Category Archives: Edson Gould

Adobe Systems: Downside Targets

In determining downside targets for Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE), we have applied Speed Resistance Lines [SRL] to the stock price over multiple periods of increase and subsequent decline. Starting in the 1986 to 1987 period, we see Adobe Systems Inc. increase from $0.21 to as high as $1.69.  In the decline that followed, the SRL indicated that the downside targets from the peak price of $1.69 were as follows:

  • $0.93
  • $0.75
  • $0.56

As seen in the chart below, ADBE declined as low as $0.46 from the $1.69 high.

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Much of the decline could have been attributed to a new company and speculative fervor for the stock taking it up +700%.  However, the inevitable decline was due and took investors down –72% before a recovery was seen in the stock price.  The stock achieved the conservative ($0.93), mid range ($0.75), and extreme ($0.56) downside targets.

In the period from 1987 to 1997, we see ADBE stock price increase from the $0.46 low to a high of $9.00, a whopping increase of +1,856%.  In the subsequent decline, ADBE fell “only” –58% from 1995 to 1996.  Adobe achieved only the conservative downside target ($3.97).

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In the period from 1998 to 2002, Adobe rose as much as +1,264%.  In the decline that followed, ADBE notched a –79% drop. In this instance, ADBE achieved all of the downside targets of $18.90 (conservative), $16.39 (mid range), and $13.88 (extreme).

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The next period that we track is from 2002 to 2008.  In that period, ADBE rose as much as +474%.  The decline that followed saw Adobe slide –66%.  Again, all downside targets achieved at $33.20 (conservative), $24.60 (mid range), and $16.00 (extreme).

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Worth noting is the fact that in all cases, Adobe Systems (ADBE) declined at least to the conservative downside target. Additionally, in 3 of the four cited examples, ADBE managed to fall to the extreme downside target as established by the Speed Resistance Lines.

Is the past a fair indication of what to expect in the future?  What do we believe the future to hold?

Our take on the future prospects for ADBE stock price are that we can reasonably expect the price to decline to the conservative downside target in accordance with past declines.  However, expecting that ADBE will achieve the extreme downside target is overly ambitious at present.   After all, ADBE is a mature, well-established company that dominates several categories in their respective product lines (by a wide margin as compared to the next closest competitor).

With this in mind, after an increase in price of +881%, from the 2009 low, we have outlined the Speed Resistance Lines from 2009 to 2017.

Swiss National Bank: Downside Targets

In a posting on ZeroHedge there is mention of Swiss National Bank (SNBN) and the “bubble” that seems to be percolating in the stock.  We don’t know whether or not the price of the stock is in a bubble.  However, what does resonate with us is any sign of a parabolic rise in price.  In the case of SNBN, we believe that we can attribute Speed Resistance Lines (SRL) that are consistent with viable downside targets.

First, whenever applying SRLs, we like to find out if there has been any precedence on the matter. In the case of SNBN, we have obtained data from Yahoo!Quotes (ChartIQ), which goes back to 1995.  It is just our luck that there is a prior period when SNBN has a similar rise and subsequent decline.

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Considering that there is a reasonable amount of precedent in the stock price movement of SNBN in the period from 1995 to 1997, we have taken the liberty in projecting what the current level of price increase could result in, if history is any guide. 

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Gilead Sciences, On Target

On November 16, 2015, when Gilead Sciences (GILD) was trading at $99 per share, we posted the following long-term downside targets for  the stock:

  • $56.93
  • $49.03
  • $41.12

At the same time, we contrasted our downside targets with commentary from TheStreet.com to ensure that there was some balance to the perspective for our readers.  TheStreet.com said the following of GILD:

“We rate GILEAD SCIENCES INC (GILD) a BUY. This is based on the convergence of positive investment measures, which should help this stock outperform the majority of stocks that we rate. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. (TheStreet.com. Gilead Sciences (GILD) Stock Is the ‘Chart of the Day’. Albright, Amanada. November 16, 2015. ”

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It is worth noting the buy rating that we gave to GILD on January 14, 2010.  At the time, the fundamentals seemed to be supported by the technicals and warranted due diligence and possible acquisition.  Below is our revised assessment of Gilead based on the technical attributes which is precipitated by investor reaction to the company fundamentals.

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Review of 2015 Assessment of LL & SAM

On February 25, 2015, we posted Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines [SRL] for Lumber Liquidator (LL) and Boston Beer Company (SAM).  Starting with LL, we said the following:

“Those interested in LL and willing to perform appropriate due diligence could engage in a three phase purchase plan beginning below $39.81, $31.64 and $23.47.  Investors, as opposed to speculators, should be willing to accept that there is no compensation for the wait when holding LL and that the decline to the ascending $23.47 level is a real risk.”

Since February 2015, LL has declined to the current level of $15.64.  While we might know the exact reasons why LL fell to the current level, we don’t know what to make of the dramatic decline other than the fact that the SRL gave every indication that this was possible.  Below is the updated SRL on Lumber Liquidator.

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Upon further reflection, we examined the price of Lumber Liquidator and attempted to propose an alternative view on the stock price decline.  On March 3, 2015, we proposed the following thesis:

“The coincidence of Lumber Liquidator (LL) declining significantly at the same time as the futures price of lumber (as traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) seems difficult to ignore.  Investors should take note of the fact that in three prior periods indicated in blue, LL has lost a minimum of –35% and as much as –53% when the price of lumber declined –33% or more. 

“So far, from December 2013 to March 2015, the price of lumber has declined –23% while LL has declined as much as –67.49%.  Much of the decline in LL has been exacerbated by concerns related to quality and sourcing of the flooring.  However,  the current decline is only slightly out of alignment from what has happened in the past.”

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Technically Speaking: Teva Pharmaceutical

On April 5, 2011, we said the following of the downside targets for Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA):

“Charles H. Dow indicated that the fair value of a stock is the average price that is paid by investors. The fair value is the point at which an investor, as opposed to speculators, will consider buying or selling a stock. The fair value that we’ve arrived is based on the low of July 2006. If Teva were to decline below $47.06, the prospects for $29.77 become almost inevitable.”

Since that article, as TEVA declined below the $47.06 level, the stock eventually declined to the the ascending $29.77 level by November 2013 as seen in the chart below.  After hitting the ascending $29.77 level, the price jumped to just north of $72.

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We’ll have to accept that this is all mere coincidence and slight of hand rather than any kind of basis in facts.  However, our claim has always been, if the target is achieved then review & decide whether to invest or if it is never achieved then move on to other opportunities.

Let’s review the prospects for TEVA under the current price structure which includes the periods since the November 2013 low to the present.  But first, you need to see the July 12, 2013 Speed Resistance Lines that we posted for TEVA as it is instructive and in alignment with the Dow Theory targets.

The long-term downside targets for TEVA based on the SRL indicated that the $32.50 level was the time to consider acquisition of the stock.  At that time we said the following:

“We could not determine a conservative downside target.  Because of this, we had to run some calculations and came up with the trendline of $43.33 and $32.50 as tentative support levels.”

Since TEVA provided the best indications using Dow Theory and came close using Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines, we’re going to give the Dow Theory perspective in the long and short run and see where it takes us.

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The above chart indicates that at the current price Teva Pharmaceutical is considered below fair value ($38.23) as long as the fundamental data confirms what the price suggests.  Additionally, TEVA seems poised to achieve the downside target of the ascending $26.86 level (approx. $28.50).  Purchases of this stock are best made in stages with 50% of allotted funds at the current price and 25%+25% at predefined lower levels.

Clean Harbors: Coincidence Confirmed, Again

On February 9, 2012, we posted Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines [SRL] regarding Clean Harbors (CLH).  Our hope at the time was that our prior work on the top of Gould’s work would be handily refuted or confirmed.  At the time we posed the following SRL:

For us, our expectation was that the Clean Harbors would, at minimum, descend to the conservative downside target of $43.53.  Well, the timing and coincidence were in our favor as CLH fell –40% to the appointed levels that we thought the stock should descend.

As with all Speed Resistance Lines, there is a chance that the stock will continue to move higher.  However, at each point higher we readjust the SRL and arrive at new downside target.  In the case of CLH, the stock increased from the $67.60 price to as high as $70.30 thereby requiring an adjustment of the downside targets higher as well.  Remember, if the stock does not hit downside targets avoid it.  When and if the stock falls to the target, review for potential investment.

Finally, for no explicable reason, when all seemed in favor of the stock, CLH declined from the $70.30 peak to the low of $37.09 achieved in January 2016.  By achieving such an improbable low (improbable to those who were buying CLH in February 2012) CLH stock price appeared to be worth considering.  For this reason, we iterated a review of CLH for investment consideration on December 14, 2015. Since our mid-December 2015 review, CLH has increased by +39%.

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At this point, we’d consider our general analysis of CLH a success from the December 2015 posting.  What do we see going forward?  We see two critical upside resistance levels to watch for.  The first upside resistance is at $59.00 and the second upside resistance level is at $69.00.  Obtaining a +39% gaining in a 1-year period might suggest that an investor consider selling all of their CLH holdings and reinvesting the funds somewhere else.

The Cold Hard Truth

Granted, luck and timing have a lot to say in any and all the work that we produce, however, that does not mean that our efforts on the topic should be dismissed as there may be some value in what we’re trying to accomplish.  Since the very first of our SRLs we’ve had more than 80% of the SRL downside targets achieved at the point of the initial examination.  This generally could could be considered a success.  However, of the 20% that have not been successful are positions that we’ve taken a real world investment in, which totally sucks.

In spite of the prevailing reality we continue to attempt to mitigate the available information with the stocks of interest to us.  We’ll narrow down this situation to a point where the SRL will work and/or we’ll still be able to benefit regardless of whether an immediate rebound is experienced.

Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF

The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) is trading in range that ultimately needs to be resolved.  The outcome is either falling dramatically below $240 or striking the $343 level before doing a retest of the prior high around $400.

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Already, IBB has managed to resist falling below the ascending $218.37 level.  This is in defiance of our belief that a highly volatile sector and fund should retest the extreme downside target of $133.60.  Those wanting to have exposure to the biotech sector but unwilling to take on the individual risk should consider the prospects of this ETF.

Nvidia Downside Targets

Below are the downside targets based on the work of Edson Gould and the precedent setting periods from 1999 to the present.

Ritchie Brothers: Now What?

In our June 12, 2016 posting titled “Ritchie Brother: Inflection Point?” we said the following:

  • “…it appears that [Ritchie Brothers] RBA is at a threshold that has not been exceeded since early 2011”
  • “…the stock could rise to $48.00.”
  • the stock needs “…some kind of reprieve from the most recent parabolic move in the price”

Since June 2016, RBA has managed to trace out the following price action (in red):

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As the last bullet point indicated and the price chart has reflected, the parabolic move was resolved with a decline to the recent low of $27.27.  Unfortunately, we now need another parabolic move from $27.27 to the recent jump above $35 to be resolved in some way or another.

Another item that was pointed out was the possibility that RBA could exceed a level in Edson Gould’s Altimeter, a level that had not been exceeded since 2011.  The recent price action since June 2016 has allowed this to occur as well.

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We’re still thinking that the rise to $48 is possible.  The recent news of the acquisition by RBA of IronPlanet makes it more possible to hit our target.  However, the recent price activity of going from $27 to $35 overnight based on an acquisition simply means that achieving the $48 target will take more time than we had anticipated.

Downside Targets for Craft Brew Alliance

The latest run for Craft Brew Alliance (BREW) from the low set in November 2015 to the most recent peak on August 2016 requires that we check for the downside targets.

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 A parabolic peak is one thing.  However, having them play out in a consistent fashion is something else.  In the case of BREW, we’ve had two prior parabolic peaks since 2008 that were true to form and function.  In the period from the 2008 low to the 2010 peak, BREW declined to below the mid-range Speed Resistance Line [SRL].  In the period from the 2008 low to the 2013 peak, BREW declined below the extreme downside target.  In the chart above, we have the following downside targets:

  • conservative: $12.57
  • mid-range: $10.02
  • extreme: $7.47

Although there is no assurance that the stock needs to decline to the referenced downside targets, any parabolic move must be watch closely as entropy will kick in at some point.  In this case, we believe that the ascending conservative target is a lock.  With established history as an indication, the mid-range target looks to be a safe “bet” as well.  We’ll check back in on this as more time has passed.

Review: HP Achieves Downside Target and Rebounds

On September 14, 2015, we posted to our site an article about Helmerich & Payne (HP).  At the time we had the following investment conclusion:

“We advise that investors consider HP at the ascending $39.43 level or below.”

HP fell to the level indicated in our posting and has since increased +37% from the article date and +50% from the date of when the stock crossed below the ascending $39.43 level.  Below is the updated Speed Resistance Lines and our perspective on the potential for the stock going forward.

Review: MPW Hits Downside Target, Moves Sharply Higher

Our site thrives on coincidence and luck.  Which brings us to our posting on Medical Properties Trust (MPW) dated June 2, 2015.  At the time, when the REIT was trading at $13.75, we said the following:

“In the period from July 21, 2011, MPW declined slightly below the mid level before rebounding.  We expect that, at the very least, MPW should retest the current mid level at $8.45.”

Basing our work on the studies of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines, we can see that the –28% decline of MPW was a little more than slight.  In fact, the drop was halfway between the mid level of $8.45 and the extreme downside of $5.14.

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Since the low of $9.86, MPW has rebounded in a similar fashion as it had during the 2011 to 2013 period.  There may be more upside for MPW, however, our goal is anticipation of the downside risk.  In this instance, we got lucky, again.

WD-40 Co.: Downside Targets

Below are the downside targets for WD-40 Co. (WDFC) based on the work of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines (SRL).

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The assumption by many momentum investors is that WDFC will continue to rise further.  However, prior experience suggests that a parabolic rises usually end in a breakdown in the price.  Regardless of any further rise in the price of the stock, the conservative downside target is the minimum downside target to watch for.  At this time, the conservative downside target is $72.49.  We’d become interested in reviewing the fundamentals when WDFC falls at or below the $72.49 level.

LinkedIn: Decline and Rebound Foretold in SRL

On June 13, 2016, Microsoft announced that it was going to acquire LinkedIn Inc. (LKND) for approximately $26 billion.

Based on our prior work, LinkedIn Inc. (LKND) has helped to make Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines (SRL) one of the most interesting indicators to watch when it comes to a stock that has established a declining trend.  On April 30, 2015, we said the following of LinkedIn:

“In the prior decline, LNKD fell to slightly below the midpoint target at $133.19.  This suggests that the current slump should go below the conservative downside target of $187.68.  Going below the $187.68 level should get the stock price to the ascending midpoint target of $139.87.  Those interested in LNKD should consider the stock in stages at or below the ascending $139 level with an acceptance of a decline to the ascending $92.06 level.”

LNKD did decline below $187.68.  However, rather than decline to the $139 level as anticipated, the stock price declined directly to the ascending $92.06 level.  At the time, for anyone serious about investing in LNKD, the dramatic after-hours decline from above $187 to below the $139 level indicated that LNKD was an open target for consideration.

Below is LinkedIn’s stock price based on Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines.

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Now that Microsoft (MSFT) has decided to absorb LinkedIn, we believe this SRL has served our analysis purposes well.  We continue to maintain that Gould’s SRL, when applied to the appropriate stock, has delivered the most fascinating results.

Apple: Fallen and Almost There

On January 8, 2016, we posted the following chart:

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That red line that says 150 was our projected downside target based on the historical average from as far back as 2004.  The update to this chart is below (Altimeter levels adjusted for dividends):

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Apple is on the cusp of hitting that downside target.  What happens if the stock breaks through on the downside, then you’d want to consider the investment merit of the stock based on conservative fundamental data.  Keep in mind that the current P/E ratio of 10 should jump before the stock marches higher.

Do you remember that article we posted on September 23, 2012, about how adding Apple (AAPL) to the Dow Industrials would be “not so great”? Yeah, well, since being included into the index on March 19, 2015, Apple has declined –28% and the company that it replaced, AT&T (T), has increased +19%.  True to form, the inclusion of Apple into the Dow Jones Industrial Average coincides with decline in the stock price.  The adjustment period should be coming to an end.  Let’s see how this plays out.