced plans to acquire Red Giant Oil Company. With over 115 years in the business, Red Giant Oil is one of the continent’s largest suppliers of locomotive engine oil. Red Giant Oil is headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It has storage facilities across Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, and it has a blending and packaging facility in Texas. This acquisition is expected to generate $7.5 million in annual earnings for HollyFrontier. The deal should wrap up in the third quarter of 2018.

In the meantime, HollyFrontier will announce its second-quarter results before the opening bell on Thursday, August 2. And the latest estimates are looking great, with analysts calling for 17.7% annual sales growth and a whopping 143.9% annual earnings growth. Over the past 90 days, the consensus EPS estimate has jumped 18.4% to $1.61.

HollyFrontier has a history of smashing estimates. Last quarter, it posted a stunning 102.6% earnings surprise. And for three of the past four quarters, it has posted a double- or triple-digit earnings surprises. So I’m expecting big things from HollyFrontier on August 2.

Over the next few days, HFC will also likely declare its next quarterly dividend. HFC rewards shareholders with a 2.0% annual dividend yield. Buy HFC, an Aggressive stock, up to $83 per share.

SOM Technicals:

6-30-18: Closed at 68.43. Trade pressures are down. Volume has closed as neutral. In the move down and at the 66.42 target.

7-6-18: Closed at 68.60. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Holding at the 161.00 pullback level.

7-14-18: Closed at 68.68. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now neutral. Sitting on support. A close above 72 would trigger a new long entry.

7-20-18: Closed at 71.02. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 73.10.

7-29-18: closed at 74.07. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 75.41.

8-4-18: Closed at 67.65. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are now bearish. Earnings miss. At support now.

8-10-18: Closed at 69.01. Trade pressures are down. volumes are bearish. The prior low is support at 65.77.

8-18-18: Closed at 68.63. Trade pressures are down and trending. Volumes are bearish. The prior low is 65.77.

8-26-18: Closed at 73.58. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the 25×5 moving average is at 70.70.

 

ABIOMED Inc.

My next Top 5 stock may surprise some of you. I decided to add ABIOMED Inc.(ABMD) to the Top Stocks list again this month, even though the stock pulled back on Thursday’s earnings report. I’ll review the latest results in a moment, but what you need to know is that ABMD is a great buy on the dip. It is still an excellent long-term holding on our High-Growth Investments Buy List.

As a refresher, ABIOMED is the only medical devices company that provides technologies that replace or assist the pumping function of a failing heart. This is a big deal because heart disease accounts for some 800,000 deaths in the U.S. alone each year. So ABIOMED provides a life-saving service to tens of thousands of patients and their families. There’s strong demand for heart disease treatments, especially ABIOMED’s medical devices. This was clear in the company’s first-quarter report.

Total first-quarter revenue jumped 36% year-over-year to $180 million, topping estimates for $173.27 million. Breaking this down, worldwide Impella heart pump revenue came in at $173.7 million, or 37% annual growth. U.S. Impella heart pump revenue totaled $151.7 million, and revenue from Impella heart pumps outside of the U.S. was $21.9 million.

ABIOMED reported a first-quarter profit of $90.1 million, or $1.95 per share. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.78, which fell short of estimates for $0.82 per share. The earnings miss, as minor as it was, weighed on ABMD shares on Thursday.

I expect that ABMD will bounce back. The company has excellent forecasted sales and earnings for the foreseeable future. In fact, for fiscal year 2019, ABIOMED lifted its revenue guidance by $15 million. The company now expects revenue between $755 million and $770 million, or 27% to 30% annual sales growth.

ABIOMED also announced on Thursday that its Impella 2.5, Impella CP and Impella 5.0 heart pumps were approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for use in India. An 86-year-old man was the first patient in India, and he was treated with the Impella 2.5 heart pump. Day-by-day, ABIOMED continues to revolutionize how we treat heart disease. Buy ABMD, a Moderately Aggressive stock, up to $403 per share.

SOM Technicals:

3-30-18: Closed at 290.99. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. On the 25×5 moving average as support. The next target up is 323.10.

4-7-18: Closed at 286.22. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are neutral. the Next target up is 323.10

4-14-18: Closed at 297.00. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-21-18: Closed at 305.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-27-18: Closed at 300.83. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 323.10.

5-5-18: Closed at 349.28. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 359.38. 

5-11-18: Closed at 372.70. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.00.

5-19-18: Closed at 384.36. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.

5-26-18: Closed at 391.49. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 412.00.

6-3-18: Closed at 392.25. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 412.00.

6-8-18: Closed at 409.77. Trade pressures are up but turning over. Volumes are neutral. Traded to the 412.00 target and now experiencing profit taking.

6-16-18: Closed at 443.58. Trade pressure are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 463.97.

6-22-18: Closed at 427.29. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are now bearish. The next target up is 463.97. Support is the 25×5 moving average at 411.26.

6-30-18: Closed at 409.05. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish to bearish. At the 25×5 moving average support.

7-6-18: Closed at 406.00. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Back at the June breakout levels.

7-14-18: Closed at 418.76. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. Need to get thru the 433 resistance.

7-20-18: Closed at 423.48. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 463.97.

7-29-18: Closed at 368.17. Missed on earnings. Trade pressures are up but trending down. Volumes are high but neutral. Support is at 341.85.

8-4-18: Closed at 377.11. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. In the retracement move back up. The new long entry is at 385.54.

8-10-18: Closed at 377.83. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are bullish. Touched the new long entry.

8-18-18: Closed at 358.82. Trade pressures remain down. Volumes are bearish. The prior low is 344.11.

8-26-18: Closed at 381.03. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. At the 25×5 resistance.

 

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) joins the Top 5 list after just one month on the High-Growth Investments Buy List. Over the past two decades, Lululemon has practically invented the athleisure fashion movement. 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. Meanwhile, it maintains a strong presence in its local communities, offering free workshops and yoga classes in its stores.

Lululemon will post its second-quarter results around late August. And it’s already shaping up to be an excellent report. Analysts are forecasting 25.6% annual earnings growth and 14.6% annual sales growth. Those estimates will likely rise in the coming weeks. Over the past 60 days, analysts have increased the consensus earnings estimate by 8.8%.

Lululemon has beaten estimates for the past several quarters running, and I expect a repeat performance here. Buy LULU, a Conservative 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

 

Ecopetrol SA (EC) returns to the Top 5 list for the second month in a row. Thanks to a series of strategic acquisitions and oilfield discoveries, Ecopetrol is Colombia’s largest oil company and Latin America’s fourth-largest oil company. With operations in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the U.S. Gulf Coast, Ecopetrol accounts for 60% of oil production in Colombia.

With oil production plummeting in Venezuela, Brent crude oil prices are on the rise. Ecopetrol is benefitting from this trend. Also, Colombia’s recent Presidential election had a favorable outcome for Colombia’s oil industry. President Ivan Duque has pledged to cut taxes and boost the company’s competitiveness in the energy patch.

Ecopetrol has been taking advantage of this environment. The company is ramping up its spending, with plans to invest $3.5 billion to $4.0 billion in boosting production and exploring for more oil. This year, it will double the number of rigs that it has in operation. Ecopetrol expects 2018 production to range between 715,000 and 725,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. By 2020, Ecopetrol is targeting output of 870,000 barrels of oil per day.

This, plus rising oil prices, translates to strong forecasted sales and earnings growth. We don’t have to wait long for its next earnings report—Ecopetrol’s next announcement will be results on or around August 7. Right now, the consensus estimate is for $0.35 EPS on $5.13 billion in revenue. Compared with the year ago quarter, this represents a whopping 150% bottom-line growth and 11.7% top-line growth. Buy EC, a Moderately Aggressive stock, up to $23 per share.

SOM Technicals:

6-30-18: Closed at 20.55. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Meeting the 25×5 moving average resistance at the 21.03 level. 

7-6-18: Closed at 20.49. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. A close above 20.44 would signal higher.

7-14-18: Closed at 20.72. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are mixed neutral and bullish. The next target up is 23.28.

7-20-18: Closed at 20.85. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 23.28.

7-29-18: Closed at 20.68. Trade pressures are still in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating after a new buy signal.

8-4-18: Closed at 21.32. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bearish. In the move up off the June lows. The next target up is 23.28.

8-10-18: Closed at 20.90. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Now sitting on support.

8-18-18: Closed at 20.49. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish.The prior low is 18.68.

8-26-18: Closed at 22.10. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 23.28.

 

WEX, Inc. (WEX) is another new addition to the High-Growth Investments Buy List. Last month, I added WEX as another play on rising consumer spending in the U.S. In 1983, Wright Express Corporation got its start as a fleet card provider. Since then, the company has grown by leaps and bounds, securing a leadership position in the global corporate payments industry. In 2012, the company changed its name to WEX, Inc. to better brand its business internationally.

Today, with the help of its more than 3,000 associates around the world, WEX strives to simplify payment systems, as well as give is clients better control over their business, more efficiency, lower operating costs and a better customer experience. Three company operates three divisions: Fleet Solutions, Travel & Corporate Solutions, and Health & Employee Benefit Solutions.

Last year, WEX achieved $30 billion in total purchase volume across its three businesses. A few of its biggest customers include AutoZone, Verizon, Sheetz, Sunoco, Enterprise Fleet Management, Bank of America, PNC, Kaiser Permanente and Chevron.

WEX will report its second-quarter results before the opening bell on August 2. The consensus estimate calls for 61.9% annual earnings growth and 20.4% annual sales growth. As with our other Top 5 stocks, analysts have been hiking up their estimates. Over the past 90 days, the consensus EPS estimate has jumped 9.7% to $2.04.

Looking forward, WEX has a long-term annualized revenue growth target of 10% to 15%. This is a great way to profit from the retail comeback in the U.S. Buy WEX, a Conservative stock, up to $206 per share.

SOM Technicals:

7-30-18: Closed at 192.67. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are now bearish. 187 is the next support level.

8-4-18: Closed at 187.53. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is 173.82.

8-10-18: Closed at 182.71. Trade pressures are down and trending. Volumes are bearish. the next target down is 173.82.

8-18-18: Closed at 183.00. Trade pressures are down and trending. Volumes are bearish. The next target down is 173.82.

8-26-18: Closed at 188.88. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. 193.81 would start a new leg up.

Market Pressures_

Copper has triggered a new long entry. Gold is in consolidation and the trade is cancelled. Silver parallels gold, no trade.

Crude and natural gas are  pressing upward near a new long entry.

The 30 year Treasuries are in a short trade and near a profit target.

The US Dollar futures are consolidating after the April rally.

_______________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – The monthly is in a rally and now near a MACD crossover. Trade pressures are up but still in still in decline. Volumes closed the month of July as bullish from the neutral June close. The next target up is 3379. 2674 would confirm a weekly move lower.

Weekly – Continues the move up off the 2576 lows. Trade pressures are now up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is the 2887 prior high. A close below 2767 would confirm a daily move lower.

Daily – Long. In the move up from the 2740 level. Trade pressures are up. Volumes closed the week as bearish. The Facebook earnings caused a sell off in the FAANG stocks.

The next target up is 2894.

A close below 2789 would signal a new move lower.

[7-31-18: raise the stop to this new short entry level – 2789.]

The Navellier Top 5 took a dip as the Abiomed earnings disappointed.

Market Pressures_

Copper is up near the new retracement long entry. Gold has triggered a new move. Silver also.

Crude oil had a pull back to moving averages and has moved up off those levels. Natural gas is still in the slow decline.

The US 30 year Treasury Bonds are in a new move down.

The US Dollar futures pulled back Friday, but are still in the weekly move up.

_______________________

S&P Futures_

Monthly – Four months up inside the February signaled move down. Trade pressures are up but still in decline. Volumes closed the June month as bullish. The next target down is 2304. A close above the old high of 2883 would confirm any weekly move up.

Weekly – This April to July rally continues, but is now approaching the downtrend resistance line at 2833. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish for two weeks in a row. In a new confirmation of the Daily move up after the close above 2800 last week. The next target up is 3226.

Daily – In the move up from the 2740 entry level. Trade pressures are up but just turning down. Volumes are neutral at the end of the week.

The next targets up are 2817 and 2823; which is also the level at which the February 2nd market sell off began.

Resistance is also at those upper targets and 2887 is the old high, so be alert for a pullback here. The long trade stops have been raised to 2780.

The Navellier Top 5 prices are recovering nicely from the two week pullback. Most will report earnings in these last two weeks of July which may give these individual stocks some new energy.

Market Pressures_

Copper is down with the rise in the tariffs, but watch for a retracement up. Gold and silver tried to rally last week but failed. Their downtrend continues.

Crude Oil turned lower into a new short position. Natural Gas is not tradeable.

The Us 30 Year Treasury Bonds are in a move up. But, watch for a retracement into earnings.

The US Dollar Futures are consolidating.

_________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – Fourth month up after the February selloff. Trade pressures are up but trending down. Volumes closed the month of June as bullish. The next target down is 2304. A close above 2883 would confirm any weekly move higher.

Weekly – A steady mover higher after the April lows. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. The next target down is 2580. This week;s close above 2800 has changed the move to an up move with the confirmation of the daily move higher.

Daily – Long. This move up started at the 2740 level. Trade pressure are up. Volume are bullish.

The next target up is 2817.

A close below the 25×5 moving average at 2757 would signal lower.

The Navellier Top 5 improved by about 3% for the week. Earnings reports begin this next week, and Navellier expects positive earnings surprises in his buy list.

[7-19-18: Raise ESU18 stops to 2780.]

Market Presssurs_

Copper is in free-fall, perhaps the tariffs? Gold and Silver are showing some signs of a retracement up.

Crude oil is in consolidation at the the upside targets and near a trigger to start a downward retracement. Natural Gas has moved down to the 100% target and the uptrend support line.

The US Treasury Bond prices are rising as money flows come into the US.

The US Dollar futures are testing a new short entry.

_________________

S&P 500 Futures_

Monthly – In the move down from the 2662 level. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes closed the moth of June as bullish. The next target down is 2304. A close above 2883 would confirm any weekly move up.

Weekly – Still in the move down from the 2803 short confirmation level. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish to neutral. The next target down is 2589. A close above 2802 would confirm any daily mover higher.

Daily – Long. A new long entry at the 2740 level. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish.

The next target up is, first the prior high pivot at 2796, then 2817.

A close below 2693 would stop the trade, and signal lower.

[7-9-18: Raise stops to the entry price of 2740.]

The Navellier Top 5 stocks begin reporting earnings in the third week of July. The $18,000 profit has dropped to $12,000 in this correction; but still above the averages.

 

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,

Top Stocks for July

High-Growth Investments: Top 5 Stocks

HollyFrontier Corp. (HFC) claims the top spot for High-Growth Investments after just one month on the Buy List. If you remember, this is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that serves the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Southwest regions of the U.S. The company produces gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, specialty lubricant products, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil, and specialty and modified asphalt. HollyFrontier operates five refineries in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah.

Now, HFC shares have dipped as the spread between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil prices has narrowed. I consider this to be an excellent buying opportunity. The fact is that HollyFrontier still has excellent forecasted fundamentals, and it trades at just 10 times forecasted earnings. I expect that the refiner will rally leading up to its second-quarter report, which will be released in early August. For the current quarter, analysts are forecasting a whopping 147% annual earnings growth and 40.4% annual sales growth.

Then again, analysts have been aggressively revising their estimates higher—over the past ninety days, the consensus EPS estimate has jumped 29.4%. This suggests that analysts are struggling to get a handle on HollyFrontier’s profit potential.

Along with its excellent fundamentals, HFC also rewards its shareholders with a 2.0% dividend yield. I expect that the company will declare its next dividend in late July. In the meantime, I recommend that you buy this Conservative stock up to $76 per share.

SOM Technicals:

6-30-18: Closed at 68.43. Trade pressures are down. Volume has closed as neutral. In the move down and at the 66.42 target.

7-6-18: Closed at 68.60. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Holding at the 161.00 pullback level.

7-14-18: Closed at 68.68. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now neutral. Sitting on support. A close above 72 would trigger a new long entry.

7-20-18: Closed at 71.02. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 73.10.

7-29-18: closed at 74.07. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 75.41.

 

ABIOMED, Inc. (ABMD) returns on the Top 5 list after rallying nearly 8% in the past month. ABIOMED is the only medical devices company that provides technologies that replace or assist the pumping function of a failing heart. This is a big deal because heart disease accounts for some 800,000 deaths in the U.S. alone each year. So ABIOMED provides a life-saving service to tens of thousands of patients and their families. Given strong demand for medical devices to treat heart disease, ABIOMED’s business is booming.

So analysts have high expectations for ABIOMED’s fiscal first quarter, which will be reported sometime in early August. The consensus estimate calls for $0.82 EPS on $173.0 million in revenue. While earnings are expected to be unchanged from a year ago, sales are expected to grow 30.6% over the year ago quarter. ABIOMED has a history of trouncing analysts’ earnings expectations, having posted double-digit earnings surprises for three of the past four quarters.

ABIOMED has been growing so quickly that it was recently added to the S&P 500 Index, replacing Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (WYN). This is great news for the ABMD because fund managers looking to replicate the performance of this index now need to buy shares of this stock. So institutional buying pressure should keep ABMD going strong, even during the bumpy late summer months. Buy this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $446 per share.

SOM Technicals:

3-30-18: Closed at 290.99. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. On the 25×5 moving average as support. The next target up is 323.10.

4-7-18: Closed at 286.22. Trade pressures are neutral. Volumes are neutral. the Next target up is 323.10

4-14-18: Closed at 297.00. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-21-18: Closed at 305.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 323.10.

4-27-18: Closed at 300.83. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 323.10.

5-5-18: Closed at 349.28. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 359.38. 

5-11-18: Closed at 372.70. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.00.

5-19-18: Closed at 384.36. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 412.

5-26-18: Closed at 391.49. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. the next target up is 412.00.

6-3-18: Closed at 392.25. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are neutral. The next target up is 412.00.

6-8-18: Closed at 409.77. Trade pressures are up but turning over. Volumes are neutral. Traded to the 412.00 target and now experiencing profit taking.

6-16-18: Closed at 443.58. Trade pressure are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 463.97.

6-22-18: Closed at 427.29. Trade pressures are up but rolling over. Volumes are now bearish. The next target up is 463.97. Support is the 25×5 moving average at 411.26.

6-30-18: Closed at 409.05. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish to bearish. At the 25×5 moving average support.

7-6-18: Closed at 406.00. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Back at the June breakout levels.

7-14-18: Closed at 418.76. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. Need to get thru the 433 resistance.

7-20-18: Closed at 423.48. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 463.97.

7-29-18: Closed at 368.17. Missed on earnings. Trade pressures are up but trending down. Volumes are high but neutral. Support is at 341.85.

Ecopetrol S.A. (EC) is one of the high-quality energy plays that I added to the High-Growth Investments Buy List last month. Thanks to a series of strategic acquisitions and oilfield discoveries, Ecopetrol is Colombia’s largest oil company and Latin America’s fourth-largest oil company. With operations in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the U.S. Gulf Coast, Ecopetrol accounts for 60% of oil production in Colombia.

With oil production plummeting in Venezuela, Brent crude oil prices are on the rise. Ecopetrol is benefitting from this trend. Also, Colombia’s Presidential elections, which were held a few weeks ago, had a favorable outcome for Colombia’s oil industry. President Ivan Duque has pledged to cut taxes and boost the company’s competitiveness in the energy patch.

In the meantime, Ecopetrol has been thriving in this environment. Ecopetrol expects 2018 production to range between 715,000 and 725,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. This, plus rising oil prices, translates to strong forecasted sales and earnings growth. For the current quarter, analysts are calling for $0.37 EPS on $5.13 billion in revenue. This represents 68.1% annual earnings growth and 11.7% annual sales growth. So I’ll be looking forward to Ecopetrol’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report, which is slated for August 7. Buy this Moderately Aggressive stock up to $23 per share.

SOM Technicals:

6-30-18: Closed at 20.55. Trade pressures are rising into the neutral zone. Volumes are bullish. Meeting the 25×5 moving average resistance at the 21.03 level. 

7-6-18: Closed at 20.49. Trade pressures are up into the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. A close above 20.44 would signal higher.

7-14-18: Closed at 20.72. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are mixed neutral and bullish. The next target up is 23.28.

7-20-18: Closed at 20.85. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are now bullish. The next target up is 23.28.

7-29-18: Closed at 20.68. Trade pressures are still in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating after a new buy signal.

S&P Global, Inc. (SPGI) continues its five-month winning streak on the Top 5 list. As a refresher, S&P Global is a leading provider of credit ratings, and is relied on by countless financial professionals for its data and custom indices. It operates several business units, including S&P Market Intelligence, S&P Global Ratings, S&P Dow Jones Indices and S&P Global Platts.

Lately, S&P Global has been on a buying spree. It recently purchased artificial intelligence company Kensho Technologies for $550 million. And just last week, the company announced that it has bought RateWatch from TheStreet, Inc. (TST) for $33.5 million. RateWatch operates a deposit and loan rate database that tracks 100,000 financial institutions over the past 28 years. Its database is used by more than 4,200 banks and credit unions. When it comes to the depth of data that it collects, RateWatch is unmatched in the industry.

These acquisitions build upon S&P Global’s already strong fundamentals. For the current quarter, analysts are projecting $2.14 EPS on $1.61 billion in revenue. This works out to 24.4% annual earnings growth and 6.6% sales growth. S&P Global has surpassed analysts’ estimates for the past several quarters running, and I expect a repeat performance here. We won’t have to wait long until S&P Global’s second-quarter report, which is due around July 26.

S&P Global also has a dividend date coming up—SPGI will go ex-dividend on August 27. Shareholders of record will receive $0.50 per share on September 12. This quarter’s payout represents a 22% increase over the $0.41 dividend paid a year ago. At current prices, SPGI has a 1.0% annual dividend yield. Buy this Conservative stock up to $218 per share.

SOM Technicals:

2-25-18: Closed at 191.67. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-2-18: Closed at 189.02. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bearish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-11-18: Closed at 194.96. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 203.26.

3-17-18: Closed at 192.51. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. Support is the 25×5 at 189.

3-23-18: Closed at 186.49. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are bearish. Has just broken the 25×5 support. The next target down is 185.18, then 177.41.

3-30-18: Closed at 191.06. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are neutral. Consolidating at the 185 target.

4-7-18: Close at 189.74. Trade pressures are in the neutral zone. Volumes are bearish. Consolidating at the 185 downside target.

4-14-18: Closed at 190.76. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. Need a close above the downtrend resistance line at 196.38.

4-21-18: Closed at 192.96. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bearish. Support at 190.67.

4-27-18: Closed at 187.07. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes are neutral. The next target down is the 177.41 level.

5-5-18: Closed at 192.17. Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are now bullish. A new long entry at 192.04.

5-11-18: Closed at 199.99. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 204.16.

5-19-18: Closed at 197.92. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now neutral. the next target up is 204.16

5-26-18: Closed at 200.34. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are mixed bearish to bullish. The next target up is 204.16.

6-3-18: Closed at 200.32. Trade pressures are up but declining. Volumes are now neutral. The next target up is 204.16.

6-8-18: Closed at 206.47. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 216.28.

6-16-18; Closed at 208.68. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 209.09.

6-22-18: Closed at 206.35. Trade  pressures are up. Volumes are bearish. The next target up is 215.08. Support is at the 25×5 moving average at 201.71.

6-30-18: Closed at 203.89. Trade pressures are down into the neutral zone. Volumes remain bearish. At the 25×5 moving average support level.

7-6-18: Closed at 206.37. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are now bullish. One of the few that has not broken down in this pullback.

7-14-18: Closed at 210.65. Trade pressures are up. Volumes remain bullish. The next target up is 215.08.

7-20-18: Closed at 212.22. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 216.28.

7-29-18: Closed at 203.86. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bearish. Support at 198.

Heico Corp. (HEI), another new addition to the Buy List, rounds out this month’s Top 5 stocks. Heico hit my radar last month because it has a near-monopoly on a very lucrative business. That is, it makes and sells replacement parts to the airline industry, as well as to the U.S. government. To date, Heico Corporation has made and delivered 69.6 million airplane parts. And not a single one has failed.

On top of its exemplary safety record, Heico sets its prices below other dominant suppliers. So it’s no wonder why Heico sells to 19 of the world’s top 20 airlines, as well as satellite manufacturers, defense equipment producers and government agencies worldwide.

Heico Corp. is expected to release its fiscal third-quarter sales and earnings towards the end of August. Right now, the consensus estimate is for $0.56 EPS on $439.1 million in revenue. This represents 33.3% annual bottom-line growth and 12.1% top-line growth. However, given that Heico has beaten analysts’ earnings estimates for the past three consecutive quarters, I expect that it’ll do even better.

In the meantime, we’re fast approaching Heico Corp.’s next dividend date. HEI will go ex-dividend on July 10. Shareholders of record will receive $0.06 per share on July 19. At current prices, HEI has a 1.9% annual dividend yield. And just as a reminder, HEI recently completed a 5-for-4 stock split. Shareholders of record on June 21 should have received a 25% stock dividend on June 27. Buy this Conservative stock up to $78 per share.

SOM Technicals:

6-30-18: Closed at 72.93. Trade pressures are down. Volumes are now neutral. In the move down and at the 71.70 downside target. The next target down is 67.90.

7-6-18: Trade pressures are down but rising. Volumes are still bearish. The 71.70 level has held support for 12 days.

7-14-18: Closed at 76.11. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 77.86.

7-20-18: Closed at 77.71. Trade pressures are up. Volumes are bullish. The next target up is 83.25.

7-29-18: Closed at 75.94. Trade pressures are up but turning down. Volumes are bullish to neutral. 25×5 support at 74.83.