At the end of each trading week, Hillbent scans for the equity market for potential anomalies which exhibit extremely oversold and overbought conditions. Past observations have revealed that such candidates may experience reversal corrections to the upside or downside once the market reconfirms that their fundamentals remain solidly intact or relatively poor. From a contrarian perspective, these lists may also serve as a precursor to changes in institutional sentiment and underlying fundamentals.

(The purpose of this report is not to provide specific recommendations, but instead serve as a time-saving reference tool and starting point for investment ideas as the upcoming trading week unfolds. Of course, the results generated are not always perfect and users are strongly encouraged to perform their own due diligence on these names. Note that overbought and oversold conditions are based upon proprietary algorithms and quantitative models instead of conventional technical analysis indicators. As a supplement to this report, please refer to our Market Condition Summary to determine if market direction trends support a bullish or bearish investment bias over short-term, intermediate, and long-term timeframes.)

Swine Flu concerns drove travel industry stocks lower yesterday, as the Street fears this recent development will only add to the challenges already facing the sector.

These fears were amplified when the European Union’s health commissioner warned that Europeans "should avoid traveling to Mexico or the United States of America unless it is very urgent for them."

Carnival Corporation (CCL) and Carnival plc (CUK) on 31 Oct 2008 announced suspension of payment of their annual dividend beginning in the next quarter. According to Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO:

The company's cash flow remains strong. However, in light of the unusually high cost of raising new capital, continuing concerns about financial institution liquidity and current uncertainties in the global economy, we believe that preserving cash is a prudent step which will further strengthen the company's balance sheet and enhance our financial flexibility.

Carnival PLC (CUK) / Carnival Corporation (CCL) is the world's largest cruise ship operator and part of the S&P 500. Current analysts forecast earnings per share dropping 10% to $2.79 for this 2008 calendar year. But the game changed in September and October. Trillions of dollars disappeared from the economy and the world markets crashed. The fundamentals upon which analysts based their projections have changed.

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Many traders use a technique called dividend buying, which is the buying of stocks before they go ex-dividend and selling shortly after the ex-dividend date at roughly the same price, but receiving the dividend. This technique generally works only during a bull market. You may also want to check out the definitions of the various dividend dates.

There are over 30 stocks going ex-dividend in mid August. The following stocks all have market caps over $500 million, and yields over 1%. Several stocks have yields over 4%.

Recap of CNBC's Fast Money, Friday June 13.

Relief Rally: Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF)

Stocks jumped on a drop in oil and hopes about inflation data, which may indicate the Fed will keep rates steady. Jeff Macke said this move was just a relief rally. Narjarian noted the XLF finished the week flat and Finerman thinks the volatility could go both ways.

• Buckeye GP Holdings (BGH)
• Carnival PLC (CUK)
• St. Joe Corporation (JOE)
• White Mountain Insurance (WTM)

Steady and/or consistent dividends, as well as sub S&P average price to earnings ratios, are terms describing London based Carnival (NYSE:CUK) and Miami based Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL). Both are operating in a sector with high entry barrier and benefiting from the current demographics. While it’s obvious that travel anywhere, by plane, train, taxi cab or cruise, is being hurt by fuel costs, these fees are being passed onto the consumer. It’s definitely not changing people’s mind to cruise. While rising fuel costs will hurt their bottom lines, channel checks, according to Lehman Brothers, have all been positive, they cite rising ticket prices and upgraded both stocks on the 10th of October.

In reality, these stocks are just plain cheap right now. While this goes for both, RCL is a little bit smarter of a pick right now. While an investor could sit back and try to speculate on the better of the two, or if the industry is a good bet, the truth is the numbers don’t lie. And analysts concur, RCL is the buy.

Because I am susceptible to motion sickness, I had to take prescription patches called Transderm-Scop, made by Novartis AG (NVS), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange. I also had to combine that with Dramamine, formerly distributed by Pfizer (PFE), now added to the product line of Johnson + Johnson (JNJ) as part of the Pfizer Consumer Healthcare acquisition.

These are just a few stock opportunities to climb on board the cruising stock industry. Hopefully there won’t be choppy seas for these stocks, but will instead be a Bon Voyage. Here they are:

Christian E. Weller and Kate Sabatini of the Center for American Progress detailed what is largely a non-relationship between share prices and executive compensation in a study released in July last year. The report, “The Great CEO Guarantee: Getting Really Well-Paid Regardless of Your Performance,” shows that many companies increased the pay of their CEOs from 2001 to 2005 even when these companies’ stocks fell short of basic benchmarks such as the S&P 500 stock price index, and even when these companies' stocks failed to outperform staid U.S. Treasury bonds.

Under pressure from activist investors, Representative Barney Frank [D-Mass.], the new chair of the House Financial Services Committee, has pledged to hold Congressional hearings on runaway CEO pay packages; ancillary legislation to be discussed, too, is how to bring shareholders into the decision-making process on executive pay.

Some investors think the cruise industry may be hurt by the new passport law, especially for operations in the Caribbean area. However, others think that more cruise travel will be opening up in the near future with Cuba. There are just a few opportunities to climb on board with cruise stocks. Hopefully they won't sink or experience choppiness, but will be smooth sailing for investors. Here they are:

Carnival Corp. (CCL)