Admans outlook

[Adman]

Here are a few to watch this week:
TSM, Taiwan Semiconductor
DEAR, Dearborn Bancorp
MU, Micron Tech
APAGF, APCO Argentina

An eclectic mix, each is poised to move upward in the coming weeks. With the exception of APAGF, I am looking for a 10% gain on each by the end of the quarter. APAGF, I am looking for around a 7% rise, then some leveling. I will probably be making this a long term hold, replacing my position in OXY with it.

DISCLOSURE: I have a limit in (since Thursday) for APAGF, I am long in OXY and picked up Micron this morning.

[Adman]

Late entry for Monday 4/17:

TRCI, Technology Research Corp, at 6.36, looks fairly attractive.
Black in all the right spots, it has been in a bit of a pullback, and I think we are ready to see it regain its’ upward momentum.
I would not make this a core holding, but from what I am seeing, this $6.36 stock belongs on the 7 to 7.25 range.

[IIC]

I don't know how you found it or why you liked it...But your FIA looks good here...Doug(IIC)

[Adman]

I don't know how you found it or why you liked it...But your FIA looks good here...Doug(IIC)

Thanks. Here is the original post from 4/4:

The first is Fiat, FIA. I know all the old jokes about them, and have 2 good reasons for them: The real deal is they are returning to some solid black numbers after 5 years in deep red. The second reason: Saturday night I ran into an old friend at a restaurant in Sea Bright. His family runs a very successful auto group in Monmouth County, and he brought up Fiat, and was comparing them to the Mini Coopers. He has been experiencing great success with sales of the Mini Coop, and is now expanding his franchise to include the Fiat brand later this year. He went on to indicate that Fiat was experiencing a North American re-birth, and will be targeting the youth market with sleek, sporty affordable cars, ones that will compete with Mini Cooper and the Scion for that segment of the market.
With FIA hovering around 13, it’s near the 52 week high (for that matter, a 36 month high), it may well be a nice long-term buy.

[Adman]

Better late than never, as they say.
My apologies for not getting theses up this morning, as there has been some run up in a couple of my picks today, but there is still some room left at the top, on each:

MYL, Mylan Labs with their strong pipeline and upcoming earnings announcement, I think we should be able to hit 23.75 or so by late June, netting around 10%. Earnings come out on May 9th, after the close.

SAFT, Safety Insurance. I think the P&C carriers are coming back into favor. SAFT has close to 12% of the market share in Massachusetts, and the future is looking bright for them, I still like them at 45, and hope to see 49 by third quarter. Unfortunately, I really liked them this morning at 43.5, but did not get the word out fast enough. Lots of institutional investors are on this, including managers from Putnam, JP Morgan, American Century Franklin and others. One to keep an eye on.

WWW, Wolverine Group. Just keep an eye out here, don’t rush off to buy yet, look for a little pullback from today’s enthusiasm. I had this to post this morning, to get an order in at 8AM, but missed out. It went out at 20.73 and opened at $23.18, and is now at 23.70, for a whopping 15%! I still like these guys, but am looking to pick them up closer to 23.20.

WFR, MEMC Electronic Materials. This was a fave of mine for a long time. It popped up today about 5%, but still see room to move here. Look for a mid year target of $47.

As always, do your own research, and determine if these picks will work in your portfolio. I do not have an interest in any of the above picks.

Follow up note: Today I sold off the rest of my position in BHP, netting a cool 26% in 5 weeks. I also sold off my TTM, IFN, LVS, NTN and ACSEF, all at healthy double-digit profits, except IFN (I’ve held that for over 4 years, do the math).

[Adman]

Additional disclosure:

Today, I increased my position (significantly) in Nanogen, bringing my cost basis to $2.77. I still believe we will see NGEN reach $3.33 (20% above where it is today) by mid-summer.
I know this goes against logic, but I am taking this as a strong gut play.

[Adman]

Take a look at SCST, SCS Transport. They've been on a steady upword ride, and could have another $3-4.5 before it peaks.

[Adman]

Keep an eye on WEX for next week. I am expecting a move from Winland very soon.
Have a great weekend!

[Rob]

Imcl

IMCL is fixin' to bust wide open on rumors of a bid to buy the company. Supposedly all bids are due in on Monday.

A word of caution though, this stock has had many such moves that turned out to be head fakes. One of these days it's going to be the real deal. Could this be the one?

[Websman]

Adman...You on vacation? I'm missing your great posts.

[IIC]

I think Adman said he was going somewhere...But I miss him too...I wanted to know what he thought about ICOC which I loaded up on this morning???...IIC

[New-born baby]

I think Adman said he was going somewhere...But I miss him too...I wanted to know what he thought about ICOC which I loaded up on this morning???...IIC

Methinks ICOC retests the $5.75 marker . . . .
Doug, How about listing for us all your Ethanol plays? I mean, besides ADM. How about sugar based ethanol? And anything else that you know about. I know that your knowledge in investing is very extensive. Thanks!

[IIC]

Methinks ICOC retests the $5.75 marker . . . .
Doug, How about listing for us all your Ethanol plays? I mean, besides ADM. How about sugar based ethanol? And anything else that you know about. I know that your knowledge in investing is very extensive. Thanks!

I don't know "Jack" about ethanol...I didn't like ADM...I liked MGPI...Made about 5% and got out at 21ish...Well, I do know it has something to do w/ replacing MT whatever...

[IIC]

Methinks ICOC retests the $5.75 marker . . . .
Doug, How about listing for us all your Ethanol plays? I mean, besides ADM. How about sugar based ethanol? And anything else that you know about. I know that your knowledge in investing is very extensive. Thanks!

Hey...you missed it by a penny

[Adman]

I am on vacation, but popped in to see what is going on.
I don't have the time to write up a full diatribe on these, but here are two that I am looking at for some up ticks over the next 2-3 months:

MIKR, Micron Infrared; Their sales force seem to be visiting the R&D departments at every major player in the cell phone, PDA & other tech hardware cos.

The patience play is with LaJolla Pharm, LJPC. At some point, this $6 stock will get back to $6, but it will probably take 4-6 months, so now at $4.25 it's looking good. Anything over $5 a share here will be pure gravy. If you pick this one up, put it in the back of the closet and wait. For those of you on the conservative side, put a limit in to sell at 5.11, and take your 20%

ICOC: Funny you should mention that, as this is one that I have watched for a little while now, and like it. It is hard to say where the top end could be, but around $6, I think you'll do OK. I actually put a it on my watch list back in late December, and picked up a substantial position the first week of January, and sold off 50% of my position on March 23rd, and have serious regrets in doing so.

Along that line, I must emphatically stress that you research ALJ, ALON USA Energy. If trends continue on the path they are currently following, I really expect you should see $39-41 by year-end. As the seers would say, the planets are aligned here.

I will be out of pocket for the rest of the week, and will be heading to New Orleans for the jazz fest, and BTW-Ernie, I'll be at the Bruce gig Sunday!

DISCLOSURE & DISCLAIMER: I am long (but down) in LJPC. I am also long in ICOC, ALJ and have a GTC limit in to buy MIKR.
As always, please do your own research before taking a position in any of the stocks I list here.