Each week Forcerank runs a variety of games covering different industries. What we have found, is that the largest change in average user rank is indicative of swings in price action for the week. This week the biggest improvements featured popular names like Sketchers and JPMorgan Chase.
Skechers (NYSE:SKX) | Apparel: The shoemaker was a hidden gem in 2015 but a rough fiscal Q4 2015 started a tailspin that would last for the better part of 2016. The tide finally turned last week when CEO Robert Greenberg snapped up 500,000 shares and one analyst at Buckingham decided to upgrade the stock from neutral to buy. In response to the news shares jumped 19% and look well on their way to reversing the stock's year long losses. Fundamentally speaking, Skechers still remains challenged given the evolving retail environment and increasing competition from Nike (NYSE:NKE) and Under Armour (NYSE:UA). Another earnings season blunder will likely send this stock back to the bottom, but until then investors can rejoice in their gains. Forcerank user’s pushed the shoe retailer up to third in the retail contest after multiple weeks of being the worst ranked.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) | Investment Banks: The entire financial sector has boomed in the month following Trump’s shocking election victory. Shares of the Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:XLF), which tracks major banks and financial institutions, are up 18.5% over the past 30 days after a relatively flat year beforehand. No bank has benefited more than Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) though. The stock is up nearly 26% since the election with no signs of dropping off anytime soon. On balance volume and the MACD continue to form new peaks as shares make new 52 week highs. Forcerank user’s positioned the investment bank atop the financial contests with an average ranking of 3.6, compared to 4.8 the week prior. Investors would be wise to remain cautious on JPM though given that the relative strength index has broken 80, the threshold that indicates a stock is overbought.
Time Warner’s (NYSE:TWX) | Media: Shares have soared in the past 3 months after AT&T (NYSE:T) agreed to purchase Time Warner for $85 billion, marking one of the largest deals in history. Many aspects of the deal are still under scrutiny by regulators that believe it creates a media monopoly. Even though the arrangements of the merger are pending approval the stock continues to take out previous resistance levels. This is supported by steadily improving on balance volume and MACD technical indicators. Forcerank users are also enthusiastic that TWX can continue to push higher. The media conglomerate ranks highest in its respective contest this week, sporting an average user rank of 4 from 5.33 the week prior.
Dunkin Donuts (NASDAQ:DNKN) | Restaurants: Shares of the coffee maker have edged higher this year despite a slew of downgrades and perpetually weak business fundamentals. Whats helped Dunkin turn the corner is a wide range of partnerships and new menu items that continue to drive foot traffic. Some of its most notable partners include Smuckers (NYSE:SJM), Kellogg’s (NYSE:K) and the NHL all of which help promote the Dunkin brand. Meanwhile the departure of Howard Schultz as Starbuck’s CEO will help close the gap that had otherwise been growing in recent years. From a technical standpoint the stock appears well positioned to make future gains. The stock currently trades above its December pivot point which typically indicates ongoing bullish sentiment. Given the recent happenings surrounding DNKN, Forcerank users decided it was time to push them above Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) in the restaurant contest. Average user rank came in at 3.4 compared to 4.87 posted last week.
Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) | Social Media: Twitter made one of the biggest jumps this week despite most signs pointing to increasing downside risk. Technical support is nowhere to be found while fundamental’s continue to waver compared to SnapChat and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB). Forcerank users, though, are bullish that Twitter can right the ship in the near term or at the very least turnover the reigns to a new owner. Twitter sits in the third position in the social media contest after taking the bottom spot in last week’s rankings. Investors who partake in gap trading might view the multiple gaps above as an opportunity to buy low and sell high. That isn’t to say investors should remain cautious especially with such a volatile company and stock.