Ticker Tape Digest

Thursday - August 19, 2021

By Leo Fasciocco -- TTD

   Ticker Tape Digest presents its daily stock market report containing stocks to go long as Breakout Trades, Quick Trades, or Bargain Accumulation 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 Swng - 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 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 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 high 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.

   TTD also has  special feature sections on  Educational Tips on Investing.

   To email Mr. Leo Fasciocco  leo@tickertapedigest.com.   

   For service, email Beverly Owen owen@tickertapedigest.com. TTD’s Tel: 1-480-878-8381 or 480-704-3331.

Thursday - August 19, 2021

TTD's Breakout Stocks

  Stock Market Overview

Total Buy Breakouts   -  5

Quality of Breakouts -  Above Average.

Stocks Screened - 12,234

Bull side -  Small list of breakouts, but some interesting plays for aggressive bulls.

Stock market  -  Major daily averages are bearish. The weekly and monthly still hold bullish.

Comment -  Several good looking breakouts. However, bulls should be conservative and consider just a scale in play.

See Latest Earnings Reports -  A company that tops the Street's highest earnings estimate has potential to go higher. Key earnings beats -  M, STVN, TRMR, LYTS and KSS.

Stock Market Momentum

(Daily is based on a moving average)

Ticker Tape Digest's

Timely Breakout Stocks From Tape Action

(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 near breakpoint by using market order or stop buy.  They can also be bought soon after a follow through move, sometimes on an intraday pullback. )  

Today's Featured TTD Breakout Stock

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) - 427.89, up 10.57 - Breakpoint 423.30

Net To Rise 11% This Year, TTD Targets 480

    UNH, based in Hopkins, Min., provides financial health services via its various programs. Annual revenues: $257 billion. UNH's stock moves higher Thursday and breaks out from its 15-week, cup-and-handle base.

  So far today,UNH is trading 3.2 million shares. Its average daily volume is 2.1 million shares.

 TTD sees potential for more on the upside with this leading stocks.

  UNH  has a beta of 0.78 versus 1.00 for the stock market. So, the stock tends to move slower than the market.

  UNH's stock pushed higher in the morning and cleared its breakpoint line.

  The stock then trended sideways. Late in the day, UNH moved higher again and reached an intraday high of $428.35.

  In after-hours trading, UNH was up $1.61a share. That is a good omen for a follow through on Friday.

      Tape Action

  UNH's tape action shows the recent block trades.

  One can see the price for the blocks climbing from $415.38 in the morning to as high as $427.89 at the close.

  A key bullish trade came in the morning when a block of 50,000 shares crossed the tape at $422.36.

  That was up from the prior block at $415.38 on 34,167 shares.

  Near the close a big block of 534,560 shares crossed at $427.89.

  That was up from  the prior trade at $527.64 on 102 shares.

   Business

  UNH operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight and OptumRx.

 It conducts its operations through two business platforms: health benefits operating under UnitedHealthcare and health services operating under Optum.

 The firm  provides healthcare benefits to an array of customers.

 Optum is a health services business serving the healthcare marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers and governments.

  Charts

  UNH's 12-month performance chart shows the stock up 30% versus a 33% gain for the stock market.

  Insiders were recent buyers at $332.68 a share and at $57 to $160 using stock options.

  They were sellers at $329 to $420 a share.

  UNH has been a leader long-term..

  UNH's daily chart shows the stock climbing from $36 in April to a peak near $423 by May.

  The stock backed off and rallied and then formed a flat base near-term, and further back a cup-and-handle base.

  Thursday, UNH breaks out with a widening of the daily spread.

  The stock's CCI momentum indicator is strongly bullish.

  Earnings Outlook

  This year, analysts predict an 11% increase in net to $18.76 a share from  the $16.88 the prior year.

  The stock has a price-earnings ratio of 22.

  Looking out to 2021, the Street predicts a 15% rise in net to $21.63 a share from  the anticipated $18.76 a share this year.

  Net for the third  quarter should jump 27% to $4.46 a share from  the $3.51 the prior year.

  The highest estimate for the quarter is at $4.76 a share.

  UNH topped the Street estimate the past four quarters by $29 cents a share, 89 cents, 13 cents and 53 cents.

  Pprofits for the fourth quarter should surge 72%  to $4.34 a share from  the $2.52 the prior year. 

Strategy Opinion:  TTD is targeting UNH for a move to $480 within the next few months, or sooner.

A protective stop can be placed near $413.

Intermediate-Term Rating: Average.

Suitability:   Average Bulls.   

                                TTD's special research of Stock's Prior Performance:  

           Stock's Prior Performance After A Breakout

(In actual trading, entry and exit points could vary depending on broker execution.

Also, ideal are breakouts to a new 52-week high or better, perhaps all-time highs.)

  Stock's Long-term Chart

   Stock's Price Performance after Reporting Earnings

 Stock's Performance Chart with Quarterly Earnings Markers vs. S&P 500

Insider Buying in Green  -  Insider Selling in Red

Charts of Selected Breakout Stocks

Ticker Tape Digest’s

Stocks To “Sell or Short”

    Ticker Tape Digest’s Daily List of “Stocks To Sell or 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.

Shorts from tape action  - 10

Stocks Screened - 12,234

Long-Term Environment for bears: Neutral.

Bear Side -  Large list of shorts as stock market is in a near-term decline. Bears be alert.

List of Stocks To Sell or Short

TTD’s Feature Bear Play

ACV Auctions Inc. (ACVA) - 18.73

Loss Seen This Year and Next, TTD Sees Drop to 15.50

  ACVA, based in Buffalo, N.Y., provides an online service for wholesale sales of vehicles. Annual revenues: $208 million. ACVA's stock moves lower Thursday and undercuts key support with heavy volume.

  So far today, ACVA is trading a heavy 1 million shares, double its average daily volume of 532,000 shares.

  TTD sees potential for more on the downside.

  TTD highlighted ACVA as a short at our midsession video show on the We.

  ACVA's stock gapped lower in the morning to cut below support.

  The stock fell to an intraday low of $18.20 in the morning.

  ACVA then rallied back to $19.37 in the early afternoon.

  However, it then drifted lower in the afternoon.

   Tape Action

  ACVA's tape action shows the recent block trades.

  One can see the price for the blocks falling from $19.55 in the morning to as low as $18.37 near noon.

  A key bearish trade came in the morning when a block of 10,000 shares crossed the tape at $19.10.

  That was down from the prior block at $19.55 on 7,985 shares.

  Near the close a block of 32,842 shares crossed at $18.73.

  That was down from 19 on 6,400 shares.

   Business

 ACVA provides a digital marketplace for wholesale vehicle transactions.

The company's platform enables dealers and commercial partners to buy, sell, and value vehicles.

  It helps dealers' source and manage inventory and price their vehicles as well as process payments, transfer titles, finance and transport vehicles.

  Earnings:

  This year, analysts predict a loss of 73 cents a share. There was no prior year results.

  Looking to 2022, the Street projects a loss of 83 cents a share.

  For the upcoming third quarter, the Street expects a loss of 17 cents a share.

Charts:  

  ACVA's daily chart shows the stock trending lower from a peak at $37 in April. The drop has been very sharp so far.

  ACVA's six month performance chart shows the stock down 40% versus a gain of 18% for the stock market.   

Strategy Opinion: TTD  is targeting ACVA for a decline to $15.50 within the next few months, or sooner. A protective stop buy can be placed near $19.50.

Suitability:  Aggressive Bears.

  TTD's Stock Probability research of Prior Performance:  

   Stock's Performance Chart with Quarterly Earnings Markers vs. S&P 500

Insider Buying in Green  - Insider Selling in Red

   TTD takes no responsibility for trading by those using this information. The stocks presented in our report are those we deem the best looking "Day Trades" for the long side. We take no responsibility for the accuracy of this data, although every effort is made to present the information correctly. Copyright Ticker Tape Digest. - 2021

    TTD columnist Leo Fasciocco has covered the stock market for over 30 years. His articles appear in many publications. He has also been  a speaker at the Money Show 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: Beverly Owen at 1-480-704-3331.

   Distributed by Corona Publishing Enterprises. TickerTape Digest Inc. 1220 W. Sherri, Gilbert, Az. 85233.

  TTD “Professional Report” is available on the Web: $100 per month. Password needed. Published daily - around 20 times a month.  

 TTD Pro Report includes a Morning chart slide show of breakout stocks, a Midsession video-audio show with commentary on breakout stocks and shorts and a Final end of day overall report on breakout stocks for the session, short plays and accumulation plays.  There are other features too such as Quick Trades and Long-term Plays.  

TTD Daily Report is $39. It covers a Morning slide show of charts of stocks breaking out and a TTD end of day print report covering breakout stocks and shorts.

 Credit cards accepted. Payable to Corona Publishing Enterprises.

(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.)