Category Archives: SAM

On February 25, 2015, we posted Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines [SRL] for Lumber Liquidator (LL) and Boston Beer Company (SAM).  Starting with LL, we said the following:

“Those interested in LL and willing to perform appropriate due diligence could engage in a three phase purchase plan beginning below $39.81, $31.64 and $23.47.  Investors, as opposed to speculators, should be willing to accept that there is no compensation for the wait when holding LL and that the decline to the ascending $23.47 level is a real risk.”

Since February 2015, LL has declined to the current level of $15.64.  While we might know the exact reasons why LL fell to the current level, we don’t know what to make of the dramatic decline other than the fact that the SRL gave every indication that this was possible.  Below is the updated SRL on Lumber Liquidator.

Upon further reflection, we examined the price of Lumber Liquidator and attempted to propose an alternative view on the stock price decline.  On March 3, 2015, we proposed the following thesis:

“The coincidence of Lumber Liquidator (LL) declining significantly at the same time as the futures price of lumber (as traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) seems difficult to ignore.  Investors should take note of the fact that in three prior periods indicated in blue, LL has lost a minimum of –35% and as much as –53% when the price of lumber declined –33% or more. 

“So far, from December 2013 to March 2015, the price of lumber has declined –23% while LL has declined as much as –67.49%.  Much of the decline in LL has been exacerbated by concerns related to quality and sourcing of the flooring.  However,  the current decline is only slightly out of alignment from what has happened in the past.”

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Below are the downside targets using Speed Resistance Lines [SRL] for Lumber Liquidator Holdings (LL) and Boston Beer Company (SAM) based on the work of Edson Gould.

Lumber Liquidator (LL) has declined from the peak of $119.44.  Gould’s SRLs suggest that from the peak price, LL has a conservative downside target of $53.68 and an extreme downside target of $39.81.

On February 25, 2015, LL was unable to sustain a price above the ascending $53.68 level with a decline of over –17%.  Our best guess is that LL will decline to the ascending $39.81 level, which currently approximates $49.50 price.  Those interested in LL and willing to perform appropriate due diligence could engage in a three phase purchase plan beginning below $39.81, $31.64 and $23.47.  Investors, as opposed to speculators, should be willing to accept that there is no compensation for the wait when holding LL and that the decline to the ascending $23.47 level is a real risk.

Boston Beer Company (SAM) is the brewer of Samuel Adams beer and a multitude of other “craft” beers.  Today SAM declined –10% on an earnings miss.  Below is the SRL for SAM.

Our expectations for SAM are not very high as the last time that the stock was able to achieve the conservative downside target of $70.13 was in 2011.  Since that time, SAM has faltered but not fallen.  In spite of this fact, we’ve outlined the conservative downside target of $180.12 and the extreme downside target of $107.99.  Investors should note that a decline to the ascending $180.12 level is an ideal buying target with a follow-up purchase below $141.25.  As with Lumber Liquidators, SAM is bet on growth in the stock price and not much else. 

The relative strength of each company (long-term viability) is what makes these stocks compelling and worth considering at the appropriate predetermined price.