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4 Top Breakout Stocks to Buy for Attractive Returns
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Active investors search for stocks whose prices are fluctuating within a specific band, or in other words they pick breakout stocks. It’s prudent to offload the stock if it falls below the lower bound of this band. Similarly, once the stock breaks above this channel, it has all the chance of delivering strong gains.
Zeroing in on Breakout Stocks
In order to select the right breakout stock, one has to first calculate its support and resistance level. A support level is the lower bound for stock movements, while a resistance level refers to the maximum price, which it trades within, over a considerable period.
In other words, the demand for a stock is at its lowest at its support level, which means that most traders are willing to sell it. At the resistance level, most traders are willing to go long on the stock, meaning they would like to add them to their portfolio. The key to identifying breakout stocks is to zero in on those on the verge of a breakout or those that have just broken above the resistance level.
Has a Breakout Really Occurred?
The primary risk associated with such a strategy is that the decision to buy an apparent breakout candidate has been incorrectly timed. When a stock moves above the resistance level, it should be a highly prized commodity for traders. However, whether such a breakout is genuine is another matter altogether.
For a bona fide breakout, the stock’s earlier resistance barrier should become its new support level. This only happens if the trading channel that has been established is tested by observing long-term price trends. The strength of the support and resistance levels can be ascertained only through such a study. Despite the risk of misidentification, correctly identifying such stocks can yield considerable returns, even at a price that may not seem attractive at first glance.
Screening Parameters
• Percentage price change over four weeks between 10% and 20% (Stocks showing considerable price increases, but whose gains are not excessive.)
• Current Price /52-Week High greater than or equal to 0.9 (Stocks trading 90% close to their 52-week highs.)
• Zacks Rank less than or equal to #2 (Only Strong Buy and Buy rated stocks can get through.)
(Stocks that move by a greater degree than the broader market but within a reasonable limit.)
• Current price less than or equal to $20 (Stocks that are reasonably priced.)
These criteria narrow down the universe of more than 7,706 stocks to only 20.
Here are the top four stocks:
Pearson (PSO - Free Report) is a global media conglomerate. Pearson currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. PSO has an expected earnings growth rate of 18.8% for the current year.
A10 Networks (ATEN - Free Report) provides software-based application networking solutions. A10 Networks currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. ATEN has an expected earnings growth rate of 9.5% for the current year.
Carlyle Secured Lending (CGBD - Free Report) is a business development company. Carlyle Secured Lending currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. CGBD has an expected earnings growth rate of 22.9% for the current year.
Shore Bancshares (SHBI - Free Report) is a bank holding company. Shore Bancshares currently carries a Zacks Rank #1. SHBI has an expected earnings growth rate of 40.2% for the current year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and backtest them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
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4 Top Breakout Stocks to Buy for Attractive Returns
Active investors search for stocks whose prices are fluctuating within a specific band, or in other words they pick breakout stocks. It’s prudent to offload the stock if it falls below the lower bound of this band. Similarly, once the stock breaks above this channel, it has all the chance of delivering strong gains.
Zeroing in on Breakout Stocks
In order to select the right breakout stock, one has to first calculate its support and resistance level. A support level is the lower bound for stock movements, while a resistance level refers to the maximum price, which it trades within, over a considerable period.
In other words, the demand for a stock is at its lowest at its support level, which means that most traders are willing to sell it. At the resistance level, most traders are willing to go long on the stock, meaning they would like to add them to their portfolio. The key to identifying breakout stocks is to zero in on those on the verge of a breakout or those that have just broken above the resistance level.
Has a Breakout Really Occurred?
The primary risk associated with such a strategy is that the decision to buy an apparent breakout candidate has been incorrectly timed. When a stock moves above the resistance level, it should be a highly prized commodity for traders. However, whether such a breakout is genuine is another matter altogether.
For a bona fide breakout, the stock’s earlier resistance barrier should become its new support level. This only happens if the trading channel that has been established is tested by observing long-term price trends. The strength of the support and resistance levels can be ascertained only through such a study. Despite the risk of misidentification, correctly identifying such stocks can yield considerable returns, even at a price that may not seem attractive at first glance.
Screening Parameters
• Percentage price change over four weeks between 10% and 20% (Stocks showing considerable price increases, but whose gains are not excessive.)
• Current Price /52-Week High greater than or equal to 0.9 (Stocks trading 90% close to their 52-week highs.)
• Zacks Rank less than or equal to #2 (Only Strong Buy and Buy rated stocks can get through.)
Whether the market is good or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have a proven history of outperformance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
• Beta for 60 months less than or equal to 2
(Stocks that move by a greater degree than the broader market but within a reasonable limit.)
• Current price less than or equal to $20 (Stocks that are reasonably priced.)
These criteria narrow down the universe of more than 7,706 stocks to only 20.
Here are the top four stocks:
Pearson (PSO - Free Report) is a global media conglomerate. Pearson currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. PSO has an expected earnings growth rate of 18.8% for the current year.
A10 Networks (ATEN - Free Report) provides software-based application networking solutions. A10 Networks currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. ATEN has an expected earnings growth rate of 9.5% for the current year.
Carlyle Secured Lending (CGBD - Free Report) is a business development company. Carlyle Secured Lending currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. CGBD has an expected earnings growth rate of 22.9% for the current year.
Shore Bancshares (SHBI - Free Report) is a bank holding company. Shore Bancshares currently carries a Zacks Rank #1. SHBI has an expected earnings growth rate of 40.2% for the current year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and backtest them first before taking the investment plunge.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.