The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

CLR triggered

Open Position Notes:

GRMN turned slightly higher today after closing in a 14-cent range for the previous four straight sessions.  Although the stock has yet to make a multi-day high (needs to clear $48 to do so), I’m encouraged by today’s advance.  It was an under-the-radar type of move and could see some follow through, so I’ll be watching for that tomorrow as well as some volume expansion to accompany it.  The strong finish was nice, and I’m leaving my stop as-is for Thursday.

CLR triggered a buy today as it crossed the descending trend line at $89.60 to head quickly higher.  The strength was short-lived, however, as the pullback from the morning high never stopped, and instead turned into an all-out reversal to fall back beneath the trend line and finish negative on the day.  The one saving quality about today’s action was the quiet volume it happened on, although trend line breakout failures like this generally don’t end well.  I’m prepared to stop out if need be, but hopefully it’ll hold steady and we can see how it acts on the next attempt.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

CLR added

Open Position Notes:

GRMN tacked on $0.51 today as well as going ex-dividend ($0.40 for holders of record on 3/15, payable on 3/30), leaving the closing price an actual $0.11 above last night’s close ($47.57 vs. $47.46).  Confusing as that may be, let’s just stick with the chart setup.  I like that it’s still holding above the trend line it cleared last week, although I’d much prefer to see it put some space between price and that level.  It still appears poised for a lift from here, but overall volume is struggling to produce the fuel necessary.  I’m leaving my stop as-is for tomorrow’s session while waiting on follow through, ideally through the $48 multi-day resistance area.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

No changes

Open Position Notes:

GRMN marked its best level today since this trade entry triggered last week, although the upside didn’t last.  The stock ultimately reversed to finish a nickel lower on the day with a minor increase in volume.  Overall, volume remained well below average, and today was the third day this stock has finished within an 8-cent range.  That doesn’t show much movement the past couple of sessions, so I’m going to stick with the trade without any adjustments tonight and wait for more technical clues to surface.  I still like the setup, but would prefer to see some attempt at follow through sooner than later.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

No changes

Open Position Notes:

GRMN triggered a buy on Thursday with a turn higher through the descending trend line at $47.25, and held it on the close.  Volume expanded a bit, although it wasn’t exactly impressive.  Then on Friday we saw the stock edge higher with an inside day on reduced volume.  This is a positive start in that it’s now above the trend line and attempting to turn back up, but it’s not displaying the same kind of thrust to the upside we’ve seen out of similar pullback patterns in the stock over the past few months.  I’m suspending judgement for now and leaving my stop as-is  heading into Monday’s session, as I still like this play and don’t yet see cause for an adjustment.  I’d like to see some follow through accompanied by improved volume in the next couple of days to add to my conviction in this trade.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

GRMN added

Open Position Notes:

No open positions – 100% cash waiting for entries to trigger.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

WFM closed

Open Position Notes:

No open positions – 100% cash.

Closed Positions:

WFM pulled back at the open today with the widespread market weakness, gapping just beneath my adjusted stop to take me out of the trade for a minor 1.1% gain.  This was another trade which had several opportunities to get going with a great initial setup, a secondary breakout just last week, but no momentum whatsoever.  So for another trade to have struggled and still provide a gain, I’m pleased.  I’ll stand aside for now as the stock has been unable to make much upside progress with market strength, and now with the market struggling I expect this stock to do the same.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

TEN removed (no trigger, pattern negated)

Open Position Notes:

WFM pulled back a bit today, but held above my tightened stop at $82.  It also was able to grind its way back up in the final 2 hours to erase most of the losses, leaving it only a few cents lower by the closing bell. This one has been sluggish to get going, but I’m trying to stay with it.  Friday’s breakout was technically important, so I still would like to see it build on that with some additional strength.  However, I do not want to see that breakout fail, so my stop remains at Friday’s low of $82.00.  Today’s inside bar on light volume may prove to be a continuation bar, so we’ll see, but I’m encouraged to see the breakout hold on a pullback day like this.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

GRA closed, WFM stop tightened, TEN added

Open Position Notes:

WFM advanced Friday to push through to new highs, breaking out from the high-level channel it had established over the past 3 weeks.  However, like the market, it struggled to build on the early strength and ultimately pulled back to test the latest breakout zone.  I’ve tightened my stop tonight for this trade, as it’s been acting sluggish despite having multiple technical reasons to move higher over the past few weeks.  Should it falter from here, I’ll still expect to book a small gain.  Otherwise, I’ve allowed it a little room in case it happens to build on Friday’s breakout attempt with some additional strength.  I don’t want to see Friday’s breakout fail, hence the reason I set my stop at Friday’s low of $82.00.

Closed Positions:

GRA spent only a short amount of time in positive territory Friday before turning lower to break the 6-day uptrend line I mentioned here Thursday night.  I was using that level as my stop given that this stock had nothing but blue sky overhead but hesitated to run higher.  The pullback hit my stop to take me out of the position at $56.70, giving me a modest 1% gain on the trade before the stock headed even lower.  For a play which never materialized as expected, I’m alright with that.  The overall trend remains up, but it’s lacking momentum since breaking out more than 2 weeks ago, so I’m going to book the small gain and let it correct.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

GRA & WFM stops tightened

Open Position Notes:

GRA edged higher again today as it posted both a new intraday and closing high.  However, once again it finished off its best level of the day and volume remained quiet.  This one is gradually working toward Target 1, so I’m doing my best to stay patient with it.  There is a small uptrend line of support which has emerged, so I’m going to now use that as my stop and tonight that’s reflected in the grid above.

WFM turned up today after pulling back in each of the previous two sessions, and the stock was able to mark a new intraday and closing high as well.  What I’d like to see is a close above the prior high from 2/9 at $82.36, which is only a few cents away.  That level is now a new pivot for the stock and therefore could invite more buyers into the picture.  I’ve adjusted my stop tonight again incrementally, and will be using a multi-day low at this point as my adverse exit should it be needed.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

GRA & WFM stops tightened

Open Position Notes:

GRA finished higher on the day despite market weakness as volume picked up again with the stock tagging its best level ever.  The issue I still have with this one is the fact that it’s not accelerating higher, so I’ve previously tightened my stop and have done so again tonight in order to reduce risk in the trade while waiting for a push toward my targets.  The uptrend is still intact, it’s just curiously quiet here even though it has room to run.  Keep an eye on Twitter & email as I may look to make an intraday exit should the overall market begin to weaken further.

WFM pulled back slightly today on increased volume, suggesting there was some heavy turnover taking place in the stock.  In the near term, the high-level trading range is still intact and so is the multi-month uptrend, but the stock isn’t making any headway here and that’s a concern given the market strength we’ve witnessed.  I’ve been patient with this one, but with the major averages starting to show signs of hesitation, I’m tightening my stop tonight in order to reduce risk in this trade.  It has made a few attempts to get going, but each has resulted in a lack of traction.  Had it made some better progress, I may have allowed it some room, but it’s stagnating so it deserves a shorter leash.  Keep an eye on Twitter & email as I may look to make an intraday exit should the overall market begin to weaken further.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.