Financials, Historical Prices, Industry, Insider, Messages, News
Options, Profile, Reports, Research, SEC Filings

Profile:  K-Swiss Inc. designs, develops and markets athletic footwear for sports, fitness and casual wear under the K-Swiss brand. The Company also designs and manufactures footwear under the Royal Elastics and National Geographic brands.  KSWS reported record earnings and revenue on July 29^th.

What to Look For and Look Out For:  Look for support at the upward trend line as the first line of defense, with the 50-day moving average near $37 as yet another important support point of reference.  Taken in the context of a quiet August, and going into a holiday weekend, Friday’s 218,000 shares against August’s 108,000 daily average was stronger than it might at first appear.  Watch the overall action in the retail sector for continued confirmation.  A more significant increase in volume behind any further price progress would be another sign of meaningful institutional demand.

Technical Analysis: K-Swiss closed at a new high on Friday 8/29, clearing a 7-week base with what could be called a short 3-day handle.  This is not uncommon with market leaders, but after a fall back in a slightly downward sloping handle on light volume there is often a stronger case for a longer upward trend with lower risk. KSWS is sitting near its pivot point, but is not displaying the volume action usually associated with a classic breakout.  Ideally, a stock will break out with volume 50% above its daily average.  Using its typical 50-day average, Friday’s volume was barely above the mean.

Financials, Historical Prices, Industry, Insider, Messages
News, Profile, Reports, Research, SEC Filings

Profile: Metrologic Instruments Inc. designs, manufactures and markets bar code scanning and high-speed automated data capture solutions using laser, holographic and vision-based technologies. MTLG declared a 3:2 stock split effective July 7th, 2003. It proposed a public offering of additional shares on 8/1/03. On Monday, August 25th, the company raised both earnings and revenue guidance for third quarter and for the year 2003.

What to Look For and Look Out For:  Until the stock offering is completed and the market has time to digest those additional shares, MTLG may have a harder time making much progress.  It has been forming a new base since July 9^th after a very strong run up that began in November ‘02.  While earnings have been strong, expectations are equally high.  MTLG has not had consecutive down days on big volume since mid-June, and that kind of price-volume behavior would be cause for reconsidering.  It is important to have strict selling discipline, as one should realize that after having rising four-fold since April, in this kind of scenario there is always the possibility of a sharp pullback.  Where it previously faced resistance near $39 and was turned back, that is now a somewhat important chart area that will need to serve as support.

Financials, Historical Prices, Industry, Insider, Messages, News
Options, Profile, Reports, Research, SEC Filings

Profile: Coach is a designer, producer and marketer of modern American classic accessories and a leader in the high end retail industry. With an average quarterly sales increase of 33% over the year ago period in the last 4 quarters and an average quarterly earnings increase of 75% over the year ago period in the last 4 quarters, it is a company with superior fundamentals.  In addition, Coach is part of a rapidly rising industry group that is now in the top 10% of all 197 industry groups listed in IBD.  Considering that the economy is improving and the holiday season is just around the corner, this is a stock that may continue to do very well.

What to Look For and Look Out For:  This is a stock that on Friday August 29th, 2003 surpassed its resistance area of around $57 (green line).  However, it didn’t do so with heavy volume.  In the next few days look for a surge in volume as the stock rises, which would indicate the institutions are jumping aboard and signal further gains for the stock.  Consider taking half of your position now and taking the other half on a surge in volume.   However, avoid buying above the $60.38 max buy point to minimize risk of being stopped out at an 8% loss.  As always, a breach of the 50-day moving average  (blue line) with heavy volume would indicate weakness and be a likely sell signal for the stock.  Another thing to keep an eye on is the upcoming 2-for-1 split on October 2^nd.  The stock last split 14 months ago, and it could run into trouble as the float supply will double.  Let the charts tell you if you should be selling!

Technical Analysis: This is a stock that appears to have made its first big move on April 22^nd with a breakaway gap on heavy volume (always a very bullish move).  From there it has risen over 40%, where it has been consolidating for the past 7 weeks, providing an excellent entry point for the stock.

Financials, Historical Prices, Industry, Insider, Messages, News
Options, Profile, Reports, Research, SEC Filings

Profile:  Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. is the leading global supplier of automated instrument reagent systems to histology laboratories.  They develop, manufacture and market instruments and consumables that automate tissue preparation and slide staining in anatomical pathology and drug discovery laboratories.   Ventana's clinical systems are important tools used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Ventana's drug discovery systems are used to accelerate the discovery of new drug targets and evaluate the safety of new drug compounds.

What to Look For and Look Out For:  On Friday, VMSI moved past the "max buy point" for this stock by $0.07.  With a very small float, this is a stock that could move and move fast.  Keep in mind that stocks with a small float could drop as fast as they rise, so it is important to minimize risk by not chasing a stock too far past the ideal buy point.  Look for the stock to enter its buy range again before purchasing, as many stocks take a rest and/or retest prior resistance (new support) after the initial breakout before resuming their advance.  As always, a breach of the 50-day moving average (blue line) with heavy volume would be cause for concern.

Technical Analysis: VMSI is a stock that appears to have formed a long two-year base with a high handle.  On August 27th it broke through its pivot of $38.45 (green line) on decent volume, and it has continued upward and nudged just past the maximum buy point.