DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Trading stocks that trigger major breakouts can lead to massive profits. Once a stock trends to a new high or takes out a prior overhead resistance point, then it's free to find new buyers and momentum players that can ultimately push the stock significantly higher.
One example of a successful breakout trade I flagged recently was shipping player Eagle Bulk Shipping (EGLE), which I featured in Aug. 16's "5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts" at $3.75 a share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of EGLE had been trending sideways inside of a consolidation pattern over the last few months, with shares moving between $3.10 on the downside and $4.39 on the upside. Shares of EGLE were just starting to bounce off its 50-day moving average and were quickly moving within range of triggering a breakout trade above resistance at $4.08 to $4.39 a share.
Guess what happened? Shares of EGLE started to trigger that breakout the following week as the stock ran up to a high of $4.45 a share. Then the stock pulled back to just below its 50-day moving average at $3.51 a share, but it made a higher low from the previous low of $3.30 a share. Shares of EGLE then exploded to the upside this week with the stock running up to its intraday high today of $5.37 a share. That represents a monster gain of over 40% from that $3.75 level in just a few weeks. Bulls on EGLE should now watch for any move above $5.28 a share with high volume for continued upside.
Breakout candidates are something that I tweet about on a daily basis. I frequently tweet out high-probability setups, breakout plays and stocks that are acting technically bullish. These are the stocks that often go on to make monster moves to the upside. What's great about breakout trading is that you focus on trend, price and volume. You don't have to concern yourself with anything else. The charts do all the talking.
Trading breakouts is not a new game on Wall Street. This strategy has been mastered by legendary traders such as William O'Neal, Stan Weinstein and Nicolas Darvas. These pros know that once a stock starts to break out above past resistance levels, and hold above those breakout prices, then it can easily trend significantly higher.
With that in mind, here's a look at five stocks that are setting up to break out and trade higher from current levels.
Atossa Genetics
One stock that's starting to push within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Apple (ATOS), which is involved in the prevention of breast cancer through the commercialization of diagnostic medical devices and laboratory developed tests that can detect precursors to breast cancer. This stock is off to a decent start in 2013, with shares up 24%.
If you take a look at the chart for Atossa Genetics, you'll notice that this stock has been starting to uptrend over the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.22 to its recent high of $5.08 a share. During that uptrend, shares of ATOS have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ATOS within range of triggering a big breakout trade above a key downtrend line that dates back to May.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ATOS if it manages to break out above some key overhead resistance levels at $5.08 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 74,575 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ATOS will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.60 to $6.23 a share. Any high-volume move above $6.23 will then put $7 to $7.50 into range for shares of ATOS.
Traders can look to buy ATOS off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.42 or at $4.22 a share. One could also buy ATOS off strength once it takes out $5.08 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Seanergy Maritime
Another stock that looks poised to trigger a near-term breakout trade is Seanergy Maritime (SHIP), which provides transportation solutions in the dry bulk shipping sector through its vessel-owning subsidiaries for a range of dry bulk cargoes, including coal, iron ore, and grains, bauxite, phosphate and steel products. This stock has been red hot so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 63%.
If you take a look at the chart for Seanergy Maritime, you'll notice that this stock has just started to spike back above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages with above-average volume. In fact, volume for SHIP over the last few weeks has been showing bullish flows as the stock has flirted with those key moving averages. This move is quickly pushing shares of SHIP within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SHIP if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.74 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action 12,297 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SHIP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.06 to $2.09 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then put $2.19 to its 52-week high at $2.71 into range for shares of SHIP.
Traders can look to buy SHIP off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $1.44 a share. One could also buy SHIP off strength once it takes out $1.74 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Midstates Petroleum
One energy player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Midstates Petroleum (MPO), an independent exploration and production company focused on the application of modern drilling and completion techniques to oil-prone resources. This stock is off to a rough start in 2013, with shares off by 30%.
If you look at the chart for Midstates Petroleum, you'll notice that this stock has recently come out of a nasty downtrend that took shares from over $8 to its low of $4.26 a share. Shares of MPO have started to find some buying interest over the last month at $4.44, 4.26 and $4.48 a share, as the stock has held those levels on recent pullbacks. This could be signaling that a bottom is forming for MPO, since the downside volatility looks over. Shares of MPO are now rebounding strong off those support levels and are quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MPO if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.82 a share and then once it takes out its 50-day moving average at $5.30 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 542,939 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MPO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6 to its 200-day moving average of $6.54 a share.
Traders can look to buy MPO off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.48 or $4.26 a share. One can also buy MPO off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Whiting USA Trust I
Another name that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Whiting USA Trust I (WHX). This stock hasn't done much so far in 2013, with shares up just 4.5%.
If you look at the chart for Whiting USA Trust I, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.65 to its intraday high of $4.87 a share. During that move, shares of WHX have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now spiked shares of WHX back above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. Shares of WHX are now quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WHX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.90 to $5.04 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 321,220 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then WHX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.23 to $8.01 a share.
Traders can look to buy WHX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $4.12 a share. One can also buy WHX off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Neuralstem
My final breakout trading prospect is Neuralstem (CUR), which is engaged in the development and commercialization of treatments for central nervous system disease based on transplanting human neural stem cells and the use of small molecule drugs. This stock has been a monster for the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 63%.
If you look at the chart for Neuralstem, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending very strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $1 to its high of $1.79 a share. During that move, shares of CUR have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of CUR have recently pulled back to its 50-day moving average at $1.59 a share, and the stock is starting to bounce sharply higher off that level. That move is quickly pushing CUR within range of triggering a big breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CUR if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.75 to $1.79 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 468,962 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CUR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $1.96 a share. Any high-volume move above $1.96 will then give CUR a chance to tag $2.50 to $3 a share.
Traders can look to buy CUR off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $1.59 a share, or below more support at $1.50 a share. One could also buy CUR off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a conformable percentage from your entry point.
To see more breakout candidates, check out the Breakout Stocks of the Week portfolio on Stockpickr.
-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.
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