Trading IBD Stocks

[PuddinHead42]

@buynholdisdead

Good call on AGX Pete, did you pick it up?

Andy, I did not. I watched it and because of the pullback I will give it another day. I did not have a buy-stop on. I did free up some money today (HWM), so I can buy if I want.

@buynholdisdead

Smaller Canadian company IE. They are involved in copper mining

Trump just whacked the copper miners, guess that is the cause of those big bars. This would scare me too much, but getting the 50dma bounce gives you a good stop loss.

ZS is a long time favorite of mine. I have an old position in, thank you Motley Fool! I trade around it when it makes sense. I recently sold out my trading positions. One set when it fell below 21dma then the rest when it fell below 50dma. I picked up bargains after the April 2 Liberation day liberated it from $216 to $164. I think this is a prime candidate for a takeover.

I sold out of HWM at a 21% profit today. It sliced through the 50dma on high volume after earnings report. I waited until afternoon and then decided to lock in my profits, after which it did close above 50dma. It does not have too much technical damage and Trump is making tariff deals include buying lots of military equipment, so that could help. Now I have cash if I want to go heavy into AGX.

Today worried me a bit. I has some big winners: META, MSFT, RDDT, RBLX, ALAB, but my entire portfolio was down 0.48% Feels like we could be rolling over under the big headlines.

Lakedog did post some stats from an IBD guest, it went something like “in the 27 years where were a bull rally at the beginning of June and even higher at beginning of July, then 26 of the 27 times we sold off between the middle of July and into August.” I can’t find the quote anymore, but another way to think of it is…So, we have been going up strong for 2 months and now we are getting earnings and if anything looks bad, I am going to sell and go to the beach. Makes sense.

[PuddinHead42]

Outside down days: HOOD, CRDO, SHOP, ZS, QQQ, PLTR, ETN. There were several breakouts that reversed, like HIMS and AGX. DKNG nullified its good day from yesterday.

[PuddinHead42]

Stong move today. Rebounding off bottom of Webby’s regression channel, so he will be pressing the gas. I bought ESLT on breakout. Watching to add to my AEM. I am not unwilling to get back into GLW, RMBS, HWM, IBIT, ETHE. Can’t and won’t do all. Also, added to RDDT. Big gap up Friday on earnings, now it is up on 100% vol today. Building right side of a base now. AFRM, DAVE and APP are looking good, all bounced of 50dma Friday and are powering up today. AFRM has strongest volume.

SPOT has strong volume, I will probably add back some of the shares I sold (already did at the lows). DASH bounced off 21dma and I am sure Webby bought it as it cleared the recent resistance, so he would be up at least 2%, I would be buying high.

Webby really wanted META on a good upside reversal, but did not get it. If he buys it today, I am sure his stop would be yesterday’s lows, so that is what I would do.

[PuddinHead42]

Just added to PJT on break of handle downtrend today on +23% vol and a strong upside reversal Friday. Global alternative fund placement and advisory services, so its a financial, which are strong. Pretty good growth ratings, though EPS and Sales have been erratic. Stage 1 cup/handle base makes it very tempting. I also have a buy-stop for breakout into the buy zone.

MNTN (digital ads) IPO is now in an IPO base cup/handle with $30.30 pivot. I made some quick money in this, but may now buy on the breakout.

[PuddinHead42]

It was a busy two days for me, I did some sells on Friday and bought some strong movers today. Friday looked bad to me, so I sold these IBD holdings to lock in profits: IBIT, ETHE, FBNC, GLW, RMBS, HOOD, ANET.

FBNC was brand new and crashed bad. I had a 1/4 position that I bought on a break out a few days early. It started edging down the day after the breakout and then forced me to sell at the bottom on Friday. If it had not been such a big loss, I might have waited for then end of the day and seen it close back above the 21dma. With that kind of upside reversal and close, I should have been paying attention to it today, but I did not. Only up 1.89%

HOOD sold out on a standing stop loss that was pretty far away. It looks like the market saw my stop at 93, drove the stock down, then immediately ran back to $103. I don’t think I made a big mistake with a stop loss that far away, but Bill would have asked why I sold all of my 100% gain instead of making more incremental sells. That would have been a better approach. Furthermore, Bill or Webby might have said that with that strong comeback, look to add it back on Monday. Good point. I did buy stuff today, what psychology stopped me from buying back this. Maybe I will get a new base and another chance. It has been just one day.

IBIT and ETHE were sort of risk-on, risk-off holdings, so I sold them. IBIT is still below the 21dma today (and in the recent buy zone). Ether is still high in its move and probably a better bet than IBIT if I wanted to buy one back.

ANET was a technical buy as it broke out of a consolidation that looks like a Darvas box. This was a great trade for me in that I really utilized stop losses well. I kept moving them up as it rose higher and was stopped out Friday at a nice profit. Had the market tanked, I would have looked really smart with the stop loss. For the most part, these stop losses have been improving my results.

GLW and RMBS were probably bad sells. Webby reminds us to sell our worst stocks first. Both these just gapped up after earnings and were going to stay strong in a short downturn. My logic was that I could sell and hopefully they would build a flag for me to buy back later. That may still happen and/or I may buy back if they hit new highs in a bullish market.

RMBS was the strong of the two. It had a nice upside reversal, yet I still sold it. That was unwise after showing that strength. I should have looked at that and told myself to look for a re-buy opportunity if the market was positive. With the high futures this morning, I could have put in a buy-stop-limit and gotten it as it moved above Friday’s highs. I think this was the place where I had two chances to do better. Maybe I will learn.

We are still due for a trip below the 50dma before Sept 1.

[PuddinHead42]

Yesterday: AFRM, ESLT, Added a little PLTR before earnings and got lucky. TQQQ, IWO.

ESLT is Israeli aerospace and defense company. Was #7 group when I bought it, #3 today. Strong ratings and +62% vol on breakout. 1/2 position. Today it declined on equally strong vol. At break even.

Bought 1/4 AFRM as it broke above $73.11. MarketSurge had not drawn a base but later in the video Justin said it was the handle of a cup with handle. Decent ratings, strong RS. I was also looking at DAVE and APP but this acted the strongest.

I added TQQQ and IWF because we finished at the top of the range so I expected a continuation of the trend. I was wrong about TQQQ, but IWO did go up. I decided to wait one more day on TQQQ since we are teeter-tottering days.

Today’s buys: MNTN, AEM (add). Added a little to MELI on an upside reversal after earnings.

I had wanted to buy AEM last night, but missed my chance. Put in a pre-market limit and was able to get it a little lower than last night’s close. While I was away for the morning, it was strong enough to continue out of the buy zone. I have almost a full position and would likely buy a little more on a dip. It has great ratings and RS. Great sales and EPS, though sales yoy are declining (only 81% increase this quarter)

I have owned MNTN before, made a quick return and bailed on this IPO. Been watching it setup a handle on its IPO base and set a buy-stop for it the other night. It hit today and kept going up, so I was able to buy a second 1/4 position on the strength.(+69% vol on the day) I don’t think I will add because it is an IPO and will likely be too volatile.

It would probably be wise to take a break and let the market play out a couple days, but I am a sucker for a breakout. I do have 30% cash in my IBD account.

[PuddinHead42]

No new buys today. MNTN reported and got crushed but I did not sell yet.

EYE hit my stop loss at 7% profit. Was walking up the Darvas stairs. It had been rolling over, so when it stopped at 50dma and did not really bounce, I was happy it sold earlier. If I had just bought a little off that first box, which as a flag on a pole. It was a good experience, I am liking those little boxes and pyramiding in a strong market.

I have a full position in TOST. Fell on earnings, but reversed up off 50dma and finished at top of gap range and definitely in top 50% of ATR.

I will consider adding a small amount if it stay up tomorrow.

Some earnings tomorrow: VST, GVA (in buy zone, barely above 21dma), FLUT (DKNG did well), SEZL (barely hanging on to 50dma

DASH is not in a buyable position, but reported earnings and is up 9% afterhours. Feels tempting.

Leaderboard just added QLD due to strong action. Exposure back up to 80-100%.

[PuddinHead42]

$APP was such an easy buy, and I did it all wrong. I knew this had been a stock with lots of momentum and great earnings and sales growth, but I did not know it was reporting Thursday. In retrospect, it is obvious that I should have been waiting to see what the reaction was, and then pounced early. For instance, it was known what the earnings were before market up, yet it did not gap up. If I had put a buy-stop in for a more above that shelf at $400 the another at $410 or $415 I would have been in before I bought in the buy zone after it had settled. I am not trying to second guess myself, but to present logic that should have been employed (had I been watching stocks known to report that day). Look at the 5-minute chart that follows.

An astute trader, or someone following IBD live could have taken the standard IBD advice and wait to watch the first 3 5-minute bars and then make a decision. That would have gotten you in above that shelf and allowed a second buy before the pivot.

I will look for some Monday AM earnings and post them.

[PuddinHead42]

Earnings report for 8/11/25, not sure which are before or after market hours yet..

B is already above the buy zone.

FinViz shows EPS Before Market Open. It will give a hint to FNV.

FNV - Bingo! looks much like APP. Has a little shelf, is below the pivot. Very strong Ratings. Group ranked 9 out of 197.

MAG is well above traditional breakout buy zone, is above the 25% profit level box, and has moved above the short-term consolidation. Not a good play in my book.

MRCY. Group 9/197 (Aerospace). Good ratings, Support and 50 and 21dma recently. Just below the buy zone. stage 2 flat base.

FinViz shows EPS After Market Close (AMC)

FinViz shows earnings AMC

SBS: group 118/197. Good ratings. Just moved above 50dma. Could easily take off on good earnings. About 5% below $22.18 buy area. I like the ones above better.

FinViz does not show earnings release time or proper date.

USAR: group 6/197 (mining). Poort earnings, but good ratings. has been very volatile. I would prefer the miners mentioned above for more safety. FINVIZ says earnings AMC

Our old buddy LIF: Group 33, strong ratings. Good EPS expectations. Blasted off from earnings last time and could have been bought at good prices in the morning. Will like do the same on great earnings this time, maybe a gap up. It is 9% above the 50dma, but has found support at the 21dma. Given that flag pole earlier, this could be a multt-quarter gap up stock, just don’t buy before earnings.

FINVIZ does not have the earnings release time for LIF yet. (Still shows May 12 AMC)

ZACKs says Life360 (LIF) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company’s earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management’s discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it’s worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

[PuddinHead42]

AFRM: bought a little on the non-traditional break above the 73.11 price (high label) on above average volume.. Today it came back and tested the 21dma and reversed up. I did not buy, but it would have been a valid place and I might consider adding a bit more.

I bought 1/4 position of FNV. I goofed up a bit, I thought earnings were after hours, but when I looked at the chart at lunchtime, it showed earnings results. FNV sank, then reversed up off the merged 21/50dma. I bought it well after it had moved above the short shelf. No biggie, it was an early buy and I can add more if it breaks out or acts well.

I added to ETHE, but kept it small because the chart is very extended and Webby would never buy here (no logical stop loss). I have been accumulating this it a couple accounts, one for long-term and one for IBD rules. Ethereum is hot, will be the blockchain for stable value crypto (e.g. CRCL). It will be the blockchain for tokenization of stocks and property and stuff. Tom Lee is really pushing it, and I think that has helped. He accepted the chairman position in Bitminer (BMNR) a while back and it turned into a meme stock. I bought it as I was buying ETHE as a gamble and it is up 57%. Makes up for some other gambles

I will try to post some status on things I did last week and failed to discuss.

[PuddinHead42]

Earnings watch for 8/13 reports

CORH is extended, but that doesn’t mean it won’t jump. Strong IBD ratings. Does laser stuff, may be AI-adjacent.

CSCO in the buy zone.

EAT - a lot of restaurant stocks have been puking up their lunch after earnings.

ESLT - Israeli aerospace/defense. I hold some in my IBD account and will wait out earnings even though I am holding a loss. Probably an unwise gamble. Strong IBD rankings.

PFGC Resting on the 21dma. If it reports and jumps afterhours, you might be able to get in at a low price at the open.

An opportunity like APP is what I am looking for, but don’t see it in this list. We had plenty of time to get in it low, but I waited until end of day. It is working well, but could have had bigger gains.

You never know, but watching MRCY for the first few minutes might have given courage to buy

[PuddinHead42]

I bought IBP today, gapped up on earnings and created a very short flag. Moved on lower rate speculation and general market strength. Bought 1/2 position and will add at breakout of consolidation. Good IBD ratings except for EPS.

Bought some more SE on its earnings gap up into the buy zone. Had a little from earlier buy zone. Strong ratings.

Had to ditch recent trading buys of VEEV, fell below my box and was about 6.4% down from buy.

ETHE is going up 4-6%% a day. My original IBD position was 50%, so I am adding 10% of basis on new buys to keep my basis from getting too high. Lots of optimism about Ethereum blockchain being used for stable coin and tokenization. If I keep doing this and stop out of full position if I go below 2 most recent buys, I will have a nice profit. ETHE is not going to report earnings and go down 20% overnight.

Check out charts for COF, FIX, GS, WYNN, JBL, BROS, PWR, ETN, BWXT. Might be some ideas there. moving above resistance, support at 50dma, etc.

JBL moved above a Darvas-like box, I might buy some before the open since I missed it today. AI datacenter related.

META is one of those stocks I like to keep nibbling at, so it broke above a downtrend today and moved to new highs, so added a bit.

[PuddinHead42]

Stock of the day, BX, actionalbe on break of downtrend line and just below pivot.

Wall Street Major Blackstone, IBD Stock Of The Day, Near Buy | Investor’s Business Daily

My IBD account is only 70% invested, so I intend to make an early buy on this tomorrow.

I have early buys on FNV and waiting for a breakout there.

Added to ETHE, AMD and IBP today..

TEM is a Health AI stock mentioned by IBD. (Owned by Pelosi), volatile but in a setup and could be a meme stock if the right person mentions it on TV.

The IPO BLSH (crypto exchange) seemed to make HOOD, IBKR and ETOR go down today, maybe people sold those to buy BLSH. I think that money will rotate back if BLSH goes down like FIG and FLY.

[PuddinHead42]

This was a fun burn. FBNC had a nice breakout on earnings and I wanted to diversify into financials, but I bought too high. I but a stop loss on it below the buy point. But a few days later, it gapped down and opened way below my stop loss, causing me to sell at a 10% loss, but only on a quarter position. It laughed at me and immediately had an upside reversal to close above the 21dma. Now it is at new highs. Webby loves upside reversals and probably would have bought as it was moving off the bottom, but not me. Bill was never afraid to buy back a stock he sold if the signals were right, but not me

[PuddinHead42]

I sold all my holdings in IBD account and put 10% of cash into SARK. I also sold a ton of short term trade-around-the-core positions. I will accept that this looks like a panic sell and that we have had a series of 1-day corrections, but I am ok with it. Is the market going to run away without me before Powell speaks? No.

I now have lots of cash and lots of options. I plan to sit around Friday ready to buy a ton of TNA (3x IWM) if he implies they will be cutting 50bps in September. He is painted in a corner with 2 dissenters, so he has to do something. If not, we could get out “back to school sale” and revisited the 50dma before Sept 1, like on 26 of the last 27 years (or 27 times we were in this scenario).

I will also be upping stop losses on some remaining positions with nice short-term gains.

[PuddinHead42]

I was in $AS awhile back but it did not work out, fresh chance for those looking. But up a towering 11% to move into the buy zone and very high volume.

This highly rated stock from my Bill O’Neil screen

Lots of Gold stocks setting up: Check GFI, CDE.

A little flagpole action.

[PuddinHead42]

$ATAT reported earnings and shot up on high volume to breakout, but then the breakout failed. I feel like it is ok to now make an “early” buy below the buy zone. But I could hear Webby and Bill saying that if it were a strong stock, it would not have done this.

On the other, other hand, it is a stage one base and the second base-on-base after the big reset base. Each base has gotten tighter, and the IBD team (Webby) loves that. What to do?

[PuddinHead42]

ELF ready to breakout of a double-bottom that also looks like a handle on a very big cup.

Might have some tariff worries as their stuff is made in China, but we also got a 90 day delay recently.

[physician]

What do you think about the IREN chart? Thanks…doc

[physician]

Also, i saw a ranking of the IBD top 50 and IREN was number one. Any opinion on that? I just entered a position with IREN recently…doc