10 Stocks Under $10: Ampal-American Israel (AMPL)

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Ampal-American Israel (NASDAQ: AMPL) is a Massachusetts-based holding company with interest in more than a dozen Israeli and Israeli-related firms. The company's niche business is commercial real estate and the leisure industry, including retail outlets. Earnings at AMPL jumped to $11.9 million in the third quarter -- or 22 cents per diluted share -- compared to the net loss of $1.8 million swallowed in the previous year.

AMPL shares have moved 47% higher in the past 52 weeks, compared to a 4% increase in the S&P 500 Index. The equity's relative-strength showing has indeed been stellar, and has improved as well during the last several weeks. Since September 18, AMPL shares have ridden their 10-day and 20-day moving averages higher to post a gain of 33% in slightly more than 2 months. The recent market pullback has had little impact on the shares, which have continued higher even while the broader market has stumbled.

Daily relative strength, AMPL versus the S&P 500 Index, since January 2007


The stock is off the radar screens of many investors, as the company has a small market cap (around $400 million) and average daily volume is anemic. Options are not available on AMPL, and more than 5% of the stock's float is taken up by short interest, amounting to a short-interest ratio of 24-plus days to cover. As such, there could be liquidity issues if demand begins to outpace supply. Still, AMPL is an outperforming name with a global presence that is worth watching.

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Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

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Last updated: February 10, 2010: 01:38 AM

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