Take A Look At Broadcom

06/21/12 01:28:55 PM

by Koos van der Merwe

What to do when one sees an inverse head & shoulders pattern developing on a weekly chart.

Security: BRCM
Position: Buy

With the tremendous advance in wireless products, and the pressure put on wireless internet suppliers by companies like Netflix and others, innovation is necessary and captures much attention. Broadcom (BRCM) was a company whose share price moved from a low of $8.40 in May 1998 to a high of $183.17 by August 2000, at which point it collapsed back to $7.99 in October 2002 when the technology bubble burst. Since then, it has gradually recovered, trading in a range of $13.32 to $50.29. So is the share worth buying now?

FIGURE 1: BRCM, WEEKLY

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

Figure 1, a weekly chart, shows the price reaching a high of $47.36 by January 2011. It then fell to a low of $27.66 by December 23, 2011, and recovered to $39.81 by March 30, 2012. The share price then fell to $30.94 by May 25, and the pattern resembles a trumpet shape formation, which is a sign of uncertainty, or the possibility of an inverse head & shoulders formation, should the price rise above the neckline at $39.81 with a target of $50.20 (38.93 - 27.66 = 11.27 + 38.93 = 50.20).

The relative strength index (RSI) does show that buy signals were given on July 8, 2011, when the price was $432.98 and again on December 30, 2011, and June 1, 2012. The chart also shows that the trend-following XTL indicator, one that changes the color of the candlestick, has changed from red to black, signaling a move from negative to neutral.

FIGURE 2: BRCM, DAILY

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

Figure 2, a daily chart, however shows that a very strong head & shoulders pattern formed, suggesting a target of $28.29. But the share price did not fall to that level, dropping as low as $30.99 by May 24 when the RSI gave a divergence buy signal on May 24. Does this mean that the head & shoulders target is now something of the past? It sure looks like it.

The price has since recovered and is now forming an equilateral triangle suggesting an immediate target of $36.64 (36.10 -33.15 = 2.95 + 33.69 = 36.64) once it breaks above the upper triangles trendline, or it could be forming a cup & handle formation, which in turn is suggesting a target of $39.27 (35.13 -30.99 = 4.14 + 35.13 = 39.27).

Whatever the final target will be, the chart is suggesting strength. This is a share we could buy at present levels with the possibility of a 10% to 20% gain.

Koos van der Merwe

Has been a technical analyst since 1969, and has worked as a futures and options trader with First Financial Futures in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Address:	3256 West 24th Ave
	Vancouver, BC
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HEAD & SHOULDERS

Take A Look At Broadcom

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