Marathon Petroleum has moved sideways since the summer, but some traders may think the refinery stock will start running. The first pattern on today’s chart is the April 2023 high of $138.83, a new record at the time. MPC rallied above it last summer and has remained there since. That may suggest a longer-term breakout is occurring. Second, the stock has started...
Private-equity firm Blackstone pulled back in early 2024 after rallying in November and December. Now it could be bouncing. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price zone around $116 where BX peaked in mid-September and early December. It marked the approximate low last week. Has old resistance has become new support? The 50-day simple moving average (SMA)...
American Tower ended 2023 by rallying from its lowest level in almost five years. Now, after a pullback, some dip buyers may see opportunity. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price area between about $200 and 204. It marked the highs for AMT between May and July. The wireless tower company paused there late November before continuing toward $220. If this...
Morgan Stanley has pulled back sharply following a rally November and December. Does the weakness represent an opportunity for dip buyers? The first pattern on today’s chart is the “golden cross” of the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) above the 200-day SMA. That may reflect an improvement in the longer-term trend. Second, prices appear to have stabilized near...
Lululemon Athletica ended last year by climbing to new record highs. Now it’s pulled back, and may draw attention from dip buyers. The first pattern on today’s chart is the December 8 breakout after earnings and revenue beat estimates. LULU has given back most of the gains and revisited the pre-earnings closing high. Will old resistance become new...
Intel has been rallying on hopes of a turnaround, and some chart watchers may see potential for more upside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the series of lower highs since December 27. The chipmaker has tested the falling trendline over the last week. Could a breakout draw buyers from the sidelines? Second, INTC's 8-day exponential moving average (EMA)...
Sea was a high-flying growth stock between 2019 and 2021. But it’s been dropping since, and some traders may expect another leg to the downside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the series of lower monthly highs since May. Those may suggest that a longer-term downtrend is resuming. Second, prices have slipped back under the 50- and 200-day simple moving...
Financials like Wells Fargo outperformed in late 2023 as bond yields fell. Now, after a pullback, some dip buyers may see a potential opportunity. The first pattern on today’s chart is the rally after inflation was lower than expected on November 14. WFC broke short-term resistance at $42.37 (its mid-October peak) and extended up to $50.77. It’s now retraced half...
Tesla has been one of the biggest growth stories in recent history. But now it may be going into distribution. The first pattern on today’s chart is the bearish outside candle on December 28. The reversal pattern marked a lower high compared with mid-October. It also began a stretch with prices falling in eight of nine sessions. The decline left TSLA at its...
Some investors liken the current moment to 1995 because of the potential for a “soft landing” after a bout of inflation and interest-rate hikes. Can technical analysts also find things in common? Today’s S&P 500 charts consider some potential similarities between the start of the late-1990s bull market and the situation in January 2024. The first pattern is the...
Adobe rallied in the spring on AI optimism. It continued higher in the fourth quarter before pulling back, and now dip buyers may get active. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price zone between roughly $560 and $570. The software company peaked there in September and October, but is now trying to hold it. Has old resistance become new support? Second,...
UnitedHealth has consolidated for almost two years, and now some investors may expect its longer-term uptrend to continue. The first pattern on today’s chart is the basing pattern over the course of 2023. Notice the lower lows in the first half, followed by higher lows in the second half. That may suggest buyers have regained control since the summer. Second,...
Negativity has mounted in Apple since the year began, but some traders may think it will bottom soon. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price area between $180 and $184. That roughly corresponds to the peak in early 2022 and some highs last September and October. Will the old resistance become new support? Second, the 200-day simple moving average (SMA)...
Paycom Software has rebounded after a big drop, and now some traders may expect further downside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the November 1 bearish gap after earnings and guidance missed estimates. (The 38 percent drop that day was the biggest in PAYC’s nine-year history as a public company.) It was the second consecutive downside gap on...
Eli Lilly spent the fourth quarter consolidating gains, and now trend followers may expect further upside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the falling trendline along the peaks of November and December. Prices tried to fight above that resistance yesterday, creating potential for a breakout. The pharma giant also pushed above its 50-day simple moving...
Walt Disney has trended lower since mid-2021. Now, after 18 months of consolidation, some traders may see further downside risk. The first pattern on today’s chart is the November 24 peak at $96.51. That closely matched April’s monthly low. Has old support become new resistance? Next you have the lower highs as prices try to hold the November 14 close of $91.07....
Microsoft has paused this month as the Nasdaq-100 climbs to new highs. However, some chart watchers could look for the software giant to come off the sidelines. The first pattern on today’s chart is the December 1 close of $374.51, which became resistance. A daily close above this level may confirm a potential breakout. Second is the series of higher lows since...
Cigna isn’t usually a very interesting stock. However, it jumped last week and some traders may see the potential for more upside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the bullish gap on December 11 after the health insurer cancelled its planned merger with NYSE:HUM Humana. (Management will instead spend $10 billion on stock buybacks.) Share volume hit the...