Sapient Corporation (SAPE): Shares form 'cup & handle'

Posted Mar 17th 2008 1:28PM by Larry Schutts
Filed under: Earnings Reports, Harrah's Entertainment (HET), Verizon Communications (VZ), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), Technical Analysis, Stocks to Buy

Sapient Corporation (NASDAQ: SAPE) provides business, marketing and technology consulting services. The firm's design and implementation expertise are used by information-based businesses and government agencies with needs in e-commerce, customer relationship management, high volume transaction processing, online supply chain development and knowledge management. Clients include BP (NYSE: BP), Harrah's Entertainment (NYSE: HET) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).

The firm pleased investors late last month, when it reported Q4 EPS of seven cents and revenues of $155 million. Analysts had been looking for five cents and $146.7 million. Management also guided Q1 revenues to $155 million, versus consensus of $146.75 million.

The news popped SAPE shares out of a February "cup" into the March "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. The price is now showing signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle".

Brokers recommend the issue with two "strong buys", three "buys" and five "holds". Analysts see a 32% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The SAPE Price to Sales ratio (1.56), Sales Growth rate (36.45%) and EPS Growth rate (-0.01 to 0.07 y/y) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutional investors hold about 66% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $5.73 and $9.12. A stop-loss of $5.80 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com. He does not hold positions in any of the stocks mentioned above.

Tags: fundamental analysis, FundamentalAnalysis, SAPE, Sapient Corporation, SapientCorporation, technical analysis, TechnicalAnalysis

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-19-2008 @ 8:38PM

Tom said...

Ahhahahaha, the old "cup and handle" con, eh? A lot better than the "erect middle finger" signal, or the "full split moon" signal, I suppose. The idea that any shape of a line on a chart could have any predictive value for a stock is ludicrous. BTW, look on this very same chart, and you'll find a "cup and handle" shape back in December, just before the stock plummeted by nearly a third.
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