The Top 10 Stocks to Watch This Week for Possible Breakouts

Picking a winning trade on a consistent basis is not simply a stroke of luck. It’s the result of calculated screening, planning, and deliberation.

With this in mind, we have started a new weekly series on our top 10 stocks to watch this week — stocks that look poised for a possible breakout in the coming days. Traders should add these stocks to their watchlist now.

The Top 10 Stocks to Watch This Week for Possible Breakouts

Sl # Name of the Stock Stock Ticker Last Close Buy Level(s) Reason
1 Hillenbrand Inc. NYSE: HI $44.42 $44.60 Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout
2 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc NYSE: AXL $8.82 $9.20 Symmetrical Triangle Pattern Breakout
3 Suburban Propane Partners LP NYSE: SPH $17.39 $17.50 Flag Pattern Breakout
4 Compass Minerals International Inc. NYSE: CMP $26.16 $26.30 Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout
5 Alkermes plc ALKS $27.42 $27.80 Downtrend Channel
6 USA Compression Partners LP NYSE: USAC $24.65 $25.00 Flag Pattern Breakout
7 Dropbox Inc. NASDAQ: DBX $29.62 $29.80 Ascending Triangle Pattern Breakout
8 OneSpan Inc. NASDAQ: OSPN $11.00 $11.50 Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout
9 Frontline Plc NYSE: FRO $20.09 $20.70 Symmetrical Triangle Pattern
10 Radware NASDAQ: RDWR $16.90 $17.30 Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

Important: Typically, these trades offer a risk: reward ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 in the next 6 months, which implies 2x to 3x rewards when compared to risks. So, be sure to set your stop-loss levels and target prices accordingly to manage your risk. In addition, these trade ideas are triggered using daily closing prices, not intra-day pricing. So, if you participate in these trades, make sure that you only buy the stock once its daily close is above the recommended price level.

That said, here are the top 10 stocks to watch for a breakout, in no particular order.

#1 Hillenbrand Inc. (NYSE: HI)

Sector: Industrials • Specialty Industrial Machinery

Reason: Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

A falling wedge pattern is formed by joining two downward-sloping, converging trendlines having a contracting range. The pattern appears to be wide at the top and continues to contract as prices fall. A breakout from a falling wedge pattern can indicate either reversal or continuation depending on where the pattern appeared in the trend.

A stock that has broken out of a falling wedge pattern would have gained momentum and would have the potential to move higher.

Buy Level(s): The stock has currently broken out of a falling wedge pattern. However, the ideal buy level for HI is above the nearest resistance level of $44.60. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – HI

HI – Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

#2 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AXL)

Sector: Consumer Cyclical • Auto Parts

Reason: Symmetrical Triangle Pattern Breakout

A symmetrical triangle is a chart pattern formed by two converging trend lines connecting a series of sequential peaks and troughs. These two lines result in the formation of a triangle that appears to be symmetrical.

A symmetrical triangle pattern is usually formed when there is indecision in the price movements and there is uncertainty among the buyers and sellers. This chart pattern represents a period of consolidation before the price breaks out or breaks down. In case a breakout occurs from the upper trend line, it is a strong bullish indication as it signifies the start of a new bullish trend.

Buy Level(s): The stock has currently broken out of a symmetrical triangle pattern. However, the ideal buy level for AXL is if the stock closes above the immediate resistance level of $9.20. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – AXL

AXL – Symmetrical Triangle Pattern Breakout

#3 Suburban Propane Partners LP (NYSE: SPH)

Sector: Utilities • Utilities – Regulated Gas

Reason: Breakout From a Flag Pattern

A flag pattern is a short-term continuation pattern that marks a small consolidation before the previous move resumes. The pattern is formed when the market consolidates in a narrow range after a sharp move. For a stock in an uptrend, a breakout from this pattern is typically a strong bullish indication.

Buy Level(s): Although the stock has currently broken out of the flag pattern, the ideal buy level for SPH is above the near-term resistance level of $17.50. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – SPH

SPH – Flag Pattern Breakout

#4 Compass Minerals International Inc. (NYSE: CMP)

Sector: Basic Materials • Other Industrial Metals & Mining

Reason: Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

A falling wedge pattern is formed by joining two downward-sloping, converging trendlines having a contracting range. The pattern appears to be wide at the top and continues to contract as prices fall. A breakout from a falling wedge pattern can indicate either reversal or continuation depending on where the pattern appeared in the trend.

A stock that has broken out of a falling wedge pattern would have gained momentum and would have the potential to move higher.

Buy Level(s): The stock has currently broken out of a falling wedge pattern. However, the ideal buy level for CMP is above the nearest resistance level of $26.30. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – CMP

CMP – Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

#5 Alkermes plc (NASDAQ: ALKS)

Sector: Healthcare • Drug Manufacturers – Specialty & Generic

Reason: Formation of a Downtrend Channel

A downtrend or descending channel is the price action contained between downward sloping parallel lines. It is formed by two lines that are drawn by connecting the lower highs and lower lows of a stock’s price. Even though this is typically a bearish pattern, a breakout from the upper rail of this pattern is considered a good bullish indication.

Buy Level(s): The daily chart shows that the stock is currently forming a downtrend channel. The ideal buy level for ALKS is if the stock breaks out of the downtrend channel and has a daily close above $27.80. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – ALKS

ALKS – Downtrend Channel

#6 USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE: USAC)

Sector: Energy • Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

Reason: Breakout From a Flag Pattern

A flag pattern is a short-term continuation pattern that marks a small consolidation before the previous move resumes. The pattern is formed when the market consolidates in a narrow range after a sharp move. For a stock in an uptrend, a breakout from this pattern is typically a strong bullish indication.

Buy Level(s): Although the stock has currently broken out of the flag pattern, the ideal buy level for USAC is above the near-term resistance level of $25.00. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – USAC

USAC – Flag Pattern Breakout

#7 Dropbox Inc. (NASDAQ: DBX)

Sector: Technology • Software – Infrastructure

Reason: Breakout From an Ascending Triangle Pattern

An ascending triangle pattern is a bullish pattern formed by drawing a horizontal line along the swing highs, and a rising trendline along the swing lows. These two lines result in the formation of a triangle. A breakout from this pattern is typically a strong bullish indication.

Buy Level(s): Although the stock has broken out of the ascending triangle pattern, the ideal buy level for DBX is if the stock has a daily close above the near-term resistance level of $29.80. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – DBX

DBX – Ascending Triangle Pattern Breakout

#8 OneSpan Inc. (NASDAQ: OSPN)

Sector: Technology • Software – Infrastructure

Reason: Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

A falling wedge pattern is formed by joining two downward-sloping, converging trendlines having a contracting range. The pattern appears to be wide at the top and continues to contract as prices fall. A breakout from a falling wedge pattern can indicate either reversal or continuation depending on where the pattern appeared in the trend.

A stock that has broken out of a falling wedge pattern would have gained momentum and would have the potential to move higher.

Buy Level(s): The stock has currently broken out of a falling wedge pattern. However, the ideal buy level for OSPN is above the nearest resistance level of $11.50. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – OSPN

OSPN – Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

#9 Frontline Plc (NYSE: FRO)

Sector: Energy • Oil & Gas Midstream

Reason: Formation of a Symmetrical Triangle Pattern

A symmetrical triangle is a chart pattern formed by two converging trend lines connecting a series of sequential peaks and troughs. These two lines result in the formation of a triangle that appears to be symmetrical.

A symmetrical triangle pattern is usually formed when there is indecision in the price movements and there is uncertainty among the buyers and sellers. This chart pattern represents a period of consolidation before the price breaks out or breaks down. In case a breakout occurs from the upper trend line, it is a strong bullish indication as it signifies the start of a new bullish trend.

Buy Level(s): The ideal buy level for FRO is if the stock has a daily close above the breakout level of the symmetrical triangle pattern, at around $20.70. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – FRO

FRO – Symmetrical Triangle Pattern

#10 Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR)

Sector: Technology • Software – Infrastructure

Reason: Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

A falling wedge pattern is formed by joining two downward-sloping, converging trendlines having a contracting range. The pattern appears to be wide at the top and continues to contract as prices fall. A breakout from a falling wedge pattern can indicate either reversal or continuation depending on where the pattern appeared in the trend.

A stock that has broken out of a falling wedge pattern would have gained momentum and would have the potential to move higher.

Buy Level(s): The stock has currently broken out of a falling wedge pattern. However, the ideal buy level for RDWR is above the nearest resistance level of $17.30. This is marked in the chart below as a green color dotted line.

Daily chart – RDWR

RDWR – Falling Wedge Pattern Breakout

Happy Trading!

Trades of The Day Research Team

Where to Invest $99 [sponsor]
Motley Fool Stock Advisor's average stock pick is up over 350%*, beating the market by an incredible 4-1 margin. Here’s what you get if you join up with us today: Two new stock recommendations each month. A short list of Best Buys Now. Stocks we feel present the most timely buying opportunity, so you know what to focus on today. There's so much more, including a membership-fee-back guarantee. New members can join today for only $99/year.