Laureate Education Inc (LAUR $39.85) formerly Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., is focused exclusively on providing a university experience to over 130,000 students through a global network of accredited campus-based and online universities. Addressing the rapidly growing global demand for higher education, Laureate offers a broad range of career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs through campus-based universities located in Latin America and Europe. Through online universities, Laureate offers the growing population of non-traditional, working-adult students the convenience and flexibility of distance learning to pursue undergraduate, master's and doctorate degree programs in major career fields including engineering, education, business and healthcare.  This is a high-ranked leader in the Commercial Services - Schools group, a group that has moved up on IBD's list of 197 Industry Groups list to 25th from a 118 rank 3-months ago. The company is showing solid sales revenue growth and impressive earnings comparisons in its most recent quarterly financials.

What to Look For and What to Look Out For:  Any reversal and drop back under $37.50 would be cause for concern, as prior resistance should now serve as a key support zone.  A break down under its 50-day moving average line (now $35.73) on higher than average volume would be a more serious violation and clearer sell signal.  It may be worth looking out for an opportunity to buy on a dip back toward support, but the stock could also very quickly get too far extended from an ideal buy point under the guidelines. 

Technical Analysis: Today LAUR cleared an 8-week base on volume more than twice its average daily trading volume.  In late-March there was a high-volume breakout from a near 7-month long flat base, after which its consolidation stayed nicely above its 50-day moving average line.  That suggests that great institutional support was present even when the broader market was more jittery than it is now. 

- Kenneth J. Gruneisen