There are several reasons that I am blogging Ladenburg Thalman Financial Services, Inc. (LTS): One is chart and the other is news.

For those who don’t know, LTS has been around since 1879 and is traded on the AMEX.  LTS engages in investment banking, equity research, institutional sales and trading, independent brokerage and advisory services and asset management services through its principal subsidiaries, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Investacorp, Inc. and Triad Advisors, Inc.  LTS has seen some very hard times recently with the economic downturn, but is narrowing losses and shoring up its balance sheet.  I am sure they are not pleased to be a penny stock, but they are not the only old line firm made to “eat crow” in the current economy.

The news is LTS has been added to the Russell 3000 index which has raised the profile of the company enormously.  It doesn’t hurt that inclusion in the 3000 index also automatically includes LTS in the Russell 2000.  That fact could have a huge impact on the volume for the stock as portfolios based upon the Russell Indexes are rebalanced.

The chart is what interested me….I think it will interest you, too.

If recent history holds true, then we could see a price spike with LTS again.  The oversold stochastics could give some impetus to a spike imo.

LTS does not make the CPA side of my personality happy.  They have high debt based upon their current assets and ratios are not as good as I would like to see.  They are seeing good revenue growth and losses are narrowing.  This is not a fundamental play….it is a news and chart play.

I will be interested to see if the increase of buying due to the inclusion in the Russell indexes spurs a rally in the stock….the chart looks like it the stock could be ready to pop again.  The bearish MACD looks like it could be turning (but since it is a trailing indicator, I can’t be 100% sure)

A short term play….LTS has never been a high flier.

Good luck and Great trading,

Jeffrey Dean, Editor

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