The "World Record Pattern" The first is the World Record Pattern, or the bull flag pattern. It occurs when a stock makes a sharp move higher (also known as the "flagpole") and then consolidates for a short period. Once the stock breaks out of that consolidation, it typically moves higher by the same height as the flagpole. Here's a chart of Doximity (NYSE: DOCS) to show you what I mean. In August of this year, the stock jumped from about $26 to $37 in one day, creating a flagpole that was about $11 high. It took a breather for a few days, forming the flag, and then continued higher. To figure out a price target, you take the height of the flagpole and add it to the breakout point. In this case, we'd expect the stock to reach $48 ($37 + $11). About two months after Doximity broke out, it reached $45. On October 23, I recommended closing the position for a 45% options gain in just 40 days. Without a doubt, the breakout of the World Record Pattern is one of the clearest indicators of when a trader should buy... But what about when to sell? "Old Reliable" Old Reliable, or the head and shoulders pattern, is bearish. It's valuable for taking the emotion out of the decision to sell. Old Reliable has been ranked the most consistent chart pattern - and for good reason. This chart pattern is 83% accurate in predicting a stock's downward slide. It gives you a clear warning sign before your stock begins its dive. The head and shoulders pattern features three high points. The second, or the head, is higher than the first, or the left shoulder. But then the third, or the right shoulder, fails to reach the head, and the stock's trading volume decreases. This suggests that buying interest is drying up. Once the stock breaks the "neckline" (the line drawn from the bottom of the left shoulder to the bottom of the right shoulder), it usually slides lower. That means it's time to sell. Here's this pattern in action on Viatris' (Nasdaq: VTRS) stock chart. This was a rare occasion in that there were actually two right shoulders, but you can clearly see that the stock continued falling after it broke the neckline. |
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