"The S&P Restaurant Index has formed a V-bottom, setting the stage for another rise," says Ralph Acampora, director of technical research at Prudential Securities. "We calculate a potential gain of 37% for the second leg of the upmove." Here's the analyst's technical review of five leading restaurant stocks.
"The constituent issues within the restaurant grouping are in various stages of potential upside breakouts and/or major uptrends. Such price action is deemed encouraging and supports our optimism for these stocks. Here are our technical reviews of the five stocks:
"Darden Restaurants (DRI NYSE) is extending its current uptrend. After consolidating in the upper teens since February, DRI rallied above near-term resistance at $20. By using a swing count, this stock appears to be embarking upon a second uptrend that is expected to carry to the mid- to upper-$20s.
"McDonalds (MCD NYSE) is in a recovery mode. The stock reversed rapidly from its depressed low of $12.12 in March. Interestingly, this stock consolidated its recent rise by making a series of higher lows during the months of July and August. This is an encouraging sign as very little selling pressure emerged. As a result, our swing-rule method gives us a target to $30. Risk to the next support level is seen in the $21-$22 area.
"Starbucks (SBUX NASDAQ) is the only stock within this group that is currently trading at an all-time high. As such, the stock has no overhead resistance. The prior backing-and-filling activity in the upper teens/mid-$20s that took place over the past couple of years now enables us to take a swing count to the low $40s. Risk to the next support is seen in the mid-$20s.
"Wendys International (WEN NYSE) is moving up from a big-base formation. The stock appears to be in the early phases of its recovery. The extensive base building seen in the $25-$30 area is impressive and enhances our expectations for an eventual rally to the low $40s. Recent volume action supports the upside momentum that we envision. Risk to the next support level is seen in the $28-$29 area.
"Yum! Brands (YUM NYSE) appears poised for an upside breakout. This stock has been consolidating in an orderly fashion for the past two and a half months. Although it has not yet broken to the upside, we believe that it is poised to embark upon such a move. If we are correct and YUM rallies above near-term resistance to the $30-$31 level, then a target to the low $40s would be doable. Risk to the next support area is seen at $28-$29."
