Stocks ended a choppy session with a rally on Thursday. The Dow rose 225 points to 17,416. The S&P 500 gained 19 points to 2,021. The NASDAQ Composite recovered from a 36 point retreat to finish up 45 at 4,683. The volume totals were reported slightly higher than the prior session total on the NYSE, but a bit lighter than the prior volume total on the Nasdaq exchange. Breadth was positive as advancers led decliners by a 2-1 margin on the Nasdaq exchange and on the NYSE. However, leadership contracted as there were only 26 high-ranked companies from the CANSLIM.net Leaders List that made new 52-week highs and appeared on the CANSLIM.net BreakOuts Page, down from the prior session total of 56 stocks. New 52-week highs outnumbered new 52-week lows on the NYSE but new lows outnumbered new highs on the Nasdaq exchange. There were gains for 9 of the 11 high-ranked companies currently on the Featured Stocks Page. 

Last Thursday's improvement from the broader market was a reassuring sign regarding the M criteria, however that progress was quickly erased and followed by more worrisome damage.  Members were cautioned - "The bullish action is not a guarantee that the major averages will reach new highs and continue into new high territory.  Keep in mind that new buying efforts should only be made in stocks meeting all of the fundamental and technical guidelines the fact-based investment system."

PICTURED: The Dow Jones Industrial; Average managed a "positive reversal" after Thursday's early losses nearly tested its 200-day moving average (DMA) line. That important long-term average and prior lows define important near-term support where any damaging losses leading to violations would raise serious concerns for the broader market outlook.

The Featured Stocks Page shows recent notes and Headline Links directing members to detailed analysis with data-packed graphs annotated by a Certified expert.  See the Premium Member Homepage for archives to all prior pay reports published.

The major averages were led higher by a gain from the Retail Index ($RLX +1.43%) and strength in financial shares as the Bank Index ($BKX +1.53%) and the Broker/Dealer Index ($XBD +2.00%) each tallied solid gains. The Biotechnology Index ($BTK +1.01%) led the tech sector higher while the Networking Index ($NWX +0.64%) posted a smaller gain and the Semiconductor Index ($SOX +0.08%) finished flat. Meanwhile, the  Integrated Oil Index ($XOI +0.53%) edged higher although commodity-linked groups generally created a drag as the Oil Services Index ($OSX -2.51%) and the Gold & Silver Index ($XAU -1.68%) both lost ground.   

Charts courtesy www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The Biotechnology Index ($BTK +1.01%) is consolidating well above its 50-day moving average (DMA) line.

United Insurance Holding (UIHC +$0.31 or +1.22% to $25.63) gapped up on the prior session for a considerable volume-driven gain it is perched at its 52-week high. It is extended from any sound base. Its 50-day moving average (DMA) line defines near-term support to watch on pullbacks.

It was last shown in this FSU section on 1/13/15 with annotated graphs under the headline, "Consolidation Following 'Negative Reversal' Not Considered a Sound Base", as its consolidation was too short to be considered a sound base pattern. Disciplined investors avoid chasing stocks more than +5% above prior highs and always limit losses by selling any stock that falls more than -7% from its purchase price.

UIHC has traded up as much as +27.3% since first highlighted in yellow at $20.64 with pivot point cited based on its 11/05/14 high plus 10 cents in the 12/05/14 mid-day report (read here). It was previously noted - "Heavy volume behind gains for new highs indicated that meaningful institutional buying demand was lurking. It reported earnings +58% on +33% sales revenues for the Sep '14 quarter, its 5th consecutive quarterly comparison above the +25% minimum guideline (C criteria). Annual earnings (A criteria) have been strong."

It completed a new Public Offering on 2/27/14. The number of top-rated funds owning its shares rose from 30 in Dec '13 to 174 in Dec  '14, and its current Up/Down Volume Ratio of 2.4 is also a reassuring sign is shares have been under accumulation over the past 50 days. 

Color Codes Explained :
Y - Better candidates highlighted by our staff of experts.
G - Previously featured in past reports as yellow but may no longer be buyable under the guidelines.

***Last / Change / Volume data in this table is the closing quote data***

Symbol/Exchange Company Name Industry Group	PRICE	CHANGE (%Change)	Day High	Volume (% DAV) (% 50 day avg vol)	52 Wk Hi % From Hi	Featured Date	Price Featured	Pivot Featured
								Max Buy
ACT - NYSE Actavis plc Medical-Generic Drugs	$273.25	-0.63 -0.23%	$275.12	2,359,986 74.00% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 3,189,000	$285.09 -4.15%	12/29/2014	$260.22	PP = $272.85
								MB = $286.49
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 6:46:18 PM Y - Pulled back for a 3rd consecutive loss on below average volume. Recent gains helped it hit a new 52-week high, but volume lacked conviction. Gains above a stock's pivot point must have at least +40% above average volume to trigger a proper technical buy signal. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Perched Near High Again With No Resistance - 1/16/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
AMBA - NASDAQ Ambarella Inc ELECTRONICS - Semiconductor - Specialized	$56.68	-0.32 -0.56%	$57.80	1,375,337 65.87% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 2,088,000	$63.20 -10.32%	1/7/2015	$54.96	PP = $58.10
								MB = $61.01
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 6:48:21 PM Y - Volume totals have been below average while consolidating in a tight trading range above its 50 DMA line ($53.43) where a damaging violation would trigger a technical sell signal. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and annotated graphs. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Volume Totals Cooling While Staying Above 50-Day Moving Average - 1/27/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
EPAM - NYSE Epam Systems Inc COMPUTER SOFTWARE and SERVICES - Information Technology Service	$47.81	+0.31 0.65%	$47.90	219,866 65.24% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 337,000	$52.89 -9.60%	10/23/2014	$45.21	PP = $46.09
								MB = $48.39
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 6:43:23 PM G - A rebound above its downward sloping 50 DMA line ($48.41) is still needed for its outlook to improve. Today's gain again lacked volume conviction, yet it finished near the session high. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Recovery Above 50-Day Average Needed for Outlook to Improve - 1/21/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
FB - NASDAQ Facebook Inc Cl A INTERNET	$78.00	+1.76 2.31%	$78.02	60,810,332 249.93% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 24,331,000	$82.17 -5.07%	12/22/2014	$81.79	PP = $81.26
								MB = $85.32
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 12:43:44 PM G - Churning above average volume for a 2nd consecutive session near its 50 DMA line, not making meaningful price progress - a sign of distributional pressure. Faces resistance due to overhead supply up through the $82 level. Waning leadership (L criteria) in the Internet - Content industry group was noted as a concern. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Consolidating Near 50-Day Average After Stalling at 52-Week High - 1/12/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
ILMN - NASDAQ Illumina Inc DRUGS - Biotechnology	$200.00	+2.14 1.08%	$201.67	1,423,143 113.04% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,259,000	$213.33 -6.25%	12/30/2014	$186.26	PP = $196.00
								MB = $205.80
Most Recent Note - 1/28/2015 1:07:31 PM Y - Reported earnings +93% on +32% sales revenues for the Dec '14 quarter. There was a "negative reversal" after gapping up today and hitting a new 52-week high. Prior gains lacked great volume conviction. No resistance remains due to overhead supply. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Rebound Above 50-Day Moving Average Helped Technical Stance - 1/20/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
Symbol/Exchange Company Name Industry Group	PRICE	CHANGE (%Change)	Day High	Volume (% DAV) (% 50 day avg vol)	52 Wk Hi % From Hi	Featured Date	Price Featured	Pivot Featured
								Max Buy
NXPI - NASDAQ Nxp Semiconductors N V ELECTRONICS - Semiconductor - Broad Line	$79.87	+0.75 0.94%	$80.46	3,255,788 108.53% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 3,000,000	$82.76 -3.49%	1/5/2015	$76.43	PP = $78.44
								MB = $82.36
Most Recent Note - 1/28/2015 1:15:54 PM Y - Small gap up gain today has it poised for a best-ever close, and little resistance remains to hinder its progress. Its 50 DMA line acted as support following a "negative reversal" at its 52-week high. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : 50-Day Moving Average Acted as Support After "Negative Reversal" - 1/22/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
OTEX - NASDAQ Open Text Corp INTERNET - Internet Software and Services	$55.85	+1.68 3.10%	$56.70	795,631 290.91% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 273,500	$60.44 -7.59%	1/26/2015	$58.41	PP = $59.67
								MB = $62.65
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 12:58:17 PM G - Gapped down for a damaging volume-driven loss violating its 50 DMA line triggering a technical sell signal on the prior session. Finding support at its 200 DMA line, however its Relative Strength rating has slumped to 71, below the 80+ minimum guideline for buy candidates. Reported earnings +23% on +29% sales revenues for the Dec '14 quarter, below the +25% minimum earnings guideline (C criteria) raising fundamental concerns. It did not clear the previously noted "double bottom" base and trigger a convincing technical buy signal. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and an annotated weekly graph. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Churning Action Indicates Distributional Pressure - 1/26/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
PANW - NYSE Palo Alto Networks Computer Sftwr-Security	$129.29	+3.84 3.06%	$130.00	1,210,788 89.89% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,347,000	$129.42 -0.10%	7/30/2014	$84.21	PP = $85.88
								MB = $90.17
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 6:41:30 PM G - No resistance remains and it ended near the session high with a gain on below average volume for a best-ever close. The 50 DMA line ($121.14) and recent low ($117.60 on 1/02/15) define important near-term support to watch where violations may trigger technical sell signals. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and annotated graphs. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Finished With a Loss and Near Session Low After Chance at Best-Ever Close - 1/28/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
RH - NYSE Restoration Hardware Hld RETAIL - Home Furnishing Stores	$92.99	+1.08 1.18%	$93.28	417,469 44.51% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 938,000	$100.66 -7.62%	12/11/2014	$98.66	PP = $94.60
								MB = $99.33
Most Recent Note - 1/28/2015 6:26:25 PM Y - Volume totals have been cooling while consolidating above its 50 DMA line ($90.62) defining important near-term support. A subsequent violation would raise greater concerns and trigger a technical sell signal. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Fell Near 50-Day Moving Average After Negating Prior Breakout - 1/15/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
UIHC - NASDAQ United Insurance Holding Insurance-Prop/Cas/Titl	$25.63	+0.31 1.22%	$25.97	495,530 231.56% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 214,000	$26.27 -2.44%	12/5/2014	$20.64	PP = $20.31
								MB = $21.33
Most Recent Note - 1/29/2015 6:38:21 PM G - Gapped up on the prior session and it is perched at its 52-week high following 2 consecutive volume-driven gains, extended from any sound base. Its 50 DMA line defines near-term support to watch. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and new annotated graphs. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Extended After Tallying More Volume-Driven Gains - 1/29/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M
Symbol/Exchange Company Name Industry Group	PRICE	CHANGE (%Change)	Day High	Volume (% DAV) (% 50 day avg vol)	52 Wk Hi % From Hi	Featured Date	Price Featured	Pivot Featured
								Max Buy
VRX - NYSE Valeant Pharmaceuticals DRUGS - Drug Manufacturers - Other	$161.51	+0.92 0.57%	$161.79	1,383,591 64.35% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 2,150,000	$162.80 -0.79%	1/5/2015	$144.84	PP = $149.90
								MB = $157.40
Most Recent Note - 1/28/2015 6:28:44 PM G - Reversed into the red for a small loss on average volume after hitting another new 52-week high today. Extended from any sound base. Its 50 DMA line defines near-term support to watch. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Perched at All-Time High Following 3 Quiet Gains - 1/23/2015 View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | CANSLIM.net Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A N S L I M