After completing our weekend stock scanning research, Himax Technologies ($HIMX) has entered our radar screen as a potential swing trade buy entry in the coming days.
This small-cap tech company manufactures the liquid-crystal on silicon chips that power the displays of Google Glass, and is presently forming the “handle” portion of a cup and handle chart pattern.
The cup and handle is a bullish chart pattern that often precedes the strongest stock breakouts.
Looking at the daily chart of $HIMX below, notice the depth from the high of the left side of the cup (mid-May), down to the low of the cup (late June), equates to a price retracement of over 40%.
Although this is a bit wider than we like to see, bear in mind that $HIMX is only a $7 stock that is forming a base of consolidation after a gain of more than 100%. As such, a little extra volatility is to be expected.
The same could be said for the handle, which should not retrace more than 15% from the highs in a normal cup and handle pattern. With $HIMX, the pullback was 19%.
Again, this is fine because it is a volatile small-cap stock. Conversely, if the handle dipped 20% in a stock like Google ($GOOG), it would be ugly.
On the annotated daily chart below, we have highlighted the cup and handle that has developed for this swing trade setup:
With this momentum trade setup, please be aware that $HIMX is scheduled to report its quarterly earnings results on August 15. Since that is only ten days away, our initial share size will be very small if the trade triggers for buy entry because we are only seeking a quick pop ahead of earnings. If, however, the stock blasts off in the coming days and we have a large enough profit buffer, we would hold the position through the earnings report.
Our exact entry, exit, and target prices for this trade setup are restricted to subscribing members of our popular stock picking newsletter. However, we will point out that our initial stop price on $HIMX is tight because this is a G.O.N.G (“go or no go”) trade setup. We want to be right or be right out, as we are not willing to hold this stock for long if it doesn’t quickly take off.
Finally, it is noteworthy to point out that $HIMX is not an “A-rated” stock for us. This means if your portfolio is full (buying power is maxed out), there is no reason to cut existing positions to move into this stock. Nevertheless, a stock is still quite capable of outperforming even if it is not “A-rated.”
For us, an “A-rated” stock is one with top earnings growth (usually small to mid-cap), solid volume, and overly positive price action. If a stock is slightly lacking in any of those areas, it is not “A-rated.” Two current examples of “A-rated” stocks are LinkedIn Corporation ($LNKD) and Michael Kors Holding Limited ($KORS).
Which stocks are currently on YOUR radar screen for swing trade buy entry and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Hi Deron, I am new to your site and found you through mytrade. Great info so far! On HIMX, do you worry about the gap? Isn’t there a possibility it could move lower to fill the gap? just trying to better understand TA.
Hi there. Thanks for the kind words and glad you like our site.
The gap in $HIMX is not a concern UNLESS the price drops below the 7/31 low of $6.27. If that happens, the gap will likely be filled. That’s why a tight protective stop would be needed just below that low.
Anyway, this $HIMX never triggered as an “official” buy entry for us anyway because it failed to immediately move higher right after we posted our analysis.
Recall we said this was a G.O.N.G. (go or no go) setup due to earnings coming very soon. As such, we do not have a position in this setup we pointed out, so simply on to the next swing trade.
Drop us a line anytime.
Deron
It took a few weeks for this trade setup to get going, but $HIMX has just rallied 40% over the past three days (as of September 5, 2013). Chart still looks bullish and we anticipate further upside from the follow-through of that cup and handle.