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5 Cheap Breakout Stocks for Stellar Returns

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Picking breakout stocks is probably one of the most popular techniques that active investors utilize. The key to this kind of stock selection is to identify stocks that are trading within a narrow band. Such stocks are to be acquired as soon as they move above this channel and are sold when they fall below. In case a stock moves above this band, it normally gains momentum.

Identifying Breakout Levels

The key to this strategy is calculating the support and resistance levels of a stock. The floor of a stock’s trading channel is its support level and it should be sold as soon as it threatens to fall lower. On the other hand, the resistance is a stock's breakout level and it can gain substantially if it breaks the resistance level.

When a stock is close to its support level, demand is literally hitting the floor. On the other hand, demand rises when it is breaching its resistance level, signaling the right time to make a lucrative addition to your portfolio. The idea is to pick stocks, which have just broken above their resistance barriers or are very closing to doing so.

Is This a Genuine Breakout?

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 at all genuine is another matter altogether.

For a genuine 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 which may not seem attractive at first glance.

Screening Parameters

Percentage price change over four weeks between 10% and 20% (Stocks which are showing considerable price increases, but whose gains are not excessive.)

Current Price /52-Week High greater than or equal to 0.9 (Stocks which are 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.)

Beta for 60 months less than or equal to 2
(Stocks which move by a greater degree than the broader market but within a reasonable limit.)

Current price less than or equal to $20 (Stocks which are reasonably priced.)

These criteria narrow down the universe of over 7767 stocks to only 14.

Here are the top five stocks that meet these criteria:

General Finance Corporation provides mobile storage, liquid containment and modular space solutions. General Finance’s average EPS surprise over the last four quarters is more than 100%. General Finance has a Zacks Rank #1.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NOG - Free Report) is an oil and gas exploration and production company based in the United States. Northern Oil and Gas has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and its average EPS surprise over the last four quarters is more than 100%.

American Outdoor Brands Corporation is a manufacturer and seller of firearms and accessory products for the shooting, hunting and outdoor enthusiast. American Outdoor Brands has a Zacks Rank #2 and its average EPS surprise over the last four quarters is 65.7%.

Amber Road, Inc. operates as a provider of cloud-based Global Trade Management solutions. Amber Road has a Zacks Rank #2 and its average EPS surprise over the last four quarters is 69.5%.

Oxford Immunotec Global PLC is a medical diagnostics company. Oxford Immunotec has a Zacks Rank #2 and its average EPS surprise over the last four quarters is 3.5%.

You can get the rest of the stocks meeting these criteria 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.

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