LCA-Vision (LCAV)

Company

"LCA-Vision Inc., a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus® brand, operates 62 LasikPlus® fixed-site laser vision correction centers in 29 states and 45 markets in the United States. " (company website)

lcav(2-1)
LCAV 4-month chart
lcav(2-1)_1yr
LCAV 1-year chart

Buy

27 April 2010. Bought 500 LCAV at $9.33.

I've been watching LCA-Vision for quite some time now, enticed by the narrowing Bollinger bands, but discouraged by dropping volume. In February a big earnings surprise sent the stock soaring, and it has been consolidating around $8.50 for almost two months. The company beat Expectations again today when it reported earnings and the stock jumped again. I bought in, but probably at too-high a price.

  • Percentage price oscillator (PPO) — just crossing above the signal line
  • Volume — declining in the lead up to earnings

Based on technical analysis, MarketEdge calls LCAV a "buy" in a "weak upward trend."

Sell

gain Bottom line
-4%

6 May 2010. Sold 500 LCAV at $8.98.

When all the stocks plunged earlier this week, LCAV fell below the triggering price for my stop-loss order, but it had fallen so fast that the sale did not execute. This morning — when it was showing signs of recovery — it finally climbed back high enough to reach the limit on the order and it executed. I wish that hadn't happened. LCAV had been recovering while the rest of the market was still falling. Argh!