ECST - float 3.4/short int 51% - bounce time?

[mystiky]

I noticed that ECST (eCost.com) has been trending quite a bit lower lately.
What is interesting is that the float is only 3.4 million shares.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=ECST

and as of the latest Nasdaq short numbers (December 15), it seems that over 1.7 million shares are short. Thats over 51% of the float!

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_full.asp?mode=&kind=shortint&symbol=WFII&symbol=ANGO&symbol=ECST&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&FormType=&mkttype=&pathname=&page=short&selected=ECST

The stock has not been downgraded, and has 3 institutional followings (William Blair, Meriman and Thinkequity).

Perhaps this one is due for a bounce towards 15-16 levels. It has now almost filled the gap. Also,the volume has been slowing on the downside.

BTW: ECost is sort of like Overstock.com - plus they have a Travel department.

All comments appreciated!

[New-born baby]

Ecst

Mystiky,

I like what you posted. It has to bounce sometime, but of course, the question is when. All shorters must become buyers sooner or later, and when that happens, I think you'll know it. It might even experience a "breakout!" I am going to watch for a day/swing trade in this stock when I see the volume moving upwards along witht the price.

[diz]

quality of ecost

I noticed that ECST (eCost.com) has been trending quite a bit lower lately.
What is interesting is that the float is only 3.4 million shares.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=ECST

and as of the latest Nasdaq short numbers (December 15), it seems that over 1.7 million shares are short. Thats over 51% of the float!

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_full.asp?mode=&kind=shortint&symbol=WFII&symbol=ANGO&symbol=ECST&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&FormType=&mkttype=&pathname=&page=short&selected=ECST

The stock has not been downgraded, and has 3 institutional followings (William Blair, Meriman and Thinkequity).

Perhaps this one is due for a bounce towards 15-16 levels. It has now almost filled the gap. Also,the volume has been slowing on the downside.

BTW: ECost is sort of like Overstock.com - plus they have a Travel department.

All comments appreciated!

I dunno if you've ever used ecost, but it's a crappy company. I've ordered from them, and they take forever to ship, they say things are in stock when they're not, they give bad estimates for product arrivals, their support staff is sub par. I have not tried holding them to any rebates, but have read nightmare stories about them. Now a company CAN turn around, but I'd consider reading recent customer ratings first:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1932.html

I will say their prices are decent.

Might be a great play if you can get in at the right time and swing it, but unsure about the long term perspective.

[mystiky]

ECST & customer support vs. stock trading

Thanks for your input on ECST as a customer who has used it. I am sure that all of these co's (like OSTK, MALL, etc...) have a share of their problems.

But in my opinion, I am looking at the technical performance of the stock. I have no doubts that they blew away the earning estimates for this past quarter, and when the results are posted, it will pop 15%-20%. The only thing is trying to pick a bottom. And to me, it is very, very near.

[mooddude]

If history is any clue, then the maximum jump of 19% on big volume seemed to happen on 11/15/04. Volume was 1.65 million shares. Now even if all 1.7 million short positions are to be covered in one day it will be about the same increase. I doubt that they will all be covered on the same day. Selling kicked in lately, that may cut down possible spikes, too.

P.S. Did I say TOO

[mystiky]

ECST finally fills the gap

looks like the gap from November 3 of 11.41 was practically filled today when ECST touched an intraday low of 11.61. And it was done on pretty high volume (comparable to the last 10 days of trading), and ECST managed to close at 12.14.

To me, a technical bounce should start with a resistance being around 13.50 - 14.00.

Remember that ECST has more than 50% of its trading float short and it is on the newly released "regulation SHO" list of Nasdaq stocks.

[New-born baby]

Yeah

Mysticky,
I think you are right.

[mystiky]

ECST last 2 days

looks like the volume is increasing on ECST and it is closing higher and higher each of the last 3 days. Todays volume had a nice "rebound" to it, with a close near the days high.

Since AAPL had awesome numbers, looks like some of these online stores should do quite well tommorow.

My target of $13.50 still stands on ECST.

And yes, it still remains on the Regulation SHO list ( http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/aspx/regsho.aspx )