My "Mechanical" Stocks

I thought it would be interesting to see how my mechanical stocks have fared. For each stock, I show the date I bought it, the percentage change, and how the benchmark Russell 3000 has fared in the same time period. The top part of the table are stocks I still own and the bottom shows stocks that I sold early.

Overall I am beating the benchmark by about 9 points.

		Values
Symbol	Date	Bought	Price	Pct Gain	IWV Gain	Diff
AGX	10/22/2009	$12.31	$12.20	-0.9%	1.2%	-2.1%
AMED	9/8/2009	$35.86	$40.62	13.3%	7.6%	5.7%
BIOC	7/30/2009	$3.70	$3.95	6.8%	12.8%	-6.0%
BKE	8/17/2009	$26.66	$28.30	13.7%	12.8%	0.9%
BR	7/30/2009	$16.53	$22.69	38.1%	12.8%	25.3%
CBI	7/30/2009	$13.62	$18.52	36.0%	12.8%	23.2%
CBPO	12/4/2009	$9.15	$9.20	0.5%	0.1%	0.4%
CEU	8/26/2009	$5.40	$6.05	12.0%	7.4%	4.6%
CKSW	1/5/2009	$1.99	$5.53	177.9%	23.2%	154.7%
CMFO	10/30/2009	$4.30	$7.80	81.4%	7.2%	74.2%
ESI	11/3/2009	$93.61	$90.94	-2.9%	6.2%	-9.0%
FRX	6/9/2009	$23.10	$31.31	35.5%	18.4%	17.1%
GIGM	7/27/2009	$5.02	$3.53	-29.7%	13.2%	-42.9%
GTLS	8/27/2009	$19.50	$18.39	-5.7%	7.3%	-13.0%
HCKT	5/7/2009	$2.30	$2.72	18.3%	23.9%	-5.6%
IDCC	11/17/2009	$23.62	$25.22	6.8%	-0.2%	6.9%
JCOM	9/30/2009	$23.00	$19.49	-15.3%	4.4%	-19.7%
JTX	6/29/2009	$5.55	$5.16	-7.0%	20.5%	-27.5%
	6/30/2009	$5.41	$5.16	-4.6%	21.3%	-25.8%
PFE	6/9/2009	$14.13	$18.30	31.8%	18.4%	13.4%
PRIM	9/30/2009	$7.30	$8.16	11.8%	4.4%	7.4%
PVSW	8/18/2009	$4.96	$4.81	-3.0%	11.7%	-14.7%
QKLS	11/20/2009	$5.75	$6.35	10.4%	1.7%	8.7%
RGR	10/30/2009	$10.59	$10.05	-4.2%	7.2%	-11.4%
RTN	7/27/2009	$45.61	$52.74	16.3%	13.2%	3.1%
UTA	5/29/2009	$7.90	$9.07	14.8%	21.4%	-6.6%
WTW	9/21/2009	$26.00	$27.71	7.3%	3.2%	4.1%
Average				17.0%	10.9%	6.1%
Still Own	0
		Values
Symbol	Date	Bought	Sold	Pct Gain	IWV Gain	Diff
AHCI	1/5/2009	$1.11	$1.73	55.9%	0.2%	55.7%
DBTK	3/16/2009	$6.70	$7.05	5.2%	14.7%	-9.5%
DELL	2/23/2009	$8.55	$9.52	11.3%	6.5%	4.9%
	2/27/2009	$8.66	$9.52	10.0%	7.4%	2.5%
FRX	6/9/2009	$23.10	$29.08	25.9%	11.1%	14.8%
GME	6/22/2009	$22.64	$25.76	13.8%	24.5%	-10.7%
	6/23/2009	$20.63	$22.65	9.8%	16.5%	-6.7%
PFE	6/5/2009	$14.46	$16.27	13.6%	11.2%	2.4%
RST	5/7/2009	$58.50	$54.00	-15.3%	0.4%	-15.7%
SEPR	8/17/2009	$17.86	$23.09	29.3%	1.4%	27.9%
SOLR	2/23/2009	$4.70	$8.09	72.1%	6.5%	65.7%
UTA	6/23/2009	$8.37	$10.90	30.2%	2.7%	27.5%
VM	6/5/2009	$4.38	$5.18	18.3%	4.5%	13.8%
	6/23/2009	$3.11	$4.33	39.2%	2.7%	36.5%
	6/6/2009	$4.23	$5.18	22.5%	4.5%	18.0%
Average				22.8%	7.6%	15.1%
Open and Closed				19.1%	9.7%	9.3%

JTX Soars

Well, so far JTX has been one of my laggards. They reported earnings this morning (Jackson Hewitt Reports Fiscal 2010 Second Quarter Results). Now typically a September quarter for a tax preparation company is as exciting as wathcing the proverbial paint dry. But not so this time and the stock jumped a snappy 18%. It shows how far down I was as I am still in the red, but hopefully this will lead to bigger and better things.

My other big gainer was LIWA, which shot up another 12% on extremely high volume. The 30% spike last week was prodded by an article in IBD. I have no idea what caused 4x normal volume.

Some one asked me about GIGM. I obviously liked them as they are a holding. I haven't seen any report or earnings since I bought the stock and it has moved down quite a bit (5.02 to 3.60). They should have reported in early September and pretty soon here in December, so they're almost two reports in arrears. I can't say that fills me with confidence... usually a company at least gives an excuse "we're working on a revenue problem with our auditors" or somethng. I suspect that much longer and they could be at a risk of de-listing.

New Mechanical Stocks - December 4th

Relatively busy weekend for new mechanical stocks

CBPO was added to both top 30 and top 50 screens. This is a Chinese company that is new to the Nasdaq. Companies like this have generally had sharp run-ups of late. I did buy-in yesterday.

XOMA is a small bio-tech added to the top 50. I won't be buying thought some of these bio-techs have done well.

ARO - teen retailer, hits the top 30 list. I will consider buying. Here are my stats for the 3 companies.

		aro	cbpo	xoma
+	Operating Income After Depreciation	337.00	45.31	26.02
-	Minority Interest - Income Account	-	11.72	-
=	Income for Calculation	337.00	33.59	26.02
	Diluted Shares Outstanding	67.991	21.633	172.762
	Share Price	28.95	9.06	0.72
+	Market Cap Calc	1,968.34	195.99	124.30
+	Preferred Capital	-	-	0.00
+	Debt in Current Liabilities	-	18.58	-
+	Long-Term Debt	-	0.05	13.13
	Cash and Short-Term Investments	285.63	50.35	27.73
-	Excess Cash	283.76	50.35	7.17
=	Enterprise Value	1,684.58	164.27	130.26
+	Property Plant and Equipment - Net	262.33	27.85	21.79
+	Receivables	-	2.44	3.20
+	Inventories	221.52	33.22	-
+	Other Current Assests	43.24	1.58	1.33
+	Working Cash	1.86	-	20.56
-	Accounts Payable	144.56	3.61	2.66
-	Current Liabilities - Other	122.05	33.56	22.43
=	Invested Capital	262.33	27.93	21.79
	Earnings Yield	20%	20%	20%
	ROIC	128%	120%	119%

Here is an update on my top 50 list:

Symbol		Original	Current	Dividend	S&P O	S&P D	Stock Chg	S&P Chg	Diff
DDMX	12/13/08	11.13	18.35	-	88.99	2.31	64.9%	27.3%	37.5%
PSOF	12/13/08	2.74	5.11	-	88.99	2.31	86.5%	27.3%	59.2%
ITWO	12/27/08	5.61	18.74	-	87.16	1.59	234.0%	29.2%	204.9%
JOYG	12/27/08	21.95	53.00	-	87.16	1.59	141.5%	29.2%	112.3%
TRMS	12/27/08	1.03	3.31	-	87.16	1.59	221.4%	29.2%	192.2%
CTGX	1/3/09	3.18	6.94	-	92.96	1.59	118.2%	21.1%	97.1%
PMD	1/3/09	6.44	5.65	-	92.96	1.59	-12.3%	21.1%	-33.4%
HPY	1/24/09	8.54	11.54	-	83.11	1.59	35.1%	35.5%	-0.3%
HLIT	1/31/09	5.15	5.55	-	82.83	1.59	7.8%	35.9%	-28.2%
HGT	1/31/09	13.06	16.04	0.36	82.83	1.59	25.6%	35.9%	-10.4%
CNU	2/8/09	1.96	3.40	-	86.98	1.59	73.5%	29.4%	44.0%
SJT	2/8/09	19.05	17.12	0.29	86.98	1.59	-8.6%	29.4%	-38.1%
SGU	2/8/09	2.55	3.83	0.07	86.98	1.59	52.9%	29.4%	23.4%
TC	2/8/09	4.33	11.63	-	86.98	1.59	168.6%	29.4%	139.1%
bioc	2/14/09	3.72	3.99	-	82.76	1.59	7.3%	36.1%	-28.8%
FORR	2/14/09	17.56	25.09	-	82.76	1.59	42.9%	36.1%	6.8%
ZYXI.OB	2/14/09	1.20	1.25	-	82.76	1.59	4.2%	36.1%	-31.9%
FRD	2/21/09	4.95	5.79	-	77.42	1.59	17.0%	45.4%	-28.5%
SOLR	2/21/09	4.22	5.01	-	77.42	1.59	18.7%	45.4%	-26.7%
MTXX	2/21/09	17.90	4.16	-	77.42	1.59	-76.8%	45.4%	-122.2%
TYPE	2/21/09	3.02	8.00	-	77.42	1.59	164.9%	45.4%	119.5%
PTIE	2/21/09	5.41	5.27	-	77.42	1.59	-2.6%	45.4%	-48.0%
PDO	2/21/09	3.19	4.61	-	77.42	1.59	44.5%	45.4%	-0.9%
SAPE	2/21/09	3.38	7.52	-	77.42	1.59	122.5%	45.4%	77.1%
VDSI	2/21/09	5.25	6.71	-	77.42	1.59	27.8%	45.4%	-17.6%
IGTE	2/21/09	2.99	9.45	-	77.42	1.59	216.1%	45.4%	170.6%
DECK	2/28/09	41.27	97.81	-	73.93	1.59	137.0%	52.3%	84.7%
KTII	2/28/09	55.48	102.10	-	73.93	1.59	84.0%	52.3%	31.7%
INT	2/28/09	29.01	52.59	-	73.93	1.59	81.3%	52.3%	29.0%
ICAD	2/28/09	0.90	1.55	-	77.42	1.59	72.2%	45.4%	26.8%
EXBD	3/6/09	12.96	21.58	-	68.92	1.59	66.5%	63.4%	3.1%
DISH	3/6/09	9.27	21.20	-	68.92	1.59	128.7%	63.4%	65.3%
QLTI	3/6/09	1.41	4.73	-	68.92	1.59	235.5%	63.4%	172.1%
SRDX	3/6/09	16.87	23.09	-	68.92	1.59	36.9%	63.4%	-26.5%
INFI	4/16/09	5.83	6.08	-	87.08	1.03	4.3%	28.7%	-24.4%
CRAY	5/1/09	3.98	6.99	-	87.89	1.03	75.6%	27.5%	48.2%
TWX	5/1/09	22.84	31.42	-	87.89	1.03	37.6%	27.5%	10.1%
RST	5/1/09	29.83	18.05	-	87.89	1.03	-39.5%	27.5%	-67.0%
ulcm	5/1/09	8.72	8.60	-	87.89	1.03	-1.4%	27.5%	-28.8%
AAV	5/15/09	3.41	5.61	-	88.71	1.03	64.5%	26.3%	38.2%
AMED	5/29/09	30.43	38.30	-	92.53	1.03	25.9%	21.1%	4.8%
UTA	5/29/09	7.90	10.50	-	92.53	1.03	32.9%	21.1%	11.8%
PFE	6/5/09	14.51	18.49	-	94.55	1.03	27.4%	18.5%	8.9%
VM	6/5/09	4.55	5.50	-	94.55	1.03	20.9%	18.5%	2.4%
ONTY	6/11/09	2.60	4.85	-	95.08	1.03	86.5%	17.8%	68.7%
BPI	6/19/09	16.74	14.49	-	92.04	0.51	-13.4%	21.2%	-34.6%
GME	6/19/09	22.95	21.33	-	92.04	0.51	-7.1%	21.2%	-28.2%
SHAW	7/10/09	23.69	28.88	-	87.96	0.51	21.9%	26.8%	-4.9%
RTN	7/24/09	45.39	52.65	-	98.06	0.51	16.0%	13.7%	2.3%
CBZ	7/31/09	6.54	7.21	-	98.81	0.51	10.2%	12.9%	-2.6%
CBI	7/31/09	13.95	17.79	-	98.81	0.51	27.5%	12.9%	14.7%
DRC	7/31/09	29.11	28.12	-	98.81	0.51	-3.4%	12.9%	-16.3%
JEC	7/31/09	40.98	34.94	-	98.81	0.51	-14.7%	12.9%	-27.6%
NPSP	7/31/09	3.89	3.48	-	98.81	0.51	-10.5%	12.9%	-23.4%
ASGN	7/31/09	4.23	6.92	-	98.81	0.51	63.6%	12.9%	50.7%
AGX	8/7/09	12.35	12.83	-	98.81	0.51	3.9%	12.9%	-9.0%
BBND	8/7/09	4.00	3.43	-	98.81	0.51	-14.3%	12.9%	-27.1%
LHCG	8/7/09	24.55	31.59	-	98.81	0.51	28.7%	12.9%	15.8%
RGR	8/7/09	11.45	10.64	-	98.81	0.51	-7.1%	12.9%	-19.9%
PRIM	8/7/09	6.95	7.91	-	100.79	0.51	13.8%	10.6%	3.2%
SEPR	8/7/09	18.12	23.00	-	100.79	0.51	26.9%	10.6%	16.3%
CEU	8/21/09	5.10	6.00	-	102.96	0.51	17.6%	8.3%	9.3%
CYTK	8/21/09	3.04	3.25	-	102.96	0.51	6.9%	8.3%	-1.4%
CMFO	8/28/09	4.55	7.14	-	102.96	0.51	56.9%	8.3%	48.6%
NAVR	9/4/09	1.79	2.18	-	102.60	0.51	22.0%	8.7%	13.3%
WTW	9/11/09	26.00	28.01	-	104.77	0.51	7.7%	6.4%	1.3%
MIPS	9/18/09	3.72	3.82	-	106.72	0.51	2.7%	4.5%	-1.8%
ESI	10/30/09	90.35	85.88	-	103.56	-	-4.9%	7.2%	-12.1%
VRSK	10/30/09	27.43	28.43	-	103.56	-	3.6%	7.2%	-3.5%
APOL	11/6/09	55.99	54.76	-	107.13	-	-2.2%	3.6%	-5.8%
CBST	11/6/09	17.60	18.18	-	107.13	-	3.3%	3.6%	-0.3%
SNTA	11/6/09	3.20	4.46	-	107.13	-	39.4%	3.6%	35.8%
IMMU	11/6/09	3.61	3.41	-	107.13	-	-5.5%	3.6%	-9.2%
PBH	11/13/09	6.95	7.16	-	109.62	-	3.0%	1.3%	1.8%
IDCC	11/20/09	23.56	25.29	-	109.43	-	7.3%	1.4%	5.9%
PDLI	11/27/09	6.63	6.37	-	109.57	-	-3.9%	1.3%	-5.2%
CBPO	12/4/09	9.06	9.06	-	111.01	-	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
XOMA	12/4/09	0.72	0.72	-	111.01	-	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
						Top 50 Portfolio
						Totals	19.0%	1.3%	17.6%
51.6% of stocks beat the S&P 500 Benchmark						Closed	6.9%	-11.2%	18.1%
S&P C			111.01			Open	41.9%	25.1%	16.8%

Stuck in Neutral

Lots of action/jackson for individual stocks, but my MFI portfolio has gone absolutely nowhere since 9/23. In the meantime, the benchmarks have moved upwards. Has MFI lost its mojo? I have mentioned before that MFI is streaky, extremely streaky. I had said many times before that one thing to watch for MFI was the M&A space. I don't know if it is because we're approaching the holidays or whether the market is a bit extended, but M&A activity seems to me to be slowing down a bit.

During the week, LIWA (+34%) was my big gainer, then software companies CKSW and PVSW were up about 9% along with KHD, GTLS and HCKT were up well also.

Here is my overall portfolio

QXM	78%
WILC	160%
KHD	33%
UEPS	48%
CKSW	183%
LIWA	31%
CMFO	66%
BR	40%
UTA	33%
HCKT	27%
CBI	31%
PFE	33%
CSKI	34%
ENDP	25%
RTN	16%
FRX	35%
AIRV	6%
CEU	11%
TSRA	9%
QKLS	10%
BIOC	8%
IDCC	7%
WTW	8%
PRIM	8%
AMED	7%
AGX	4%
PVSW	6%
RGR	0%
BKE	8%
CBPO	-1%
KSW	-7%
GTLS	-6%
ESI	-8%
JCOM	-9%
QCOR	-17%
GIGM	-22%
WH	-17%
JTX	-25%
CHCG	-55%

Yee-Hah! Li-Wa!

I have been investing for more years than I care to state. But today I set a record. I had my best ever single day gain with a stock.

LIWA shot up 33%. I already had a chunk in my MFI portfolio, and I had added a second position (outside my MFI portfolio) after they mysteriously dipped post their 3q earnings. It'll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

With LIWA flying high, QXM up about 9% (I think due to their becoming independent from XING) and CMFO up 8% is was a huge day for my MFI portfolio, up about 2.2% in a flattish kind of day.

I did add a new stock Monday, TSRA. I like the space that they're in, even if they weren't new per my mechanical portfolio list (they were new May 1st and are up 70% since then). I also sold my GME last week (prematurely). I had been spooked by the Barron's article which insinuated that Video game stores would eventually go the way of CD stores and video rental stores as people get more and more directly online. Turned out to be a savvy move for the wrong reason as GME dropped 8% today as WalMart signaled a video game price war.

Here is my current portfolio, note I haven't added the TSRA position yet:

QXM	93%
WILC	164%
UEPS	52%
LIWA	33%
KHD	27%
CKSW	170%
CMFO	56%
UTA	34%
BR	38%
CBI	31%
PFE	35%
ENDP	34%
CSKI	33%
HCKT	21%
FRX	37%
RTN	14%
AIRV	7%
CEU	13%
QKLS	11%
BIOC	7%
IDCC	6%
WTW	7%
PRIM	7%
AMED	6%
RGR	5%
BKE	12%
AGX	2%
PVSW	2%
KSW	-3%
ESI	-6%
JCOM	-12%
GTLS	-12%
QCOR	-20%
GIGM	-20%
WH	-20%
JTX	-22%
CHCG	-53%