Nasdaq's Top Performers in January

Here's a quick look at some of the top performing dividend stocks, year to date, that are listed on the Nasdaq. CA Technologies CA is almost 26% higher year to date, more than 12% just in the past week. Shares surged after the company posted better-than-expected quarterly results that were accompanied by the announcement of a fivefold dividend increase through 2014. This IT software maker has a market cap of $12.5 billion and its dividend yield is 0.8%. The stock has outperformed competitors BMC Software BMC and Oracle ORCL over the past six months. See also: CA Technologies Enters into an Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement. Grupo Financiero Galicia GGAL is up more than 33% in the past month. This is just one of several Argentine companies on the rise since an emerging markets analyst began buying the region's stocks. Based in Buenos Aires, the holding company has a market cap of $960.8 million, a dividend yield of 0.6% and a long-term EPS growth forecast of 46.0%. Over the past month, the stock has narrowly outperformed peers Banco Macro BMA and Banco Frances BFR. Kelly Services KELYA shares are trading more than 22% higher year to date and more than 55% higher than the 52-week low. Analysts expect EPS to be up 43.8% year-over-year when Kelly reports full-year results on Feb. 2. The dividend yield is 1.2%, the long-term EPS growth forecast is 15.0% and the P/E ratio is less than the industry average. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed Korn/Ferry International KFY and Manpower Group MAN. Privatebancorp PVTB is about 31% higher than a month ago, but more than 12% below the 52-week high. The company just reported better-than-expected Q4 EPS and a sizable decrease in nonperforming loans over the past year. This regional bank is based in Chicago and has a market cap of $1.0 billion. Its dividend yield is 0.3%. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed competitors Fifth Third Bancorp FITB and Northern Trust NTRS. Seagate Technology STX is more than 31% higher than a month ago and more than 53% from a year ago. Shares jumped last week after its board voted to buy back an additional $1 billion in stock and approved a 39% increase in the quarterly dividend. This $8.7 billion market cap company has a dividend yield of 3.4%. Its return on equity is 18.8%. The stock has outperformed competitors NetApp NTAP and Western Digital WDC over the past six months. See also: Segate Technology Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend by 39%. Siliconware Precision Industries SPIL shares are trading more than 24% higher year to date. This is one of the chipmakers in the running to fabricate the processors that will be used in Apple's AAPL TV. The company has a market cap of $3.4 billion, a long-term EPS growth forecast of 20.0% and a dividend yield of 5.1%. The stock has outperformed fellow bidder Advanced Semiconductor Engineer ASX over the past six months. Steel Dynamics STLD is up more than 22% year to date, including a more than 6% pop in the past week. The company just reported better-than-expected EPS for the most recent quarter. Revenue was up year-over-year too, but in line with expectations. The dividend yield is 2.5% and the market cap is $3.5 billion. The long-range EPS growth forecast is 21.6%. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed AK Steel AKS and U.S. Steel X.
ACTION ITEMS: Bullish: Investors interested in exchange traded funds focused on the Nasdaq 100 might want to consider the following trades:
  • PowerShares QQQ QQQ is trading near the 52-week high.
  • ProShares Ultra QQQ QLD is trading near the 52-week high.
  • ProShares UltraPro QQQ TQQQ is about 9% below the 52-week high.
Bearish: Traders may prefer to consider these alternative positions:
  • ProShares Short QQQ PSQ is trading near the 52-week low.
  • ProShares UltraShort QQQ QID is trading near the 52-week low.
  • ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ SQQQ is trading near the 52-week low.
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Posted In: Long IdeasShort IdeasTrading IdeasETFsAdvanced Semiconductor EngineerAK SteelAppleBanco FrancesBanco Macrobmc softwareca technologiesdividend stocksETFsFifth Third BancorpGrupo Financiero GaliciaKelly ServicesKorn/FerryManpower GroupNASDAQ 100NASDAQ StocksNetAppnorthern trustOraclePrivateBancorpSeagate TechnologySiliconware Precision IndustriesSteel DynamicsU.S. Steelwestern digital
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