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Why You Should Buy Stocks at Their Highs

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  • (0:45) - Buying Stocks At All Time Highs: Paradigm Shifts
  • (6:15) - Stocks Up Over 100% YTD
  • (12:50) - Stocks with Slower Momentum YTD
  • (16:00) - Tracey and Dave Dive into Domino's Momentum
  • (18:45) - Momentum Stocks That Falter
  • (24:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Welcome to Episode #90 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.

Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

In this episode, Tracey is joined by David Bartosiak, the editor of Zacks Momentum Trader and Home Run Investor newsletters, to discuss buying stocks at their highs.

Obviously, the overall markets have been hitting new all-time highs in 2017, but many individual names have also been doing the same.

In a recent episode of the Value Investor Podcast, Tracey discussed 5 value stocks that had soared over 100% in just 2017 alone.

After that podcast, she got a lot of questions from investors and traders about how hard it was to buy a stock when it was hitting new highs. Isn’t the rally in the shares already done? Aren’t you too late if you’re buying on the high?

What to Look for With Momentum Stocks

Dave is Zacks Momentum specialist so he knows all about buying stocks on their highs.

He looks for these 2 scenarios:

1.       A paradigm shift in the story. This could be that a company announces an acquisition, it lands a new major client, its drug trial is a success, or business picks up in an overseas market. Look for something that has changed in that company’s business.

2.       A paradigm shift with investors. This results from investors becoming more comfortable investing in the space even though the numbers remain the same. An example would be investors figuring out that all brick and mortar stores really aren’t going to be Amazoned.

Momentum buying isn’t just about the chart. It’s also about the underlying story, especially with earnings.

Investors and traders have to examine both parts to determine whether they should jump in.

5 Stocks to Buy on Their Highs

1.       OraSure Technologies (OSUR - Free Report) is up 117% year-to-date. What’s driving this healthcare tool maker? Dave discusses what’s new in the story.

2.       Tal Education Group (TAL - Free Report) has jumped 108% year-to-date. This is a Chinese education company. Is it safe to invest in the Chinese stocks again?

3.       Visa (V - Free Report) is up 24.7% year-to-date. Should you be buying it on the highs? Dave says the price and consensus chart tells you all you need to know. It’s THE number one chart to look at for momentum stocks.

Visa Inc. Price and Consensus

Visa Inc. Price and Consensus | Visa Inc. Quote

1.       Domino’s (DPZ - Free Report) also continues to trade on its highs. Shares are up 33% year-to-date. Is it too much now? Dave also says to consult the price and consensus chart for these companies with steady earnings growth.

2.       Ulta (ULTA - Free Report) was trading at its highs earlier in the year but has had a sudden sell off and is now mostly flat on the year. Dave says to watch out for “a growth stock that is no longer a growth stock.” Is that true of Ulta?

Ulta Beauty Inc. Price and Consensus

Ulta Beauty Inc. Price and Consensus | Ulta Beauty Inc. Quote

What else should you know about buying stocks on their highs?

Find out on this week’s podcast.

[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of Ulta in her personal portfolio.]

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