The Odds Favor Big Upside from Apple’s Fiscal 2012 Second Quarter Earnings

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on April 23, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) If recent history has any relevance to the upcoming (and much anticipated) earnings announcement on April 24th from Apple (AAPL), odds favor a very positive reaction the following day. I generally … Read more

Chart Review: Apple “Almost” Pounds Out A Hammer

With each passing day in the April downtrend, Apple’s stock chart gets more and more interesting. Today, Apple (APPL) almost pounded out a hammer. Given the final resting point on the 50-day moving average (DMA), I would throw caution to the wind and call today’s pattern a hammer, but I am showing some deference to … Read more

Polycom Wipes Out 18 Months of Gains

One month ago, Polycom (PLCM) dropped 10% seemingly out of nowhere on relatively high volume. On April 5, PLCM dropped 20% in the wake of an earnings warning in which the company stated their “…growth rate was below our overall expectations, driven primarily by shortfalls in Asia Pacific and North America.” On a GAAP basis, … Read more

Brace for More Surprises: Groupon Restates Earnings, Reveals Weakness in Financial Controls

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 30, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) After traders packed up for the weekend, Groupon (GRPN) issued two warnings during the evening of March 30th. First, Groupon discovered it under-estimated its refund rate for the previous quarter. As … Read more

Research In Motion Officially Acknowledges Its Retrenchment

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 29, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} This is the change in “guidance practices” and outlook that beleaguered mobile company Research In Motion (RIMM) announced in its latest earnings report today. It has all the trappings of … Read more

Betting On Best Buy’s Post-Earnings Potential

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 26, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) According to ETF Channel, Best Buy (BBY) is the second largest holding of the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT). Yet, BBY is greatly underperforming this retail ETF. While XRT is at … Read more

How to Play First Solar Until A Savior Arrives

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 7, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) When Energy Conversion Devices (ENERQ.PK) filed for bankruptcy in mid-February, I wrote “The Solar Fun Is Done For Now.” I should have also said that the “horror show has just begun” … Read more