Category Archives: CTRX

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: April 24, 2015

Performance Review

Below is the performance of our April 25, 2014 watch list.

Symbol Name 2014 2015 % chg
BBBY Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. 62.48 72.53 16.09%
CTRX Catamaran Corporation 38.95 59.56 52.91%
SIRI Sirius XM Holdings Inc. 3.12 3.96 26.92%
NTAP NetApp, Inc. 35.00 36.12 3.20%
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 366.37 505.92 38.09%
DISCA Discovery Comm 39.14 32.71 -16.43%
VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. 57.81 72.68 25.72%
COST Costco Wholesale 115.01 148.12 28.79%
ALTR Altera Corp. 33.09 40.89 23.57%
SRCL Stericycle, Inc. 113.96 136.94 20.16%
CERN Cerner Corporation 49.51 73.32 48.09%
ROST Ross Stores Inc. 67.77 104.38 54.02%
MAT Mattel, Inc. 37.99 30.20 -20.51%
DLTR Dollar Tree, Inc. 51.36 81.14 57.98%

The average return for the entire list was +25.62% compared to the Nasdaq 100 index gaining +28.41% in the same period of time.  The top five stocks on our list (BBBY, CTRX, SIRI, NTAP, ISRG) gained +27.44% in the last year (excluding dividends).

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As is common with our watch lists, a stock is being acquired at what we believe is a premium.  CTRX is being acquired by UnitedHealth (UNH), a Dow Jones Industrial Average component.  At the time of our watch list last year, CTRX was within 3% of the low.  Additionally, the announcement of the purchase by UNH followed the pattern of many companies buying the intended target after a gain over of +24% within the year and +177% within the last 5 years.

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: April 24, 2015

Below are the 9 Nasdaq 100 stocks that we think are worth your consideration:

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: December 26, 2014

Performance Review

The December 6, 2013 watch list contained the following companies and resulted in the accompanying 1-year results:

Symbol 2013 2014 % change
CTRX 44.99 51.93 15.43%
ALTR 32.12 38.27 19.15%
ISRG 377.38 531.24 40.77%
MXIM 28.46 31.65 11.21%
CHRW 57.89 76.75 32.58%
EBAY 52.01 57.04 9.67%
EQIX 165.48 232.76 40.66%
GOLD 65.44 66.26 1.25%

The companies on our watch list from last year gained an average of +21.34% as compared to the Nasdaq 100 which gained +23.11%.  Our analyst estimate section of the watch list from last year shows what the stock on our list were expected to do over the following 12 months.

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All of the stocks were expected to decline in value, overall.  However, what is most striking about the one year performance is that while companies on the far left were expected to do the worst those on the far right were expected to the best (sort of).  Below is the actual one year performance:

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A side by side comparison will demonstrate that (again) the trend of performance favors those stocks that have been pinned with the worst expectations.

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: December 26, 2014

The following stocks are on our radar and should be on yours:

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: December 5, 2014

Performance Review

Below is the watch list from December 6, 2013 and the subsequent performance over the last year:

Symbol Name 2013 2014 % change
CTRX Catamaran  44.99 51.25 13.91%
ALTR Altera Corp. 32.12 37.93 18.09%
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 377.38 508.86 34.84%
MXIM Maxim Integrated 28.46 31.36 10.19%
CHRW CH Robinson Worldwide 57.89 74.63 28.92%
EBAY eBay Inc. 52.01 54.81 5.38%
EQIX Equinix, Inc. 165.48 231.68 40.00%
GOLD Randgold Resources 65.44 64.85 -0.90%
Average change 18.80%
Nasdaq 100 Index 23.04%

Below is the chart of analyst estimated returns from December 6, 2013 compared to the performance one year later:

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In the example above, we see that, in general, the stocks performed in opposition to what analysts had anticipated.  It is important to note that we routinely recommend that investors consider the stocks that have the worst prospects first based on analyst estimates.  After appropriate due diligence, stocks deemed unacceptable risks should be eliminated.

As has been the case for some time, analyst estimates have fallen far from the mark when assessing the prospects for stocks.  At the time, Equinix (EQIX) was considered by analysts to have the worst prospects.  As it happens, Equinix managed to gain the most among the stocks that we tracked last year.  For our part, we had EQIX on our radar as early as July 26, 2013.  We said the following of the stock:

“A stock that is establishing a significant technical pattern is Equinix (EQIX).  It seems that Equinix is developing a ‘head and shoulder’ formation.  this suggests that a further decline below $176 will result in a minimum decline to the conservative downside target of $158.37.  We would consider a review of EQIX fundamentals at or below $110.”

Our concern for downside risk resulted in being too cautious.  However, after our July 26, 2013 commentary, EQIX declined from $183.75 to the Edson Gould SRL conservative downside target of $158.37.  Once achieving the low at $155, EQIX started to make the long climb higher.

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Nasdaq 100 Watch List: December 5, 2014

The following are the stocks that are on our watch list with Analyst Estimates:

Nasdaq 100 Watch List: October 11, 2013

Below are the Nasdaq 100 companies that are within 10% of their respective 52-week lows. Stocks that appear on our watch lists are not recommendations to buy. Instead, they are the starting point for doing your research and determining the best company to buy. Ideally, a stock that is purchased from this list is done after a considerable decline in the price and rigorous due diligence.

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