Stem Cell Stocks 3/22/09: The Week That Was

As a whole, this was not a good week for the stem cell stocks. Most were down 5% - 10%. The smaller caps were hit particularly hard. It has been tough to find the stem cell stocks' place in this current market. Overall, the market is in rally mode, but these stocks just have not been a part of the run. Right now, all the large cap stocks that we track are below its price prior to our reference date of 1-23-09.

Top Stem Cell Stock Performer(s) for Last Week:

- Athersys (ATHX) = Up 41% for the week; This stock rose after it reported its 2008 year end earnings. Losses narrowed, but investors seemed to be encouraged that the company is moving ahead with its adult stem cell therapy Multistem. After spiking after the announcement on 1-23-09, ATHX dropped precipitously for a month and a half. This was the first sign of a possible reversal.

Worst Stem Cell Stock Performer(s) for Last Week:

- Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (ACTC.PK) = Down -40% for the week; There has been no news and the volume has been average. Although the drop has been substantial, there's not a lot of force behind it. Bargain hunters will probably scoop this up quickly next week.

Stem Cell Stocks Current Price and % Up or Down Since the First Rally on 1/23/09
Market Cap Over 50 Million

Ariad Pharmaceuticals (ARIA) = Current Price: $1.25; Down -13%
Aastrom Biosciences (ASTM) = Current Price: $0.35; Down -32%
BioTime, Inc. (BTIM) = Current Price: $2.05; Down -2%
Celgene Corp (CELG) = Current Price: $45.52; Down -7%
Cytori Therapeutics (CYTX) = Current Price: $1.72; Down -46%
Geron Corp (GERN) = Current Price: $4.08; Down -22%
ThermoGenesis (KOOL) = Current Price: $0.51; Down -6%
Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR) = Current Price: $18.04; Down -4%
StemCell Inc. (STEM) = Current Price: $1.50; Down -30%


Market Cap Under 50 Million

Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC.PK) = Current Price: $0.075; Down -38%
Athersys Inc. (ATHX) = Current Price: $0.79; Up 16%
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI.OB) = Current Price: $0.0925; Down -8%
Bioheart Inc. (BHRT) = Current Price: Current Price: $0.59; Down -25%

Cord Blood America Inc. (CBAI.OB) = Current Price: $0.007; Up 84%
Cyro-Cell Intl (CCEL.OB) = Current Price: $0.58; Up 26%

Neuralstem (CUR) = Current Price: $1.00; Down -30%
International Stem Cell (ISCO.OB) = CurrentPrice: $0.47; Up 62%
LifeStem International (LSTM.OB) = Current Price: $0.0065; Up 67%
MultiCell Technologies (MCET.OB) = Current Price: $0.0135; Up 214%
Pluristem Therapeutics (PSTI) = Current Price: $1.16; Up 82%
Stem Cell Therapy Intl (SCII.OB) = Current Price: $0.0925; Up 50%
Stem Cell Innovations (SCLL.PK) = Current Price: $0.0075; Up 36%


Possible Catalyst(s) for the Week:

- Again, be on the lookout for further legislative movement to support President Obama's executive order.

- Analysis upgrades are coming. These stocks are just getting too cheap.

Although the catalysts above could help cause the stem cell stocks to end their current slide, I don't think you'll see another huge move until one of the companies in the sector get's bought out or a hostile takeover is made public. Because stem cell stocks focus on research, very few if any are going to have earnings. When a stock doesn't have earnings, it is very difficult for the market to accurately assign it a value. Until M&A activity happens, don't expect any monster pops.

The main reason I do this blog and others, is so we can call make some money. You can also check out another blog I've started called "The Perfect Stock" at http://theperfectstock.blogspot.com/ . The site picks a stock covering all sectors that is perfectly setup both fundamentally and technically. Check it out when you get a chance.

3 comments:

  1. Card, I bought STEM the Friday before the Obama executive order and then on the Monday he signed it at 2.08 and 2.00. There was so much buzz about it going to around $3.00 THAT day yet it's been very disappointing to see it down like this. When can I expect to see that $3 range with STEM? Even higher eventually, right? I'm sure we'll even see $5 plus eventually

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  2. M, STEM will slowly churn higher with time because eventually the stem cell stocks will go higher with the market. $5 might be a little to optimistic though. As I've stated in this blog post, a big jump won't happen until we see some mergers and acquisitions in the sector. However, I am looking for one to occur in the very near future.

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  3. CBAI; The kind of info that can drive a stock.....

    Cord Blood America Applauds Congressional Effort Supporting Cord Blood Storage



    SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CBAI), the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company (http://www.cordblood-america.com) focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, said today it strongly supports the Family Cord Blood Banking Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.


    The legislation will provide tax incentives for the medical expenses for those families choosing this potentially life-saving investment. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to add cord blood banking services as a qualified medical expense. "This would allow individuals and couples to pay for umbilical cord blood banking services through health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, medical expenses tax deduction and health reimbursement arrangements," said Matthew Schissler, CEO and Founder, Cord Blood America.


    The legislation was introduced by Representatives Wally Herger (R-CA.), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Artur Davis (D-AL), and Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ). The Congressmen in a press statement said "umbilical cord blood stem cells have been used in more than 14,000 transplants around the world and to treat more than 70 diseases in adults and children. The legislation could make this storage an option for more families facing potentially life-threatening diseases, increase the supply of cord blood stem cells and lower the costs for families in the future."

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