Friday is here and it’s just about time for traders to retire for the weekend and analyze their portfolio’s. Here’s Ticker Report’s list of stocks to keep an eye on this morning as the final day of trading for this week is about to be underway. Pullback candidates, continued momentum plays, nobody may say for sure. What can be said, however, is that they performed during Thursday’s trading session.
Advance America, Cash Advance Centers (NYSE:AEA) shares soared amid a sale announcement to Grupo Elektra for $10.50 per share. Advance America’s CEO (Patrick O’Shaughnessy) and other “key members” of the management teams are expected to be retained after the sale. Not everyone seems to be particular happy about the deal, however, as the law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC are investigating the sale in that it may not be in the best interest for shareholders. We’ll see just how AEA reacts to that this morning at the open.
State Auto Financial (NASDAQ:STFC) rocketed yesterday after posting Q4 EPS of around two dollars better than consensus. The reported figures were $2.49 versus consensus of $0.435. STFC’s 200-day moving average was busted as shares rose and it also set a new higher high by reaching an even $16 dollars intraday versus January 4th’s $14.33.
CRA International, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRAI) shares reached a high of $27.93 yesterday before closing at $24.77 yesterday but the peculiar thing here is that volume was relatively light for so much price-action. A prime example of this oddity is comparing January 17th to yesterday. During that day in January price barely moved , however, volume was higher. Q4 earnings for CRAI turned out to be $0.40 versus consensus of $0.313. Nonetheless, CRAI closed for a 22.68% gain.
Syntel, Inc. (NASDAQ:SYNT) reported Q4 EPS of $1.05 versus consensus of $0.827 yesterday which provided some assistance to shares reaching a high of $55.49 which is a new higher high by eclipsing October 27th, 2011′s high of $51.49. With a new high in tow, the next target is the standing 52-week high of $62.03 for additional bullish bias confirmation. Lastly, SYNT broke to the upside of a consolidating triangle pattern yesterday.
Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) shares saw more volume yesterday than on any other day within the past year of trading. 4,242,649 shares were exchanged versus the 2nd highest of July 28th, 2011 which was another day when earnings were announced. Itron announced EPS of $1.19 versus consensus of $1.00. Notables regarding ITRI including a new higher high yesterday of just above the $50 dollar mark at $50.35 which broke resistance of $49.71 which ITRI failed to broke above two times in the month of July, 2011.