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.



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.