The retail group has come to life, after a long period of lying dormant underneath the Amazon effect. These events are overblown both to the upside and downside in general with an array of sectors and this space is no exception. The analogy you are never as good or as bad as you think comes to mind. It is always a good practice to avoid any meaningful long exposure to a weak group, as a rising tide with lift all boats in reverse. But keeping a list of former leaders on your radar can often prove fruitful as theses names will normally be the first out of the gate to score solid gains. Below are a few recent examples we profiled in the last month, and not included are stocks like ROST and BURL. ROST just burst above a 66.26 cup base trigger on 11/17, with two consecutive 10% gains after earning along with the 8/18 session, which could also be interpreted as a bullish inverse head and shoulders breakout. BURL smashed through a 101.73 cup with handle trigger of its own on Friday but REPORTS earnings this Tuesday before the bell.

In our Tuesday 11/14 Game Plan we looked at GOOS. The stock is now 5% higher than the highlighted entry and now firmly above its 24.42 cup base trigger and at all time highs. It rose 1.5% this week on the back of the prior week advancing more than 23% on more than double average weekly volume.

Stocks that can be bought after recent cup base breakouts are GOOS. GOOS is a retail leader higher by 46% since inception this May and is now 4% off most recent 52 week highs. Obviously a very small sample size of earnings with 2 of 3 registering nice gains of 14.1 and 15.7% on 11/9 and 6/2 and a loss of 3.3% on 8/10. The stock is higher 8 of the last 11 weeks and the last 2 weeks alone jumped nearly 25% (week ending 11/10 advanced 23.1% on third best weekly volume ever). It has been acting well POST breakout from inverse head and shoulders trigger of 20.50 and on 10/25 was retested and held firm at round 20 number. GOOS broke above a 5 month long cup base trigger of 24.42 on 11/9 and enter here on pullback.

Trigger GOOS here.  Stop 23.30.

In our Monday 11/13 Game Plan we looked at BIG. The stock is on a 3 week winning streak and is now higher by more than 2% from the recommended entry. Look to add to this name if sector strength continues above a cup base trigger of 56.64 in a base nearly a year long. A breakout achieves all time highs.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out bull flag formations are BIG. BIG is a retail leader higher by 7% YTD and 23% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.9%. Earnings have been mostly higher with three consecutive positive reactions gaining 2.9, 3.8 and 1.2% on 5/26, 3/3 and 12/2/16 before a most recent loss of 1% on 8/25. The stock is higher 3 of the last 6 weeks with all 6 trading within the week ending 9/29 which scored a 8.2% advance. Look to enter BIG with a buy stop above a bull flag trigger of 54 which carries a measured move to 61. One can add to above a cup base trigger of 56.64 in a pattern nearly a year long that began the week ending 12/23/16.

Trigger BIG 54.  Stop 52.10.

In our Monday 10/23 Game Plan we looked at WMT. The stock is on a current 7 week winning streak and now comfortably above a long 91.07 cup base breakout trigger in a base that began the week ending 1/16/15. Not surprisingly it was stopped at the very round oar number this week but look to add to this name on weakness. It is now 12% higher than the recommended entry.

Stocks that can be bought after recent breaks above bull flag formations are WMT. WMT is a best of breed retail play higher by 26% YTD and 28% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 2.3%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 3.2 and 3% on 5/18 and 2/21 and losses of 1.6 and 3.1% on 8/17 and 11/17. The stock is on a 3 week winning streak and this weeks flat finish has to be interpreted as very bullish after the week ending 10/13 jumped nearly 10% scoring its best weekly gain in years. It has acted well POST breakout from a cup base trigger of 82.09 on 10/10 and enter WMT here with todays break above a bull flag trigger of 87.25, which carries a measured move to 96.25. On the way to the measured move one can add to above a weekly cup base trigger of 91.07 that began the week ending 1/16/15.

Trigger WMT here.  Stop 84.75.

In our Friday 11/10 Game Plan we looked at LB. The stock is on a 5 week winning streak up more than 19% but still sits 33% off most recent 52 week highs. The bullish take on the chart is it is now nicely above a 200 day SMA which it was underneath for the last 22 months. It highlights the reason for using stops on a CLOSING basis as it was below the stop price intraday on 11/16.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out bull flag triggers are LB. LB is a recent retail standout but is still lower by 27% YTD and 26% over the last one year period and sports a hefty dividend yield of 5%. Earnings have been mixed with smaller gains of 2.7 and 2.5% on 5/18 and 11/17 and losses of 5.1 and 15.8% on 8/17 and 2/23 on 8/17 and 2/23 (it REPORTS on 11/15 after the close). The stock is lower by 36% off most recent 52 week highs but higher 8 of the last 11 weeks and up 3.3% heading into Friday. Last week rose 4.5% on the fourth best weekly volume of '17 so far. Enter LB with a buy stop above a bull flag trigger of 48.50 which carries a measured move to the gap fill on the upside from the 7/5 session.

Trigger LB 48.50.  Stop 47.

In our Wednesday 11/8 Game Plan we looked at EL and CRI. EL is now higher 25 of the last 32 weeks and sits just 2% off recent all time highs. The flag breakout could be retested and should offer a solid entry if it occurs. It is acting significantly better than names in the group like ULTA, ELF and SBH all of by 32, 38 and 44% respectively from their own 52 week highs.

EL is a best in breed consumer play higher by 60% YTD and 55% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.2%. Earnings momentum show why its a leader with FOUR consecutive positive reactions higher by 9.2, 7.7, 4.4 and 2.6% on 11/1, 8/18, 5/3 and 2/2. The stock is higher 14 of the last 17 weeks and has acted well POST breakout from more than a year long weekly cup with handle trigger of 98.50 in a base that began the week of 5/6/16 and taken out the week ending 7/28/17. EL has now formed a bull flag trigger at all time highs and enter with a buy stop above 122.50 that carries a measured move to 134.

Trigger EL 122.50.  Stop 118.

CRI is on a 5 week winning streak up more than 12% and this name is now more than 5% above the cup base trigger which aligned with the very round par number. Look to add to this name above a cup base trigger of 112.68 in a base that began the week ending 7/29/16.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out the round numbers are CRI. CRI is a retail leader higher by 15% YTD and over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.5%. Earnings have been mostly higher with gains of 4.4, 2.6, 4.2 and 4.1% on 10/26, 4/27, 2/23 and 10/27/16 and a loss of 1.5% on 7/27. The stock is higher 9 of last 11 weeks and last profiled in Friday 9/15 Game Plan above bullish ascending weekly triangle which could also be interpreted as an inverse head and shoulders pattern. Enter CRI with a buy stop above round par number at 100.25 which would also move through cup base trigger of 99.85. One can add to above weekly cup base trigger of 112.68 that began week ending 7/27/16.

Trigger CRI 100.25.  Stop 96.60.

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The retail group has come to life, after a long period of lying dormant underneath the Amazon effect. These events are overblown both to the upside and downside in general with an array of sectors and this space is no exception. The analogy you are never as good or as bad as you think comes to mind. It is always a good practice to avoid any meaningful long exposure to a weak group, as a rising tide with lift all boats in reverse. But keeping a list of former leaders on your radar can often prove fruitful as theses names will normally be the first out of the gate to score solid gains. Below are a few recent examples we profiled in the last month, and not included are stocks like ROST and BURL. ROST just burst above a 66.26 cup base trigger on 11/17, with two consecutive 10% gains after earning along with the 8/18 session, which could also be interpreted as a bullish inverse head and shoulders breakout. BURL smashed through a 101.73 cup with handle trigger of its own on Friday but REPORTS earnings this Tuesday before the bell.

In our Tuesday 11/14 Game Plan we looked at GOOS. The stock is now 5% higher than the highlighted entry and now firmly above its 24.42 cup base trigger and at all time highs. It rose 1.5% this week on the back of the prior week advancing more than 23% on more than double average weekly volume.

Stocks that can be bought after recent cup base breakouts are GOOS. GOOS is a retail leader higher by 46% since inception this May and is now 4% off most recent 52 week highs. Obviously a very small sample size of earnings with 2 of 3 registering nice gains of 14.1 and 15.7% on 11/9 and 6/2 and a loss of 3.3% on 8/10. The stock is higher 8 of the last 11 weeks and the last 2 weeks alone jumped nearly 25% (week ending 11/10 advanced 23.1% on third best weekly volume ever). It has been acting well POST breakout from inverse head and shoulders trigger of 20.50 and on 10/25 was retested and held firm at round 20 number. GOOS broke above a 5 month long cup base trigger of 24.42 on 11/9 and enter here on pullback.

Trigger GOOS here.  Stop 23.30.

In our Monday 11/13 Game Plan we looked at BIG. The stock is on a 3 week winning streak and is now higher by more than 2% from the recommended entry. Look to add to this name if sector strength continues above a cup base trigger of 56.64 in a base nearly a year long. A breakout achieves all time highs.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out bull flag formations are BIG. BIG is a retail leader higher by 7% YTD and 23% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.9%. Earnings have been mostly higher with three consecutive positive reactions gaining 2.9, 3.8 and 1.2% on 5/26, 3/3 and 12/2/16 before a most recent loss of 1% on 8/25. The stock is higher 3 of the last 6 weeks with all 6 trading within the week ending 9/29 which scored a 8.2% advance. Look to enter BIG with a buy stop above a bull flag trigger of 54 which carries a measured move to 61. One can add to above a cup base trigger of 56.64 in a pattern nearly a year long that began the week ending 12/23/16.

Trigger BIG 54.  Stop 52.10.

In our Monday 10/23 Game Plan we looked at WMT. The stock is on a current 7 week winning streak and now comfortably above a long 91.07 cup base breakout trigger in a base that began the week ending 1/16/15. Not surprisingly it was stopped at the very round oar number this week but look to add to this name on weakness. It is now 12% higher than the recommended entry.

Stocks that can be bought after recent breaks above bull flag formations are WMT. WMT is a best of breed retail play higher by 26% YTD and 28% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 2.3%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 3.2 and 3% on 5/18 and 2/21 and losses of 1.6 and 3.1% on 8/17 and 11/17. The stock is on a 3 week winning streak and this weeks flat finish has to be interpreted as very bullish after the week ending 10/13 jumped nearly 10% scoring its best weekly gain in years. It has acted well POST breakout from a cup base trigger of 82.09 on 10/10 and enter WMT here with todays break above a bull flag trigger of 87.25, which carries a measured move to 96.25. On the way to the measured move one can add to above a weekly cup base trigger of 91.07 that began the week ending 1/16/15.

Trigger WMT here.  Stop 84.75.

In our Friday 11/10 Game Plan we looked at LB. The stock is on a 5 week winning streak up more than 19% but still sits 33% off most recent 52 week highs. The bullish take on the chart is it is now nicely above a 200 day SMA which it was underneath for the last 22 months. It highlights the reason for using stops on a CLOSING basis as it was below the stop price intraday on 11/16.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out bull flag triggers are LB. LB is a recent retail standout but is still lower by 27% YTD and 26% over the last one year period and sports a hefty dividend yield of 5%. Earnings have been mixed with smaller gains of 2.7 and 2.5% on 5/18 and 11/17 and losses of 5.1 and 15.8% on 8/17 and 2/23 on 8/17 and 2/23 (it REPORTS on 11/15 after the close). The stock is lower by 36% off most recent 52 week highs but higher 8 of the last 11 weeks and up 3.3% heading into Friday. Last week rose 4.5% on the fourth best weekly volume of '17 so far. Enter LB with a buy stop above a bull flag trigger of 48.50 which carries a measured move to the gap fill on the upside from the 7/5 session.

Trigger LB 48.50.  Stop 47.

In our Wednesday 11/8 Game Plan we looked at EL and CRI. EL is now higher 25 of the last 32 weeks and sits just 2% off recent all time highs. The flag breakout could be retested and should offer a solid entry if it occurs. It is acting significantly better than names in the group like ULTA, ELF and SBH all of by 32, 38 and 44% respectively from their own 52 week highs.

EL is a best in breed consumer play higher by 60% YTD and 55% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.2%. Earnings momentum show why its a leader with FOUR consecutive positive reactions higher by 9.2, 7.7, 4.4 and 2.6% on 11/1, 8/18, 5/3 and 2/2. The stock is higher 14 of the last 17 weeks and has acted well POST breakout from more than a year long weekly cup with handle trigger of 98.50 in a base that began the week of 5/6/16 and taken out the week ending 7/28/17. EL has now formed a bull flag trigger at all time highs and enter with a buy stop above 122.50 that carries a measured move to 134.

Trigger EL 122.50.  Stop 118.

CRI is on a 5 week winning streak up more than 12% and this name is now more than 5% above the cup base trigger which aligned with the very round par number. Look to add to this name above a cup base trigger of 112.68 in a base that began the week ending 7/29/16.

Stocks that can be bought as they take out the round numbers are CRI. CRI is a retail leader higher by 15% YTD and over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.5%. Earnings have been mostly higher with gains of 4.4, 2.6, 4.2 and 4.1% on 10/26, 4/27, 2/23 and 10/27/16 and a loss of 1.5% on 7/27. The stock is higher 9 of last 11 weeks and last profiled in Friday 9/15 Game Plan above bullish ascending weekly triangle which could also be interpreted as an inverse head and shoulders pattern. Enter CRI with a buy stop above round par number at 100.25 which would also move through cup base trigger of 99.85. One can add to above weekly cup base trigger of 112.68 that began week ending 7/27/16.

Trigger CRI 100.25.  Stop 96.60.

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