Potential Short Setups

The darn REITs are in free fall and there is no let up, same for Capital One (COF), same for the newspapers, same for the casinos, most retailers.... and we apparently missed the most recent chance at Harley Davidson (HOG). Hard to "pile on" such death spiral set ups - at least for me.

Here are some of the names I am considering...

Signet Jewelers (SIG) which we've been discussing for a while here - another consumer play; the main issue for my purposes is lack of volume - only 200K a day which makes it hard for me to get in and out of. But it's now bounced to resistance. If this one worked out it could fall to that gap at $6.25

Almost Family (AFAM) this was a "general" in late 2008 that has simply been taken apart the past month... bouncing into resistance


Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRAA) - basically a debt collection company that is trying to collect debts from cash starved Americans. The chart has been a death spiral - every day I've been waiting for some bounce and it has not come. Finally reversed today on ok earnings. It bounced right into resistence this morning and fell back. We'll see how it acts Monday.

Also as a fundamental sector short are transportation stocks - here is a trucker

Last, after the disaster that was Royal Caribbean (RCL) [Jan 28: Royal Caribbean to $1?] - a reader pointed out competitor Carnival (CCL) which is now reversing down and enticing...


If you have any similar ideas feel free to leave a comment and I'll take a look over this weekend. I'm a bit naked on the short side going into next week so my only hope appears to be Kool Aid and mustard seeds...

No positions