Chapter IV: The Traditional Seasonal Analysis of Price Trends can still yield valuable predictive information. |
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| Viewing the Calendar Trends, we see that Valero Energy Corporation does not fit the most common pattern. For the average common stock, low prices are most likely previous to the month of November. Averaged over the last 28 years, VLO exhibits a strong spread between the high and low months of 11.74 percent. For this chart, price plots for each year are traced on top of each other. Each month's value is adjusted to the mean price for the particular year. The orange line represents the average monthy price expressed as a portion of the annual price. |
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| VLO speculators might well avoid the month of June. Here, the profitability of the month is defined as the percentage change between the mean price on the first day of the month and the mean price on the last day of the month. So the figures displayed here refer to the average change during each month, rather than changes between months. By this measure, the month of March appears favorable, offering a quick return averaging 5.75 percent. |
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| The 'Monthly Profitability' discussed above applies to holdings during the course of a single month. Another, perhaps more realistic evaluation is the one charted here. Here the value evaluated is the highest price reached at anytime during the next quarter. Valero Energy Corporation speculators who have taken positions starting in December gain 24.05 percent, judged by the maximum price attained during the next three months. |
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This plot of the average monthly price as a proportion of the average yearly price removes the year-to-year secular trend. However the within-year trend is still intact, so it is expected that the December value might be higher than the January average, for a healthy company. Over the span of 3 months from January to April a gain of 11.74 percent has occurred historically. This is an annual rate of 47.0 percent. Investing 'against the tide' of the seasonal trend can cost an annualized 15.65 percent. Before making any decisions based on the standard 12 Month Seasonal Calendar, be sure to check the characteristics of the 24 Month Political Election Calendar. Research shows that many characteristics of the traditional seasonal averages are actually induced by events in the 24 month political cycle, so the characteristics of even versus odd numbered years may be quite distinct. |
Much Deeper Market Timing Analysis with VLO roadmap and Summary of most effective indicators: |
| In the news, Wednesday, July 28, 2010: An unfavorable condition has developed with W.W. Grainger, Inc., ticker symbol GWW. Also, there are breaking events concerning Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) and Cummins Inc. (CMI) |