Understanding stock price support levels of Starhub & M1

Hello,

In my previous blog post here about how StarHub was such a good buy on 29th June at $3.70, I received a comment that M1 trading at $3.23 now might be a good buy too even though I have missed SH's boat.

However, I would like to explain in detail about the concept of price support levels and how it is important in investing.

1. What is 'Support' and 'Resistance' in stock price?
Pls see figure 1.

As quoted from Investopedia, "Support is the price level through which a stock or market seldom falls (illustrated by the blue arrows). Resistance, on the other hand, is the price level that a stock or market seldom surpasses (illustrated by the red arrows)."

2. Therefore, one should buy at Support level and sell at Resistance!

3. Why StarHub was a better buy than M1 at $3.70

 

SH price support level since 2014 was at $4.00. At $3.70, it has broken the price support level and it is a rarity to drop by 7.5% of this support level on 29 June.

 

 

On the other hand, M1 at $3.23 (current price now), this price support level was already broken through in June, before the greekexit crisis. On 29 June, M1 reached its lowest at $3.16, a drop of only 1.85% of its support level.  At this price level, there is no 'rarity' in its pricing.

4.  Time value of money

 

If I had bought SH at $3.70, it was as good as buying the same stock in June 2013, this was the selling price 2 years ago.

 

However, at $3.23 for M1 now, it is only as good as buying this stock in Jan 2014.

 

If both were to maintain the same earnings as compared to previous years, by 'time travelling' to the stock price of SH 2 years ago, it is a much better buy.

 

Conclusion:

 

Understanding Price support and resistance levels is useful when discerning when to buy and sell.

 

Market sentiments seem to regard SH as a better stock due to its stronger price support levels, although M1's financials might be better.

 

StarHub- Missed the boat

So.. SH was trading at $3.70 on Monday, finally breaking through the $4.00 which it had strongly held on for the past year. Monday (29 June) was the day when major stocks experienced a terrible diarrhea.

I was contemplating so hard whether to buy as it seemed to go free fall and with so much uncertainty over the Greek bailout.

Anyway, fast forward three days later, major stocks have slightly rebounded.

At $3.94, I can't exactly say that SH is trading at a good value as it has too much debt. However, I notice that it has better resistance than M1 when the latter fares better in its financials instead.

Missed the boat. No idea when I can take such a good chance again. Arrrgh.

Starhub Stock Review (II)

I previously blogged that Starhub (SH) was trading at an insane price of $4.43 (here) and that was overvalued. I have sold off SH at $4.39 and it didn't surprise me that it is now trading at $4.02, near to its 52 week low.

The big drop came about after SH announced that its profit from operations has decreased by 15% when compared to 1Q2014. EBITDA was also 8.5% lower for the quarter.

With my analysis of $4.04 a share, P/E is 19.95 times. SingTel's P/E is 18.5 and M1's 18.48. This might mean that at this current share price, it is not exactly an attractive stock to buy. The D/E is 4.63 (really high) whereas the other 2 telcos are 0.37/0.56 respectively.

The PEG ratio is also high as compared to other Telcos. :(

I think the only saving grace is still its attractive dividend payout. But I wouldn't risk buying the stock and then half a year later, see a drop in price value again. End up my net return would still be the same or even worse.

Technical jargons aside, I wouldn't buy this stock yet. Not now.