US Banks – Breakout

After consolidating from mid-December to mid-February, we’re now seeing US financials breakout again to the upside.

Using Goldman Sachs as a leading indicator to US financials, we form a view that it’s best to stay with the upside momentum until we see a downturn in price which takes-out the recent minor higher low at $245.

Whilst we struggle to see the EPS support for US equity valuations, momentum remains very strong. March quarter earnings to be announced in 4 weeks may provide a reason for investor’s buying enthusiasm to  pause.

Chart — Goldman Sachs
Chart – JP Morgan
Chart – Citi Group

 

Value Emerging in AMC and BXB

Following the sell-off in both AMC and BXB , we now are looking for buying support at or near the current levels. Our short-term momentum indicators have not yet turned positive but we’re likely getting close to valuation support, where increased buying will occur.

We see value in AMC at $14.00.

Chart – AMC

We see value in BXB at $9.25

Chart – BXB

Harvey Norman

Harvey Norman announced a record H1 result after property valuations and strong furniture and appliance sales lifted the company’s net profit by 39% to $257.3 million.

Underlying pre-tax profit rose 20.6% to 290.49 million, which is the highest first-half result in the retailer’s 30-year history.

The company declared an interim dividend of 14 cents (fully franked), which is up 1 cent on the same time last year.

Construction Arm Boosts Lendlease

Shares of property group Lendlease popped to an 18-month high of $15.84 in early trade as the company announced a sharp increase in after tax profit.

For the six months ending December 31st, Lendlease posted a 12% rise in net profit to $394.8 million.

The stronger result was largely based on the 40% increase in earnings for their construction division, with their investment and development divisions posting pretty much unchanged results from last year.

The company announced an interim dividend of 33 cents per share (fully franked), which was slightly higher than the street’s expectation of 30 cents per share.

The company’s return on equity for the last six months reached 13.7%, which is at the upper end of their 10 to 14% target guidance.