Monday, August 26, 2013

5 Stocks Under $10 to Trade for Breakouts

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

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Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

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With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Alpha Natural Resources

Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) is a supplier and exporter of metallurgical coal for use in the steel-making process and a major supplier of thermal coal to electric utilities and manufacturing industries across the country. This stock closed up 5.9% to $6.28 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $6.06-$6.36

52-Week Range: $4.78-$10.74

Thursday's Volume: 10.08 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 11.14 million

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From a technical perspective, ANR ripped higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $5.55 with decent upside volume. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $4.82 to $4.78. Following that bottom, shares of ANR have started to uptrend over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from $4.78 to its recent high of $6.39. During that uptrend, shares of ANR have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ANR within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ANR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $6.39 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ANR as long as it's trending above 50-day at $5.55 and then once it sustains a move or close above $6.39 with volume that hits near or above 11.14 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ANR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.60 to $8.40.

Arch Coal

Arch Coal (ACI), a coal producer in the U.S., sells coal to power plants, steel mills and industrial facilities. This stock closed up 6.9% to $4.65 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $4.41-$4.68

52-Week Range: $3.47-$8.86

Thursday's Volume: 8.43 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 9.93 million

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From a technical perspective, ACI bounced sharply higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $4.06 with decent upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.47 to its recent high of $4.78. During that move, shares of ACI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ACI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if ACI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $4.78 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACI as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $4.06 and then once it sustains a move or close above $4.78 with volume that hits near or above 9.93 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $5.50 to $6.

Mechel OAO

Mechel OAO (MTL) is a vertically integrated mining, steel, ferroalloys and power group. This stock closed up 7.2% to $3.09 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.95-$3.10

52-Week Range: $2.60-$8.34

Thursday's Volume: 1.43 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 2.70 million

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From a technical perspective, MTL ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $2.95 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of MTL within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if MTL manage to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.15 to $3.29 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MTL as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.95 or above more support at $2.85 to $2.76, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 2.70 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MTL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.98 to $4.37. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give MTL a chance to tag its next major resistance level at $5.

First Marblehead

First Marblehead (FMD) offers education loan programs for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students. It also offers related ancillary services including loan origination, retail banking, portfolio management and securitization services. This stock closed up 5.4% to 97 cents per share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $0.88-$0.98

52-Week Range: $0.61-$1.92

Thursday's Volume: 550,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.04 million

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From a technical perspective, FMD bounced higher here right above its recent low of 87 cents per share with lighter-than-average volume. This stock recently gapped down huge from $1.60 to 87 cents with heavy downside volume. That move has pushed shares of FMD into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 26.73. Following that gap down, shares of FMD have started to rebound higher and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if FMD manages to take out its gap down day high of $1.07 and its 200-day moving average at $1.08 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in FMD as long as it's trending above its recent low of 87 cents per share and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.04 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then FMD will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone that started at $1.60. Some possible upside targets if FMD gets into that gap with volume are $1.20 to $1.30.

Nordic American Tankers

Nordic American Tankers (NAT) is an international tanker company that owns approximately 20 modern double-hull Suezmax tankers, including four newbuilding vessels. This stock closed up 5.3% to $8.42 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $8.01-$8.45

52-Week Range: $7.00-$12.10

Thursday's Volume: 815,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 972,425

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From a technical perspective, NAT ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $7.73 with decent upside volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares falling from its high of $10.31 to its recent low of $7.73. During that move, shares of NAT have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of NAT are rebounding strong off that $7.73 low and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if NAT manages to take out both its 50-day moving average at $8.49 to its 200-day moving average at $8.63 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NAT as long as it's trending above $8 or above that low at $7.73 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 972,425 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then NAT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9.89 to $10, or possibly even $10.31.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.


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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.


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