stocks

Ticker Tape Digest presents its daily stock market report containing stocks to go long as breakout trades, quick trades, or bargain trades. We also feature stocks under Significant Accumulation that are poised to breakout.

The TTD report also contains stocks to short as breakdown plays and as bargain (swing trade) shorts.

Investors should tend to try to go with a strategy that fits with the stock market's trend, unless there is a special situation play.

TTD's Breakout Stocks - Long are most suitable for aggressive investors seeking ideal entry points into leading stocks, especially during bull markets. They can do extremely well in bull markets with gains of as much as several hundred percent.

These stocks can also do extremely well during strong market rallies, or if they are in a industry group that is performing very well. They tend to have strong earnings outlooks and are near new-52 week, or all-time highs.

TTD Quick Trade Stocks - Long These are leading issues that have pulled back in recent days, but could move higher soon. They are most suitable for Aggressive Investors willing to trade short term. These stocks will do extremely well during market advances. They have about 74% win rate. During market rally sequences the win rate is even higher. The return is small 3% to 8% in just a few days.

TTD's Bargain Buy Trades - Long These are for conservative bullish Investors The strategy is called swing trading. These long buys are ideally suited for entry into stocks on pull backs within overall up trend. They are good for trading range markets. These stocks can give a good return in a week or two. They can also explode into a breakout and a powerful advance.

TTD also presents Stocks To Sell or Sell Short. These issues are suitable for aggressive investors willing to take short positions both as trades or for longer-term plays. These stocks will do very well during bear markets or market pull backs.

TTD's Bearish breakdown stocks to sell short. These issues have potential to fall sharply. They often show a technical breakdown and also some fundamental business problem such as weak earnings.

TTD's Bearish bargain play stocks to sell short. These issues are usually in down trends and are poised to rollover after a minor rally. They often can provide a conservative bear with a good entry point.

TTD's multi-media updates include a slide-show that presents charts and analysis at midsession. Some times TTD presents feature analysis on stocks and the market. TTD uses Windows Media Files. (WMV).

TTD also presents a "Breakout Watch List" that is up dated daily. This list consists of key stocks in position to breakout. A close watch of this list can put you in the stock just as it breaks out. A good idea is to study the list and be ready to move into a stock quickly as it hits its breakpoint.

TTD often suggests using stop buy orders to enter. It is very important to buy a breakout stock as close as possible to the breakpoint. The idea is to get "elbow room" if the stock should follow through to the upside. This is very important in being successful in making big money with breakout stocks.

It is also essential to have a stop loss strategy for all stocks in which positions are taken. Not every stock will work as expected. It is important for investors to "police" their portfolios and avoid getting trapped in any bad positions.

Quality rating of breakout Two key factors: 1 - Stock near all-time in price or near a 52-week high. 2 - earnings growth current year is strong. The ideal play is a stock with an Above Average Quality Rating. The stock is near a new high and will have strong earnings.TTD's other ratings are Average and Below Average.

Bull side - Large number of breakouts today. Stock market bounces back with strong gain indicating potential for a sideways consolidation. Bulls be selective and watch all protective stops.

Today's Featured Breakout Stock

Zoll Medical Corp. (ZOLL) - 30.56, up 2.65 - Breakpoint 29.18

Profits Top All Street Estimates, TTD Targets 38

TTD's Quality Rating of Stock - ZOLL - ABOVE AVERAGE

ZOLL, based in Chelmsford, Mas., produces medical devices and software. Annual revenues; $401 million. ZOLL's stock breaks out powerfully today with a gap move higher from a three-month flat base. The move was triggered by quarterly earrings that topped the highest estimate on the Street. So far today, ZOLL is trading 512,247 shares, about five times its normal daily volume of 111,000 shares.

TTD highlighted the stock as a breakout at our midsession show on the Web Thursday.

ZOLL's 10-minute chart shows the stock driving higher in the morning off the good earnings. It cut across its breakpoint line and continued to show good volume.

The stock then trended sideways after the breakout and volume slowed as the day wore on.

ZOLL checked in with a profit for the fiscal second quarter ending March 30 of 17 cents a share, up 113% from the 8 cents a share a year ago. The 17 cents topped the consensus estimate of 13 cents a share and the highest estimate of 16 cents a share. TTD has noted that when a stock moves higher off an earnings report that tops all Street estimates, the stock has good potential to move higher the next few weeks. That is because the Street needs to upgrade its annual numbers and valuation.

The company said the strong profits reflected growth in its LifeVest business. It also said its defibrillator revenues grew although there were spending constraints at hospitals.

ZOLL's clip of the tape shows the big block trades the past few days. One can see the price for the blocks climbing from $28.45 to $30.45. The blocks leading up to the earnings report gave no hint the earnings surprise had leaked to the market.

ZOLL makes defibrillators, automated external defibrillator, AutoPulse Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump, documentation and information management, wearable automatic defibrillator, fluid replacement and disposable electrodes.

The company also designs and markets software that automates the documentation, and management of both clinical and non-clinical information. This year ZOLL acquired the intravascular temperature management business of Alsius Corporation.

ZOLL's 12-month performance chart shows the stock appreciating 100% versus a 40% gain for the S&P 500 index.

ZOLL's long-term chart shows a bumpy ride the past three years. The stock was as high as 35 in 2008 bucking the bear market. However, it finally got its wings clipped and the stock fell to 11 in 2009. It has since rallied strongly and now has good upside momentum long-term.

ZOLL's daily chart shows the flat base bracketed between 30 and 26. The breakout today comes with a gap move, a widening of the spread (daily range from high to low) and big volume. You can't ask for more!

The structure of the base is fair given that there was a lot of work done in the lower part of the base. There is key overhead resistance in the 30 to 40 area. So, it will be important to see how ZOLL acts in coming days.

The stock's TTD momentum indicator (top of the chart) is slightly bullish.

The accumulation - distribution line (bottom of chart) is in a strong up trend and has made a new peak confirming the breakout.

ZOLL is forecasting net for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 at 85 cents a share.

That is up from the current Street forecast of an 80% gain to 81 cents a share from 45 cents a year ago.

Looking out to fiscal 2011 ending in September, analysts project a 38% gain in net to $1.11 a share from the anticipated 81 cents a share. Fiscal 2011 net could get boosted by the Street.

Strategy Opinion: ZOLL looks hot with the big earnings and strong move today. TTD is targeting ZOLL for a run to 38 within the next few months, or sooner. A protective stop can be placed near 29. TTD rates ZOLL a very good intermediate-term play.

Sponsorship: Good. Many of the top fund holders in the stock have been recently been buying. The largest fund holder is 3-star rated American Funds Smallcap World Fund with a big 5.6% stake. It was a recent buyer of 66,600 shares. ZOLL has 21.4 million shares outstanding.

Insider Activity: Neutral. One insider buy with options. He turned around and sold at $28.84. Six analysts follow the stock, 3 have a buy, the same as three months ago.

Stock Performance Chart for 12 months with Quarterly Earnings Markers.

All Timely Breakout Stocks From Tape Action Today

(The �breakout List� gives all stocks breaking out of a base of five weeks or more. These stocks have a good chance to trend higher. However, a stop should be used to avoid those that do not work. They are ranked according to percentage change and classified as leaders or other. (Trading strategy: One should buy breakout stocks at breakpoint by using market order or stop buy)

Ticker Tape Digest�s

Stocks To �Sell Short�

Ticker Tape Digest�s Daily List of �Stocks To Sell Short� ranks stocks well timed to be sold immediately based on daily trading. The list can be used as an alert to reduce current long-term positions.

Bear Side - Small list of breakdown stocks as stock market rallies broadly. Bears be selective.

List of Stocks To Sell or Short

(Trading strategy: These stocks can be sold short, or if held should be sold. If a stock is sold short, a protective stop buy should be placed. Short plays work best when the stock market is in a down trend.)

Commentary on TTD�s Feature Bear Play

Covance Inc. (CVD) - 57.77, down 2.73

Cuts Year Profit Forecast, TTD Sees Decline to 50

. CVD, based in Princeton, N.J., is a drug development services company. Annual revenues: $2 billion. CVD's stock falls sharply today in heavy trading. The selloff was triggered by the company lowering its earnings forecast for the year. So far today, CVD is trading a heavy 3.1 million shares, four times its normal daily volume of 718 000 shares. TTD sees more on the downside.

CVD said earnings for the year would be $2.40 to $2.65 a share. That is a reduction from the company's prior forecast of $2.50 to $2.75 a share. A year ago, CVD earned $2.60 a share. So, there is potential for flat to lower profits this year.

The news caused the stock to gap lower in the morning touching a low of $55.76. The stock then bounced up and then trended sideways the rest of the day.

TTD's clip of CVD's tape shows the big block trades. One can see the price of the blocks declining from $60.80 to as low as $56.75. The key trade (in red) was a block of 29,000 shares crossing at $56.40. That was down sharply from the prior block trade at $60.80.

CVD provides early-stage and late-stage product development services to the drug, biotech and medical device industries.

It also provides laboratory testing services to the chemical, agrochemical and food industries. It operates under two segments: early development services, which include preclinical services and clinical pharmacology services, and late-stage development services, which includes central laboratory, clinical development, and commercialization services.

Analysts expect net for the upcoming second quarter to be off 1% to 65 cents a share from 66 cents a year ago.

CVD's daily chart shows the gap move lower today undercutting key technical support. The stock's accumulation - distribution line (bottom of chart) is starting to rollover. That indicates clear selling pressure.

Strategy Opinion: TTD is targeting CVD for a decline to 50 within the next few months or sooner. A protective stop buy can be placed near 60.

TTD columnist Leo Fasciocco has covered the stock market for over 20 years. His articles appear in many publications. He is also a speaker at the Intershow conferences. He has been on television and radio. He is author of many educational articles about stock investing and the book �Guide To High-Performance Investing.�

For information to subscribe to the Ticker Tape Digest Services call: B. J. Owen at 1-480-926-1680. Distributed by Corona Publishing Enterprises. Ticker Tape Digest Inc. P.O. Box 2044 Chandler, Az. 85244-2044. TTD �Professional Report� is available on the World Wide Web: $100 per month. Password needed. �TTD Professional� Faxed is $200 per month. The TTD Daily Report is $39.95. Credit cards accepted.

(The information contained has been prepared from data deemed reliable but there is no guarantee of complete accuracy. Ticker Tape Digest Inc. is not affiliated with any broker, dealer or investment advisor. Nothing in this publication constitutes an offer, recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Further research is advised. This report is copyrighted and no redistribution is permitted with out permission. Some of the charts are from Telescan, Insight Trading, First Alert and other sources.)

TTD Check List	Bullish	Bearish	Neutral
Near 52-week High	YES
Volume	YES
Tick Volume	YES
Price Trend - Daily	YES
Price Trend - Long Term			YES
Price Daily Spread	YES
Base Structure	YES
Base - A-D	YES
Earnings-Quarterly	YES
Earnings-Long Term	YES
Earnings Outlook	YES
Industry Group	YES
Prior Breakout Success	YES
Fund Sponsorship	YES
Total Score	13	0	1

Ticker Tape Digest

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Today's Featured Breakout Stock

Zoll Medical Corp. (ZOLL) - 30.56, up 2.65 - Breakpoint 29.18

Profits Top All Street Estimates, TTD Targets 38

All Timely Breakout Stocks From Tape Action Today

Ticker Tape Digest�s

Stocks To �Sell Short�

List of Stocks To Sell or Short

Commentary on TTD�s Feature Bear Play

Covance Inc. (CVD) - 57.77, down 2.73

Cuts Year Profit Forecast, TTD Sees Decline to 50