Tag - Ftbk

One of the fastest moving sectors in the small-cap universe has been regional bank stocks. This week alone stocks like Frontier Financial (NASDAQ: FTBK), Hampton Roads Bankshares (NASDAQ: HMPR), and Bank of Granite (NASDAQ: GRAN) are moving sharply higher on high volume as traders and investors alike begin to see stabilization in the sector. Many small-cap bank stocks were priced for failure, and when the probability of bankruptcy declines, the surge in share price can be enormous.

If you dip a toe and start buying shares in stocks in this sector, be sure you do some due diligence and research the stock first. Financial stocks require their own type of analysis such as looking at reserves for loan losses, capital levels, and non-performing loans. But now is a good time to begin assembling a watch list. There will still be plenty of time to get into the best banks and those that survive are likely to see their share prices trend higher as they get back to full health.

Frontier Financial Corp Washington (Nasdaq:FTBK), Thomas Weisel Partners Group Inc (Nasdaq:TWPG), Mays JW Inc (Nasdaq:MAYS) and CPEX Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:CPEX) are among the biggest percentage Gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

 

Also included among the results: Landrys Restaurants Inc (Nasdaq:LNY), Ameriana Bancorp (Nasdaq:ASBI), Colony Bankcorp Inc (Nasdaq:CBAN), Travelzoo Inc (Nasdaq:TZOO) and First M&F Corp (Nasdaq:FMFC).

Frontier Financial Corp Washington (Nasdaq:FTBK), Hovaninan Enterprises Inc (Nasdaq:HOV), Chian Security and Survelliance Technology Inc (Nasdaq:CSR) and Thomas Weisel Partners Group Inc (Nasdaq:TWPG) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Protection One Inc (Nasdaq:PONE), Beazer Homes USA Inc (Nasdaq:BZH), Sequnom Inc (Nasdaq:SQNM), Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc (Nasdaq:BEE) and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc (Nasdaq:EGLE).

Stocks closed down today in all of the major U.S. indices. The Dow closed down 25.92 points to end at 9,070.80; the Nasdaq ended at 1,967.76, down 7.75 points; and the S&P 500 moved downward 4.48 points to close at 975.44.

The Russell 2000 ended the day at 549.54, down 2.56 points.

Small-cap gainers were lead by American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL) up 50% to close at $2.02. Other small-cap share price gainers Elron Electronic Industries (Nasdaq:ELRN) up 45%; McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) up 44%; and Conseco (NYSE:CNO) up 36%.

Small-cap decliners were lead by Frontier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FTBK) down 21% on announcing Q2 losses of $1.06 per share versus gains of $0.04 a year ago. Joining FTBK in leading decliners today were THQ (Nasdaq:THQI) down 19%; Alvarion (Nasdaq:ALVR) down 17%; and Ariad Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ARIA) down 16%.

*****With the exception of the Nasdaq, the major indices finished yesterday with slight losses. And it looks like an even money bet whether they'll finish in the red today. We've seen an unlikely move over the last two weeks. The S&P 500 has made gains in 9 of the last 11 sessions and moved 11.3% higher. Volume hasn't been especially strong during this move, but it is summer. Volume is always a bit lighter in the summer.

It seems more and more strategist-types are looking for a pullback or correction for stocks. Yesterday, CNBC's Jim Cramer said he was expecting some red. Of course, Cramer makes so many calls it's hard to keep them all straight.

For the record, Cramer says he likes healthcare stocks, technology and financials, believe it or not. He says financials are so universally hated that they will be stronger than average in the event of a pullback. That's the "no one left to sell" theory.

I'm not so sure. The banks have been given time to earn their way back to health. And it could work. But a lot depends on the housing market. Many banks still carry toxic assets. And their reluctance to sell into Geithner's PPIP suggests they remain hopeful these assets will regain value. If they don't, it could be problematic. And then there's the commercial real estate situation we've been discussing.

******Did you know I'm about to publish my first book? The Small Cap Investor: Secrets to Winning Big with Small Cap Stocks will hit the shelves on September 14.

In The Small Cap Investor, I share the proven techniques for uncovering the small cap companies poise for a huge run higher. My biggest success was apparel company True Religion (Nasdaq:TRLG). I recommended that stock to my readers at $1.13 a share. We sold it in 2008 for 2,216% gains. My techniques have also led my SmallCapInvestor PRO advisory service to a 93% win rate this year.

Now, I need your help. As part of the marketing plan for my book, we are holding a T-shirt contest. I want you to be the one who comes with the slogan for The Small Cap Investor: Secrets to Winning Big with Small Cap Stocks T-shirt.

Obviously, "Secrets to Winning Big with Small Cap Stocks" is taken. But slogan's like "I made a 142% on Gulfport Energy and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" or "Ian Wyatt: The Best Small Investor" are open.

We'll be holding the voting on the Small Cap Investor page on Facebook starting today and running through August 9th. You can leave your submissions there, or send them to tshirt@smallcapinvestor.com.

The winner will get their very own shirt plus a full-year subscription to SmallCapInvestor PRO. This should be a lot of fun. I hope you'll participate.

******China is in the news again. Overnight, the Shanghai Composite fell 5%, the biggest drop in eight months. Investors are nervous on reports that the Chinese government may be discussing clamping down on lending due to the potential for imbalances to occur.

Specifically, Bloomberg is reporting that the Chinese government is concerned that asset bubbles may be forming in the stock market and that inflation may be building.

Chinese stocks are reportedly trading at 35 times reported earnings. And that is expensive. But interestingly, the Chinese stocks in the SmallCapInvestor PRO portfolio are trading with Price-to-Earnings ratios between 8 and 11. That's much cheaper than most Chinese stocks, apparently, and one of the reasons we recommended them.

Of course, valuations won't keep our stocks from declining if the Chinese stock market takes a hit. But Chinese stocks are recovering today after last night's sell-off, so that's a good sign.

If you're interested in finding out more about the Chinese stocks in the SmallCapInvestor PRO portfolio click here to get a copy of the report.

*****Finally, Top Stock Insights reader took 35% gains yesterday on Chinese medical device maker called Mindray (NYSE:MR). I love the science fiction name, but couldn't resist taking the gains.

Best Regards,

Ian Wyatt
Editor
SCI Daily

Horace Mann Educators Corp. (Nasdaq:HMN), Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (Nasdaq:EYE) and Mid Penn Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:MPB) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Sterling Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:STSA), LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LFG), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), Frontier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FTBK), Preferred Bank (Nasdaq:PFBC) and Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:YAVY).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

<strong>Perfumania Holdings Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq<a href="/ticker/perf">:PERF</a>),<strong> FirstFed Financial Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/fed">FED</a>) and <strong>Orthofix International NV</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/ofix">OFIX</a>) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.<br /> <br /> Also included among the results:<strong> Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/svnt">SVNT</a>), <strong>Echelon Corp</strong>. (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/elon">ELON</a>), <strong>Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/exm">EXM</a>), <strong>Frontier Financial Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/ftbk">FTBK</a>), <strong>Consolidated Water Co Ltd. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/cwco">CWCO</a>) and <strong>American Reprographics Co. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/arp">ARP</a>).<br /> <br /> Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. (Nasdaq:AGM), Trico Bancshares (Nasdaq:TCBK) and Ambac Financial Group (Nasdaq:AKT) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: MGIC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:MTG), Frontier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FTBK), MF Global Ltd. (Nasdaq:MF), Pzena Investment Management Inc. (Nasdaq:PZN), Corus Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:CORS) and CoBiz Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:COBZ).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

China Precision Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:CPSL), Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT) and China Sunergy Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:CSUN) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.           

Also included among the results: Frontier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FTBK), Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU), Given Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIVN), AgFeed Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:FEED), Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT) and Digi International Inc. (Nasdaq:DGII).   

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:           
        

Banner Corp (Nasdaq:BANR), West Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:WTBA) and Spreadtrum Communications Inc (Nasdaq:SPRD) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Pharmaxis Ltd (Nasdaq:PXSL), Myers Industries Inc (Nasdaq:MYE), First National Bancshares Inc (SC) (Nasdaq:FNSC), AMERICAN RIVER Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB), Winnebago Industries Inc (Nasdaq:WGO) and Frontier Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FTBK).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

Banner Corp (Nasdaq:BANR), Frontier Finl Corp (Nasdaq:FTBK) and Ocwen Financial Corp (Nasdaq:OCN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cytori Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:CYTX), Winnebago Industries Inc (Nasdaq:WGO), Aristotle Corp (Nasdaq:ARTL), Beach First National Bank (SC) (Nasdaq:BFNB), INX Inc (Nasdaq:INXI) and Myers Industries Inc (Nasdaq:MYE).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Sequenom Inc (Nasdaq:SQNM), Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL) and OMNI Energy Services Corp (Nasdaq:OMNI) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Frontier Finl Corp (Nasdaq:FTBK), Medarex Inc (Nasdaq:MEDX) and Human Genome Sciences Inc (Nasdaq:HGSI) are also among the most actively traded companies.

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps: