Five Maverick Small-Cap Stocks for a Volatile Market

This column was originally published on RealMoney on June 7 at 10 a.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. For more information about subscribing to RealMoney, please click here.



The market has been on a roller coaster ride in recent weeks, charging higher one day and selling off the next. It's been a volatile brew that can turn huge profits or trigger extreme heartburn. In either case, traders are working hard for every dollar they earn these days, because even small lapses in concentration are triggering very unpleasant results.

When the indices churn through this level of volatility, I take a giant step back and look for stocks that move to the beat of their own drummer. These are the maverick issues immune to the big picture, attracting buying interest that doesn't depend on "Mad Money's" stockmeister or the latest data on interest rates.

In general, these plays don't fall into any particular sector or theme. However, most are speculative issues in which the company's current profitability isn't the primary reason for buying or selling. The category also favors small biotech or metals stocks, because those segments enjoy huge paydays when their stated plans carry to fruition.

Of course there's greater risk in trading standalone stocks because many things can go wrong on the journey to sustained growth. So get your stop placed as soon as you take a position and don't hesitate to jump ship if the Cinderella story starts to unravel.

Transcend Services (TRCR) provides India-based transcription services to the health care industry. The stock exploded out of a long sideways pattern near $2 in October and entered a strong uptrend. Price stalled near $17 in May and then gapped higher earlier this week. That move has now extended over $20.

The stock offers few pullback opportunities, so waiting for the gap to fill might be a losing proposition. Alternatively, there's a lot of risk in buying after this week's three up days. It looks like the best plan here is to drop down to the 60-minute chart and enter on any smaller scale breakout, with a tight stop loss just under new support.

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Ceragon Networks (CRNT) is a network management company located in Israel. The stock gapped over four-month resistance at $6 in late April and took off in a vertical rally. The move reached $10.44 this week, with price dipping down in a long-legged hammer during Wednesday's selloff.

This hammer is considered bullish but its location suggests the rally has ended for now. If so, look for price to move into a sideways pattern while the stock tests round-number resistance at $10. This process could take two to three weeks. The good news is a solid base at this level should set up a follow-through rally that reaches into the mid teens.

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ENGlobal (ENG) provides engineering services to the oil and gas industry. The stock hit $15.20 in 2006 and entered a deep correction. It finally found support in March near $5 and began a strong recovery rally. Price reached $11 two weeks ago and dropped into a narrow triangle pattern.

This is setting up nicely for a momentum burst that should carry the stock back into its 2006 high. The triangle continues to tighten up, suggesting the new uptrend will begin with a wide-range rally bar. That move alone could add 2 points to the current price in a single session. The rally could unfold quickly, so get this one onto your watch lists.

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Premier Exhibitions (PRXI) is the company behind the "Bodies" human remains exhibits, as well as owners of artifacts of the Titanic. The stock has been in a steady uptrend since 2003. Rally momentum has expanded greatly in 2007, with the popularity of its unique assets attracting a worldwide audience.

The last rally leg stalled in April. Price spent the next two months bouncing along a rising highs trend line, before breaking out on strong volume earlier this week. Fortunately, there's no need to chase the uptrend to get on board this unique play. Instead, I'd wait for a pullback that tests support at $15. An entry there could enjoy a rally up to $20 this summer.

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Medtox Scientific (MTOX) diagnostic products test employees and criminal suspects for illegal drug and alcohol use. The stock is currently trading near an 11-year high. Its strong rally ran out of gas three weeks ago near $28. Price has been moving sideways to lower since that time.

It looks like the pattern is setting up for a test at the 50-day moving average near $23. A strong bounce at that level could complete the correction and start the next leg of its uptrend. There's no rush to enter here. Instead, sit back and wait for buyers to show up near the lows. That should offer plenty of time to build positions for a breakout over $28.

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Please note that due to factors including low market capitalization and/or insufficient public float, we consider Transcend Services, Ceragon Networks, Englobal, Premier Exhibitions and Premier Exhibitions to be small-cap stocks. You should be aware that such stocks are subject to more risk than stocks of larger companies, including greater volatility, lower liquidity and less publicly available information, and that postings such as this one can have an effect on their stock prices.

At the time of publication, Farley had no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this column, although holdings can change at any time.

Alan Farley is a professional trader and author of The Master Swing Trader. Farley also runs a Web site called HardRightEdge.com, an online resource for trading education, technical analysis and short-term investment strategies. Under no circumstances does the information in this column represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. Farley appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email. Also, click here to sign up for Farley's premium subscription product The Daily Swing Trade brought to you exclusively by TheStreet.com.

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