WiserTrader Monthly

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June 2007                          Prescott, Arizona                     Contact Editor

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Published the 3rd Tuesday of the month

 

 

 

 

Stock Picks and Industry Ranking

James Andrews

June 19, 2007

 

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     Top down stock picking based on the leading stocks in leading industries should be supplemented with additional fundamental and chart analysis.

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1.0 Leading Industries

 

     About 90% of an industry’s rank is weighted by the percent increase in its index price over the previous 4 weeks and 10% is weighted by how much the index is oversold based on its 10-period Williams-%R.  Industry rank ranges from a high of 1 to a low of 215 based on a list of 215 industries in the Yahoo Finance industry classification system. 

 

     The main reason for using this classification system is the ready availability of industry performance.  Each industry’s performance is accessible through online data retrieval software that imports the numbers directly from Yahoo Finance and sorts them in a spreadsheet.  These tools are available on the website.

 

     The leading industries for the past month are ranked in Table 1A.  The leftmost column is the rank.  The second column from the left is the number of positions an industry is above or below its 4-week average rank..  The third column from the left is the relative rank of the industry based its movement above its average rank.  Clicking on the industry name takes you to an industry summary page.  The “C’s” will display the companies in the industry.  The last three columns on the right are the percentage gains for the previous trading day, the previous week and the previous four weeks. 

 

 

 Table 1A

Leading Industries

June 18, 2007

 

Rank

Relative To Avg. Position

Rank of Position  Change

Leading  Industries

Companies

Last Gain

1 wk Ago Gain

1 mo Gain

1

56

36

Synthetics

C's

1.2%

43.4%

41.4%

2

129

5

Home Furnishing Stores

C's

-0.5%

39.7%

31.2%

3

63

31

Home Health Care

C's

0.2%

15.4%

17.7%

4

81

16

Sporting Goods

C's

-0.3%

15.0%

18.9%

5

76

19

Medical Laboratories & Research

C's

0.0%

7.7%

10.4%

6

52

38

Agricultural Chemicals

C's

1.2%

6.4%

6.2%

7

23

68

Copper

C's

-0.2%

5.7%

13.8%

8

-1

99

Personal Computers

C's

2.4%

4.8%

13.0%

9

22

69

Processing Systems & Products

C's

-0.4%

2.1%

10.4%

10

119

7

Diagnostic Substances

C's

-0.1%

3.4%

3.6%

11

51

40

REIT - Residential

C's

-1.2%

-0.6%

4.3%

12

64

29

Semiconductor - Broad Line

C's

0.3%

4.9%

2.3%

13

96

13

Hospitals

C's

-0.3%

4.6%

7.0%

14

77

18

Discount, Variety Stores

C's

-0.3%

-0.6%

4.3%

15

48

45

Electronic Equipment

C's

-0.5%

4.7%

4.1%

16

70

22

Industrial Metals & Minerals

C's

0.2%

4.0%

10.8%

17

110

10

Semiconductor - Specialized

C's

-0.2%

10.9%

10.7%

18

88

15

Regional - Pacific Banks

C's

0.1%

6.4%

6.8%

19

68

25

Resorts & Casinos

C's

0.0%

0.9%

8.5%

20

-9

108

Heavy Construction

C's

0.5%

5.9%

11.1%

21

131

3

REIT - Hotel/Motel

C's

-1.2%

-1.6%

0.2%

22

21

72

Building Materials Wholesale

C's

-0.1%

2.7%

8.5%

23

118

8

Drug Manufacturers - Other

C's

-0.5%

7.3%

6.7%

24

21

73

Textile Industrial

C's

0.7%

-4.4%

-0.1%

25

56

35

Long-Term Care Facilities

C's

-0.9%

0.5%

1.5%

26

136

2

REIT - Diversified

C's

-1.7%

-1.0%

0.3%

27

31

64

Gaming Activities

C's

-0.3%

3.2%

7.7%

28

49

43

General Entertainment

C's

-0.4%

0.2%

0.3%

29

112

9

Technical & System Software

C's

-0.6%

6.8%

7.1%

30

47

47

Farm & Construction Machinery

C's

0.2%

3.8%

8.1%

31

-11

113

Independent Oil & Gas

C's

0.5%

4.8%

8.1%

32

-20

128

Technical Services

C's

0.2%

3.1%

5.3%

33

142

1

REIT - Office

C's

-1.2%

-0.7%

-0.7%

34

48

44

Publishing - Newspapers

C's

-0.7%

-1.2%

-1.6%

35

41

50

Information & Delivery Services

C's

-0.3%

-2.3%

-0.9%

36

93

14

Medical Equipment Wholesale

C's

-0.2%

0.7%

2.5%

37

13

84

Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration

C's

0.5%

5.8%

7.9%

38

41

51

Lodging

C's

-1.0%

1.0%

1.6%

39

-20

132

Drug Delivery

C's

0.1%

1.5%

6.0%

40

54

37

Credit Services

C's

-0.6%

-0.2%

0.3%

 

 

     The top 20 leading industries are plotted in Figure 1.  It appears that synthetics and home furnishing stores had a sudden rise that needs investigating. 

 

 

 

 

FIGURE 1

 

 

1.1 Stocks in Leading Industries

 

     The synthetics companies that trade an average of at least 200,000 shares per day and not traded over the counter are listed in Table 1B.  Similar stocks for the home furnishing industry are listed in Table 1C.  Those for the home health care industry are listed in Table 1D.  Leaders for the past week and month have the lowest numbered rankings. 

 

 

Table 1B - Synthetics

Symbol

Exchange

Avg. Vol.

Volume

Price

Last % Chg

1wk %Chg

1mo %Chg

1 wk Rank

1 mo Rank

PX

NYSE

1,440,320

1,686,000

$72.25

0.40%

4.1%

4.8%

6

6

IFF

NYSE

494,368

413,800

$52.05

0.54%

2.7%

2.1%

9

9

RHA

NYSE

329,848

52,900

$48.20

0.42%

5.2%

1078.5%

3

1

ALB

NYSE

761,091

1,639,000

$38.58

-3.24%

-3.7%

-9.4%

16

16

CMP

NYSE

307,698

229,800

$35.12

1.97%

4.9%

0.1%

4

11

NCX

NYSE

634,455

1,127,300

$34.64

1.55%

0.1%

-3.8%

15

14

PONR

NGM

319,459

154,738

$34.40

0.17%

0.2%

17.1%

14

3

ROC

NYSE

248,117

238,200

$33.43

0.69%

0.8%

4.5%

13

7

NLC

NYSE

1,094,690

637,900

$27.20

0.29%

4.0%

7.5%

7

5

HUN

NYSE

780,959

832,500

$20.00

-0.20%

1.1%

0.3%

12

10

GGC

NYSE

1,239,680

850,200

$18.27

3.98%

9.4%

-3.8%

2

15

TRX

NYSE

253,616

78,100

$14.63

0.55%

3.5%

10.9%

8

4

LNDC

NasdaqNM

201,238

108,704

$13.32

-1.41%

4.3%

-3.0%

5

13

CCC

NYSE

680,238

936,800

$11.73

0.69%

12.2%

25.2%

1

2

POL

NYSE

651,708

238,600

$7.18

0.28%

2.0%

-1.4%

10

12

WLM

NYSE

310,103

137,700

$3.18

7.43%

1.6%

2.9%

11

8

 

 

 

Table 1C – Home Furnishing

Symbol

Exchange

Avg. Vol.

Volume

Price

Last % Chg

1wk %Chg

1mo %Chg

1 wk Rank

1 mo Rank

BBBY

NasdaqNM

2,784,210

2,497,702

$37.73

-0.61%

0.6%

-7.0%

10

11

WSM

NYSE

1,358,550

1,007,000

$33.66

-0.06%

3.1%

-1.8%

6

7

PIR

NYSE

1,339,900

799,846

$8.84

-1.01%

4.0%

19.1%

4

2

GGC

NYSE

1,239,680

850,200

$18.27

3.98%

9.4%

-3.8%

2

9

CCC

NYSE

680,238

936,800

$11.73

0.69%

12.2%

25.2%

1

1

POL

NYSE

651,708

238,600

$7.18

0.28%

2.0%

-1.4%

8

6

RSTO

NGM

360,141

170,109

$6.11

0.00%

2.5%

11.7%

7

3

BBA

NYSE

316,825

204,100

$0.60

-1.64%

-15.5%

-4.8%

11

10

WLM

NYSE

310,103

137,700

$3.18

7.43%

1.6%

2.9%

9

5

TRX

NYSE

253,616

78,100

$14.63

0.55%

3.5%

10.9%

5

4

LNDC

NasdaqNM

201,238

108,704

$13.32

-1.41%

4.3%

-3.0%

3

8

 

 

 

Table 1D – Home Health Care

Symbol

Exchange

Avg. Vol.

Volume

Price

Last % Chg

1wk %Chg

1mo %Chg

1 wk Rank

1 mo Rank

LNCR

NasdaqNM

723,103

816,841

$39.45

1.60%

0.4%

4.9%

4

2

AHG

NYSE

711,367

609,500

$28.96

-0.24%

1.6%

0.1%

2

5

FVE

AMEX

540,583

209,900

$8.15

-1.09%

-0.2%

4.4%

5

3

CHE

NYSE

447,734

514,200

$66.75

-1.04%

1.0%

0.3%

3

4

AMED

NasdaqNM

415,755

308,547

$35.71

-1.03%

-2.6%

-3.2%

7

8

LHCG

NasdaqNM

400,145

196,281

$27.07

0.97%

-3.6%

-3.3%

8

9

MATR

NasdaqNM

271,292

207,692

$30.11

0.37%

2.0%

-3.0%

1

7

OPTN

NasdaqNM

210,117

125,789

$15.67

0.90%

-1.1%

6.4%

6

1

KAD

AMEX

204,772

93,500

$1.27

1.60%

-4.5%

-2.3%

9

6

 

 

     Symbols that are highlighted in blue are optionable.  Normally, the Options Advisory limits itself to stocks priced above $30 because the higher a stock’s price, the smaller percentage change is needed to produce a desired change in the value of an options contract.

 

     Before trading any of these stocks, some due diligence is needed to look at their charts and the fundamentals that you typically use.  These tables were obtained with tools available on the website, as well.  The tools can be used to produce similar tables for any or all of the leading industries above or the lagging industries in Table 2A and Figure 2 below.

 

 

2.0 Lagging Industries

 

     Lagging industries for the past month are listed in Table 2A.  A chart showing the rank performance of the 20 worst ranked is shown in Figure 2.

 

 

 

 

 Table 2A

Lagging Industries

May 18, 2007

 

Rank

Relative To Avg. Position

Rank of Position  Change

Lagging  Industries

Companies

Last Gain

1 wk Ago Gain

1 mo Gain

176

-17

123

Tobacco Products, Other

C's

-0.6%

0.8%

-1.3%

177

-113

213

Foreign Regional Banks

C's

-0.1%

2.6%

-0.5%

178

-90

208

Diversified Computer Systems

C's

0.3%

1.5%

-0.2%

179

-35

155

Cleaning Products

C's

0.0%

1.2%

-1.8%

180

-58

189

Jewelry Stores

C's

-1.2%

-1.9%

-6.8%

181

-13

119

Food Wholesale

C's

1.5%

3.7%

1.4%

182

-63

194

Security & Protection Services

C's

-0.5%

-0.2%

-1.3%

183

-73

202

Waste Management

C's

0.5%

2.0%

-0.7%

184

-56

184

Surety & Title Insurance

C's

0.0%

-0.5%

-3.2%

185

-32

148

Regional Airlines

C's

0.3%

1.1%

-0.3%

186

-65

195

Shipping

C's

0.2%

2.1%

-2.8%

187

-62

193

Money Center Banks

C's

-0.1%

0.6%

-1.7%

188

-73

204

Manufactured Housing

C's

1.0%

0.7%

-4.6%

189

-32

149

Basic Materials Wholesale

C's

0.1%

2.3%

-0.2%

190

-41

163

Biotechnology

C's

-0.6%

-3.8%

-3.5%

191

-49

178

Drug Related Products

C's

-0.7%

-6.4%

-8.1%

192

-56

186

Computers Wholesale

C's

0.5%

-10.2%

-6.1%

193

-91

209

Foreign Money Center Banks

C's

0.1%

1.8%

-1.1%

194

-66

196

Life Insurance

C's

0.4%

2.2%

-0.8%

195

-13

121

Real Estate Development

C's

-0.7%

-3.0%

-9.6%

196

-41

166

Asset Management

C's

0.5%

3.2%

-4.6%

197

-37

160

Property Management

C's

-0.4%

1.9%

-3.8%

198

-34

153

Movie Production, Theaters

C's

-0.1%

-6.9%

-8.0%

199

-67

198

Electric Utilities

C's

-0.7%

2.0%

-4.0%

200

-73

203

Air Services, Other

C's

1.2%

2.0%

-1.1%

201

-81

207

Regional - Northeast Banks

C's

-0.1%

-0.6%

-2.4%

202

-46

172

Diversified Utilities

C's

-0.5%

2.2%

-5.8%

203

-22

134

Semiconductor - Integrated Circuits

C's

-0.7%

-3.5%

-3.5%

204

-42

167

Computer Peripherals

C's

0.1%

-5.6%

-2.2%

205

-66

197

Research Services

C's

-0.4%

-4.9%

-3.9%

206

-4

104

Multimedia & Graphics Software

C's

-0.3%

-6.1%

-6.1%

207

-182

215

Internet Service Providers

C's

0.3%

-9.9%

-10.8%

208

-11

115

Computer Based Systems

C's

-0.6%

-17.0%

-13.9%

209

-148

214

Toy & Hobby Stores

C's

0.4%

-25.6%

-21.5%

210

-48

174

Beverages - Brewers

C's

1.5%

3.8%

-14.1%

211

-112

212

Wholesale, Other

C's

0.4%

-21.0%

-20.5%

212

-102

211

Security Software & Services

C's

-0.7%

-30.5%

-29.0%

213

-6

105

Dairy Products

C's

-0.7%

4.4%

-44.4%

214

-98

210

Broadcasting - Radio

C's

0.2%

-51.5%

-51.3%

215

-51

180

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining

C's

1.8%

7.1%

-50.8%

 

 

FIGURE 2

 

 

 

 

3.0 Industries Rising in Rank

 

     Table 3 contains the industries that are moving up in position the fastest.  The 20 fastest rising in rank are plotted in Figure 3.

 

 

 

 

 Table 3

Industries Advancing in Rank the Fastest

May 18, 2007

 

Rank

Relative To Avg. Position

Rank of Position  Change

Fastest Advancing  Industries

Companies

Last Gain

1 wk Ago Gain

1 mo Gain

33

142

1

REIT - Office

C's

-1.2%

-0.7%

-0.7%

26

136

2

REIT - Diversified

C's

-1.7%

-1.0%

0.3%

21

131

3

REIT - Hotel/Motel

C's

-1.2%

-1.6%

0.2%

51

130

4

REIT - Industrial

C's

-1.6%

-1.1%

-1.7%

2

129

5

Home Furnishing Stores

C's

-0.5%

39.7%

31.2%

68

121

6

REIT - Retail

C's

-2.4%

-2.3%

-3.9%

10

119

7

Diagnostic Substances

C's

-0.1%

3.4%

3.6%

23

118

8

Drug Manufacturers - Other

C's

-0.5%

7.3%

6.7%

29

112

9

Technical & System Software

C's

-0.6%

6.8%

7.1%

17

110

10

Semiconductor - Specialized

C's

-0.2%

10.9%

10.7%

79

109

11

REIT - Healthcare Facilities

C's

-1.9%

-2.6%

-4.4%

66

97

12

Semiconductor Equipment & Materials

C's

0.2%

6.2%

5.9%

13

96

13

Hospitals

C's

-0.3%

4.6%

7.0%

36

93

14

Medical Equipment Wholesale

C's

-0.2%

0.7%

2.5%

18

88

15

Regional - Pacific Banks

C's

0.1%

6.4%

6.8%

4

81

16

Sporting Goods

C's

-0.3%

15.0%

18.9%

74

78

17

Department Stores

C's

-0.4%

-0.8%

-3.3%

14

77

18

Discount, Variety Stores

C's

-0.3%

-0.6%

4.3%

5

76

19

Medical Laboratories & Research

C's

0.0%

7.7%

10.4%

43

75

20

Air Delivery & Freight Services

C's

-1.2%

1.0%

3.2%

41

70

21

Personal Products

C's

-0.9%

-1.6%

-2.4%

16

70

22

Industrial Metals & Minerals

C's

0.2%

4.0%

10.8%

86

69

23

Confectioners

C's

0.3%

-0.1%

-1.1%

48

68

24

Printed Circuit Boards

C's

0.0%

0.6%

0.7%

19

68

25

Resorts & Casinos

C's

0.0%

0.9%

8.5%

58

67

26

Closed-End Fund - Debt

C's

-0.1%

1.3%

-1.0%

60

67

27

Diversified Machinery

C's

0.0%

3.3%

6.1%

12

64

29

Semiconductor - Broad Line

C's

0.3%

4.9%

2.3%

54

64

28

Regional - Southwest Banks

C's

0.0%

3.5%

2.5%

77

64

30

Diversified Electronics

C's

-0.4%

0.9%

4.7%

3

63

31

Home Health Care

C's

0.2%

15.4%

17.7%

75

58

32

Housewares & Accessories

C's

0.4%

1.0%

-0.2%

135

58

34

Music & Video Stores

C's

1.0%

-1.3%

-3.6%

49

58

33

Business Software & Services

C's

-0.4%

3.2%

4.4%

25

56

35

Long-Term Care Facilities

C's

-0.9%

0.5%

1.5%

1

56

36

Synthetics

C's

1.2%

43.4%

41.4%

40

54

37

Credit Services

C's

-0.6%

-0.2%

0.3%

6

52

38

Agricultural Chemicals

C's

1.2%

6.4%

6.2%

90

52

39

Medical Practitioners

C's

-0.1%

0.5%

3.7%

11

51

40

REIT - Residential

C's

-1.2%

-0.6%

4.3%

 

 

 

FIGURE 3

 

 

 

4.0 Industries Falling in Rank

 

     A list of the industries declining in rank the fastest looks similar in Table 4.  The 20 fastest declining in rank are plotted in Figure 4.

 

 

 

 

 Table 4

Industries Declining in Rank the Fastest

May 18, 2007

 

Rank

Relative To Avg. Position

Rank of Position  Change

Fastest Declining  Industries

Companies

Last Gain

1 wk Ago Gain

1 mo Gain

80

-49

176

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

C's

0.5%

4.0%

5.5%

172

-49

177

Processed & Packaged Goods

C's

0.0%

1.4%

-1.7%

191

-49

178

Drug Related Products

C's

-0.7%

-6.4%

-8.1%

103

-50

179

Staffing & Outsourcing Services

C's

-0.3%

1.0%

2.4%

215

-51

180

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining

C's

1.8%

7.1%

-50.8%

127

-54

181

Recreational Goods, Other

C's

-0.8%

1.2%

1.7%

114

-55

182

Telecom Services - Domestic

C's

-0.6%

-0.6%

-1.2%

155

-55

183

Medical Appliances & Equipment

C's

0.0%

0.9%

0.3%

184

-56

184

Surety & Title Insurance

C's

0.0%

-0.5%

-3.2%

96

-56

185

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

C's

0.3%

5.2%

4.9%

192

-56

186

Computers Wholesale

C's

0.5%

-10.2%

-6.1%

174

-57

188

Accident & Health Insurance

C's

0.1%

0.5%

0.4%

163

-57

187

Internet Software & Services

C's

0.1%

-0.6%

1.2%

180

-58

189

Jewelry Stores

C's

-1.2%

-1.9%

-6.8%

162

-61

190

Mortgage Investment

C's

0.3%

0.1%

-3.9%

171

-61

191

Communication Equipment

C's

-0.1%

1.8%

1.2%

167

-61

192

Management Services

C's

1.2%

1.8%

1.6%

187

-62

193

Money Center Banks

C's

-0.1%

0.6%

-1.7%

182

-63

194

Security & Protection Services

C's

-0.5%

-0.2%

-1.3%

186

-65

195

Shipping

C's

0.2%

2.1%

-2.8%

194

-66

196

Life Insurance

C's

0.4%

2.2%

-0.8%

205

-66

197

Research Services

C's

-0.4%

-4.9%

-3.9%

199

-67

198

Electric Utilities

C's

-0.7%

2.0%

-4.0%

143

-70

199

Publishing - Books

C's

-0.2%

1.2%

-0.1%

161

-71

200

CATV Systems

C's

-0.2%

2.9%

1.7%

137

-73

201

Auto Parts

C's

0.2%

2.0%

1.9%

183

-73

202

Waste Management

C's

0.5%

2.0%

-0.7%

200

-73

203

Air Services, Other

C's

1.2%

2.0%

-1.1%

188

-73

204

Manufactured Housing

C's

1.0%

0.7%

-4.6%

148

-77

205

Railroads

C's

-0.7%

0.7%

-2.8%

141

-81

206

Publishing - Periodicals

C's

0.2%

-0.1%

-2.9%

201

-81

207

Regional - Northeast Banks

C's

-0.1%

-0.6%

-2.4%

178

-90

208

Diversified Computer Systems

C's

0.3%

1.5%

-0.2%

193

-91

209

Foreign Money Center Banks

C's

0.1%

1.8%

-1.1%

214

-98

210

Broadcasting - Radio

C's

0.2%

-51.5%

-51.3%

212

-102

211

Security Software & Services

C's

-0.7%

-30.5%

-29.0%

211

-112

212

Wholesale, Other

C's

0.4%

-21.0%

-20.5%

177

-113

213

Foreign Regional Banks

C's

-0.1%

2.6%

-0.5%

209

-148

214

Toy & Hobby Stores

C's

0.4%

-25.6%

-21.5%

207

-182

215

Internet Service Providers

C's

0.3%

-9.9%

-10.8%

 

 

 

FIGURE 4

 

 

 

 

 

     The important thing to note is that the usefulness of industry rankings depends on how each industry is actually performing.  When the market performs poorly, the leading industry could very well be the one that declines the least.  An industry could be doing nothing price wise but could end up near the top or bottom of the ranking list because other industries might be doing extremely poorly or well.  There is not enough information in an industry’s ranking list alone to infer how the industry index has actually changed over time.  Given the average industry performance or the percent change of the top and bottom ranked industries, one can only estimate how each of the remaining industries have performed.  There is no substitute for looking at the actual percentage change of an index for the industry of interest. 

 

     Industries ranked according to how much their rank positions have changed from their average is a strong indicator of future industry leadership.  This indicator also confirms how well a leading industry is maintaining its position. 

 

    The spreadsheet from which the charts and tables were obtained is available as a free download.  It is named the “industries” spreadsheet and is obtained by clicking on the Excel Files link.  XLQPlus is required.  The industries spreadsheet gives you performance values for all 215 industries on a single page.  The “companies” spreadsheet is downloaded for free from the same web page. 

 

 

 

 

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