Taking a quick look at the historical performance of Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) shares, we have noted that the stock price for the previous week is -1.32%. Looking back over the past month, company shares are 11.21%. For the past quarter, shares have performed 35.14%. Going further back to the beginning of the calendar year, company shares are 12.24%. If we scroll back to the full year reading, shares have performed 9.75%. Investors may be trying to decide if it is a good time to get into a particular stock, or whether to exit a position that has turned sour. Whatever the case, outperforming the market is on the minds of many dedicated equity market enthusiasts.
One of the most famous sayings in the stock market is “buy low, sell high”. This may seem like an oversimplified statement, but there are many novice investors who often do the complete opposite. Many investors may be looking too closely at stocks that have been on the rise, and they might not be checking on the underlying fundamental data. They may be hoping to ride the wave higher, but may end up shaking their heads. On the flip side, many investors may hold onto stocks for far too long after they have slipped drastically. Waiting for a bounce that may never come can cause frustration and plenty of second guessing. Successful investors are typically able to locate stocks that are undervalued at a certain price. This may take a lot of practice and dedication, but it may do wonders for the health of the portfolio.
Shares of Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) have been recently spotted trading -4.92% off of the 52-week high price. On the other end, company shares have been noted 38.49% away from the low price over the last 52-weeks. Switching over to some distances from popular moving averages, we see that the stock has been recorded 15.69% away from the 200 day moving average. Moving closer, we can see that shares have been trading 3.38% off of the 20-day moving average. Investors may be closely following the current stock price in relation to moving averages. This may assist with figuring out if a breakout or reversal could be in the cards. Knowing when to ride the surge rather than stay on the sidelines, can be a difficult decision even for veteran investors.
Focusing on some other company information, we can see that Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) has a beta of 0.48. Beta indicates the tendency of a stock’s returns to respond to market swings. A beta of 1 indicates that the stock price moves with the market. A beta under 1 indicates that the stock is less volatile than the market in theory. A beta value over one would indicate the opposite. In terms of volatility, shares have been noted at 2.53% for the week, and 3.12% for the past month. Investors often keep a close eye on any irregular stock volume. Traders and technical analysts have the ability to use volume to help measure the strength of a particular move. Investors may also view volume levels when the stock price is nearing significant support or resistance levels, in order to confirm a breakout in either direction.
We can now shift our focus to some alternate company data on shares of Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB). The stock has a current ATR of 0.33. When applying indicators for technical analysis, traders and investors may choose to examine the ATR or average true range. The ATR measures the volatility of a stock on a day-to-day basis. The average true range is typically based on 14 periods and may be calculated daily, weekly, monthly, or intraday. The ATR is not considered a directional indicator, but it may reflect the strength of a particular move. As we move into the second half of the year, investors may be looking to jumpstart their portfolios. Many equity investors may be wondering if the stock markets will find renewed energy and continue higher, or if a major correction is on the horizon.
Value investors may be scanning the shelves for bargain stocks. They may be looking to spot those shares that haven’t been doing a whole lot and are being generally overlooked by the investing world. Value investors may be searching for stocks with lower price to earnings ratios that possess higher dividend yields. Investors looking for growth stocks may be willing to shell out a little more for a stock that has the possibility of increasing EPS at a quicker pace. Some investors may favor one category of stocks over another, but they may need to find a combination at some point. As markets tend to move in cycles, it may be necessary to align the portfolio to the category that is best positioned to make consistent gains in the future.
