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Stock Showdown Part II, Home Depot Versus Lowe's
A Technical and Sentiment Comparison of Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW)
Yesterday, I compared the two largest retailers on a technical and sentiment basis. Today, I am turning my technical and sentiment microscope to the world of home improvement, as I examine both Home Depot (NYSE:HD) and Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW) from a technical and sentiment perspective.
First things first; Hoover's states that HD is the world's largest home improvement chain and the second-largest retailer in the U.S. (following only Wal-Mart (WMT), one of yesterday's subjects). HD operates more than 2,000 stores in each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. LOW is the second-largest home improvement chain in the U.S., boasting 1,250 superstores in 49 states. The company has announced plans to expand into Canada in 2007. The twin titans of tack hammers were in the news yesterday after Goldman Sachs downgraded HD while upgrading LOW. Thanks to the brokerage move, HD lost more than one percent while LOW added more than 0.5 percent. Today, HD has shed an additional one percent as LOW has lost more than two percent.
Technically, the past two days have pushed HD below prior support at the 36 level. The stock may find a bit of resistance at this level, as former support has a tendency to switch roles and act as resistance when given the chance. Looking at the daily chart below, I see two major areas of concern. The first is the 37.50 level, which is the site of peak call open interest in the October and November option series, which could act as resistance (for an explanation of why this is true, click here). In addition, HD's 10-day moving average is slightly below the 37.50 level and appears to have rolled over and is pointing lower.
Further potential resistance is found on a monthly chart for HD as well. The shares have retreated from their 10-month moving average during the past seven months; this is an upsetting development for two reasons. The first is that this trendline acted as support in the past, which could lend a bit of resolve to its new position as resistance. The second reason is that, like its 10-day counterpart, this trendline is in the process of descending in the general area of 37.50. This double-barreled resistance could be more than the shares can overcome. Now, there is some measure of potential support in the form of HD's half-high of 35. Unfortunately, a breach of this level could result in its assumption of the mantle of resistance.
The 35.00 level may be the only reliable support that HD can find, as one percent of its float is sold short, and it would take two days to buy back these shorted shares at HD's current average daily trading volume. Despite HD's recent struggles, the speculative options crowd remains bullishly aligned toward the king of caulk. The firm's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.58 is lower than 36 percent of those taken during the past year. Finally, 10 of the 18 analysts covering HD rate it a "buy" or better. While the eight remaining "hold" ratings could be upgraded, which could push the stock higher; the risk of negative pressure from downgrades is equal if not greater. When looking for direction on HD, its Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard comes in at 5.0, indicating that the stock could be stagnating.
We'll now switch gears and take a look HD's closest competitor. While it appears that the stock has found a bit of resistance at the 31 level, the good news is that the 30 level is the site of peak put open interest in the front three months options series. This collection of bearish bets could provide support if needed. In addition, the round-number 30 level acted as both support and resistance in the past. On the flip side, there is little in the way of overhead call open interest to stifle the stock, and it is poised to move higher as its 10-week moving average works its way north. Should this trendline continue its ascending pattern, it will complete a bullish cross of its 20-week cohort. This technical formation is often the precursor of a continued move higher.
The long-term picture for LOW reveals another potential layer of support. Yes, the shares have pulled back a bit today, but it appears that the equity's 50-month moving average is ready to act as support. Notice that this trendline has guided the shares higher without fail since 1996. As this powerful moving average continues its ascent, watch for the stock to tag along for the ride. Earlier I said that there is little in the way of overhead resistance; that isn't exactly the case. LOW's all-time high is 34.85, which turned the shares away this past February. LOW could be set up for a bit of a showdown at this level if its 50-month trendline continues its upward pattern.
LOW's sentiment backdrop sets up similarly to HD's, as far as short interest and analysts are concerned. Zacks does show that there are 10 "hold" ratings compared to eight "buy" or better ratings. This configuration affords room for potential upgrades, which could push the stock higher. The second-rated seller of screwdrivers also has a tad more in the way of available float sold short, boasting slightly more than two percent. In addition, it would take four days to buy back the shorted shares, which could provide ample fuel for a short-covering rally on its own.
The aspect of LOW's sentiment that I like is the pessimism from the speculative options crowd. LOW's SOIR of 0.82 is higher than 90 percent of the past year's worth of readings. Should this bearish bunch finally decide that LOW is a solid performer; buying pressure could enter the picture to push the shares higher. Now, LOW's Equity Scorecard rating of 6.0 isn't much better than HD's 5.0; however, I feel that the technical upside to LOW is far more promising than its larger competitor.
Much like yesterday's two subjects, HD and LOW will step into the earnings spotlight in November. Keep an eye on the short interest for these two. A build in bearish bets could help add more potential short-covering support, which we like to see ahead of an earnings report.
So we have similar sentiment (with the exception of LOW's SOIR), so let's turn to a monthly relative-strength chart to settle this score.
Since 2000, LOW has soundly outperformed HD, but has it hit a top? Keep an eye on LOW's support to see if it will continue to push the guru of wood glue higher still.
Click the following link to see a Daily Chart of HD Since February 2006 With 10-Day Moving Average, a Monthly Chart of HD Since January 1999 With 10-Month Moving Average, a Weekly Chart of LOW Since May 2003 With 10-Week and 20-Week Moving Averages, Monthly Chart of LOW Since January 1995 With 50-Month Moving Average, and a Monthly Relative Strength, LOW vs. HD, Since November 1991: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=17562 .
Take advantage of the timely Schaeffer commentaries by signing up for their free e-newsletters -- Opening View, Market Recap and Monday Morning Outlook. Click here to have the Schaeffer's commentaries delivered to you free via email every day and get entered to win an iPod Nano. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROAW13M&PAGE=1 .
About Schaeffer's Investment Research (www.SchaeffersResearch.com)
Schaeffer's Investment Research, founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, is a financial information and trading resources company. It publishes Bernie Schaeffer's Option Advisor, the nation's leading options subscription newsletter. The firm's contrarian approach focuses on stocks with technical and fundamental trends that run counter to investor expectations. The firm's website, http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com , is recognized as one of the leading information sources for stock and options traders and was cited as the top options website by both Forbes and Barron's. Click here for more details about Schaeffer's trading methodology: http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com/method . |