By Michael Ashbaugh, MarketWatch
Looking elsewhere, the SPDR Trust S&P 500 /zigman2/quotes/209901640/composite SPY +0.73% has extended an early-month breakout.
The December follow-through punctuates a bullish continuation pattern hinged to a familiar double bottom, defined by the September and October lows.
Placing a finer point on the S&P 500, the index is rising amid orderly price action.
Recall that the top of last week’s gap (3,645.87) almost precisely matched the November peak (3,645.99), detailed previously.
The post-breakout low (3,645, Wednesday) registered within about one point of support.
Delving deeper, the prevailing breakout originates from last week’s low (3,594) matching gap support (3,594).
More broadly, the S&P has sustained its December breakout. Recent grinding-higher price action punctuates a continuation pattern hinged to the double bottom defined by the September and October lows.
Tactically, the breakout point (3,646) is followed by a deeper floor in the 3,588-to-3,594 area, levels matching the September peak and last week’s gap.
Delving deeper, the October peak (3,550) is followed by the ascending 50-day moving average, currently 3,499.
Beyond technical levels, the S&P 500’s intermediate-term path of least resistance continues to point higher, based on today’s backdrop, pending signs of a bearish pulse. Late-year selling pressure remains conspicuously flat.
Also see: Market rotation persists: Nasdaq takes flight to record highs.
Tuesday’s Watch List
The charts below detail names that are technically well positioned. These are radar screen names — sectors or stocks poised to move in the near term. For the original comments on the stocks below, see The Technical Indicator Library.
Drilling down further, the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has taken flight.
Specifically, the group has knifed to record territory, placing distance atop former resistance matching the October peak. The initial upturn marked a bullish two standard deviation breakout, encompassing consecutive closes atop the 20-day Bollinger bands.
Though still near-term extended, and due to consolidate, the steep late-year rally likely lays the groundwork for longer-term follow-through.
More broadly, the prevailing breakout punctuates a prolonged five-year range, illustrated on the one-decade chart. As always, the longer the base, the higher the space.
Initially profiled March 27, Apple, Inc. /zigman2/quotes/202934861/composite AAPL +2.02% has returned 91.5% and remains well positioned.
The shares started December with a breakout, clearing trendline resistance after a pair of bullish analyst notes.
The strong-volume upturn punctuates a successful test of the 100-day moving average, a level defining the November lows.
On further strength, the October peak (125.40) remains an overhead inflection point. Follow-through higher would resolve a modified double bottom — defined by the September and November lows — likely opening the path to a retest of the record high.
Conversely, the 100-day moving average, currently 114.80, is followed by the late-November low (112.60) and slightly deeper gap support (112.35). A sustained posture higher signals a bullish bias.
F5 Networks, Inc. /zigman2/quotes/209237881/composite FFIV -0.53% is a well positioned large-cap networking software name.
The shares initially spiked four weeks ago, rising after an activist investor disclosed a less than 5% stake in the company, and management announced a $1 billion share buyback program. (The strong-volume spike coincided with the Nov. 9 vaccine-fueled broad-market rally.)
The ensuing pullback has been underpinned by the breakout point, and punctuated by a nominal 19-month high. A near-term target projects to the 178 area on follow-through.
Initially profiled Oct. 1, SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. /zigman2/quotes/208922889/composite SAIL -1.90% has edged slightly higher and remains well positioned.
The shares initially spiked about two months ago, rising after the announcement that the company has been added to the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
More immediately, the December upturn places record highs under siege. An intermediate-term target projects to the 57 area on a break from the range top (48.50).
Separately, the shares are well positioned on the three-year chart, rising from a continuation pattern hinged to the steep mid-2020 rally.
Emerson Electric Co. /zigman2/quotes/200181610/composite EMR +0.99% is a well positioned large-cap diversified industrial name. (Yield = 2.5%.)
As illustrated, the shares have sustained the November breakout, rising to challenge record territory. The December upturn punctuates a successful test of the range bottom (74.50). A near-term projects to the 86 area on follow-through.
More broadly, the shares are well positioned on the four-year chart, challenging major resistance matching the 2018 peak (79.70). The prevailing upturn punctuates a massive V-shaped reversal from the early-2020 low.
Finally, Patterson Companies, Inc. /zigman2/quotes/205416678/composite PDCO +1.09% is a mid-cap developer of dental and animal health products. (Yield = 3.2%.)
Earlier this month, the shares knifed to two-year highs, rising after the company’s second-quarter results.
The subsequent flag pattern has formed amid decreased volume, positioning the shares to build on the initial spike. Tactically, the post-breakout low (31.47) is followed by the breakout point, a level closely matching the top of the gap (29.25). A posture higher signals a bullish bias.
Editor’s Note: This is a free edition of The Technical Indicator, a daily MarketWatch subscriber newsletter. To get this column each market day, click here.
Still well positioned
The table below includes names recently profiled in The Technical Indicator that remain well positioned. For the original comments, see The Technical Indicator Library.
| Company | Symbol* (Click symbol for chart.) | Date Profiled |
| Zscaler, Inc. | ZS | Dec. 7 |
| Fortinet, Inc. | FTNT | Dec. 7 |
| Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. | KLIC | Dec. 7 |
| Honeywell International, Inc. | HON | Dec. 7 |
| Dillard’s, Inc. | DDS | Dec. 4 |
| Caleres, Inc. | CAL | Dec. 4 |
| Spotify Technology S.A. | SPOT | Dec. 3 |
| Align Technology, Inc. | ALGN | Dec. 3 |
| Valero Energy Corp. | VLO | Dec. 3 |
| GameStop Corp. | GME | Dec. 2 |
| Analog Devices, Inc. | ADI | Dec. 2 |
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. | CRUS | Dec. 1 |
| Sonos, Inc. | SONO | Dec. 1 |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. | DLTR | Dec. 1 |
| Nuance Communications, Inc. | NUAN | Nov. 30 |
| Northern Trust Corp. | NTRS | Nov. 30 |
| American Airlines Group, Inc. | AAL | Nov. 30 |
| Microchip Technology, Inc. | MCHP | Nov. 24 |
| Coca-Cola Co. | KO | Nov. 24 |
| SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF | XHB | Nov. 24 |
| Zillow Group, Inc. | ZG | Nov. 23 |
| Yeti Holdings, Inc. | YETI | Nov. 23 |
| Carvana Co. | CVNA | Nov. 23 |
| Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | PANW | Nov. 20 |
| Bank of America Corp. | BAC | Nov. 20 |
| Eaton Corp. | ETN | Nov. 20 |
| SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production ETF | XOP | Nov. 20 |
| MetLife, Inc. | MET | Nov. 19 |
| Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | HLT | Nov. 19 |
| American Express Co. | AXP | Nov. 18 |
| Kohl’s Corp. | KSS | Nov. 18 |
| FleetCor Technologies | FLT | Nov. 18 |
| Applied Materials, Inc. | AMAT | Nov. 17 |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. | DAL | Nov. 17 |
| Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR | XLP | Nov. 17 |
| Ross Stores, Inc. | ROST | Nov. 16 |
| Boeing Co. | BA | Nov. 16 |
| RingCentral, Inc. | RNG | Nov. 13 |
| Urban Outfitters, Inc. | URBN | Nov. 13 |
| Regions Financial Corp. | RF | Nov. 13 |
| iShares Europe ETF | IEV | Nov. 13 |
| Flex, Inc. | FLEX | Nov. 9 |
| Snap, Inc. | SNAP | Nov. 9 |
| Norfolk Southern Corp. | NSC | Nov. 9 |
| Materials Select Sector SPDR | XLB | Nov. 6 |
| Communications Services Select Sector SPDR | XLC | Nov. 5 |
| Health Care Select Sector SPDR | XLV | Nov. 5 |
| Alphabet, Inc. | GOOGL | Nov. 5 |
| Uber Technologies, Inc. | UBER | Nov. 5 |
| Keysight Technologies, Inc. | KEYS | Nov. 4 |
| Harley-Davidson, Inc. | HOG | Nov. 4 |
| Garmin, Ltd. | GRMN | Nov. 4 |
| Pinterest, Inc. | PINS | Nov. 3 |
| Sony Corp. | SNE | Nov. 3 |
| 8x8, Inc. | EGHT | Nov. 3 |
| Exact Sciences Corp. | EXAS | Nov. 2 |
| Universal Display Corp. | OLED | Nov. 2 |
| Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | XRAY | Oct. 27 |
| Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | MXIM | Oct. 21 |
| The Travelers Companies, Inc. | TRV | Oct. 21 |
| Micron Technology, Inc. | MU | Oct. 20 |
| Vulcan Materials Co. | VMC | Oct. 19 |
| Utilities Select Sector SPDR | XLU | Oct. 19 |
| ON Semiconductor Corp. | ON | Oct. 16 |
| Ford Motor Co. | F | Oct. 15 |
| Texas Instruments, Inc. | TXN | Oct. 15 |
| First Solar, Inc. | FSLR | Oct. 13 |
| Nevro Corp. | NVRO | Oct. 12 |
| Teradyne, Inc. | TER | Oct. 12 |
| SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF | XHB | Oct. 9 |
| Shake Shack, Inc. | SHAK | Oct. 9 |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | XBI | Oct. 8 |
| Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ALXN | Oct. 8 |
| Twilio, Inc. | TWLO | Oct. 8 |
| Cloudflare, Inc. | NET | Oct. 7 |
| Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc. | CDAY | Oct. 7 |
| Motorola Solutions, Inc. | MSI | Oct. 6 |
| RSailPoint Technology Holdings, Inc. | SAIL | Oct. 1 |
| Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | MLM | Sept. 30 |
| Whirlpool Corp. | WHR | Sept. 29 |
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | ANF | Sept. 29 |
| Blueprint Medicines Co. | BPMC | Sept. 28 |
| Zendesk, Inc. | ZEN | Sept. 23 |
| Scientific Games Corp. | SGMS | Sept. 23 |
| Crocs, Inc. | CROX | Sept. 14 |
| Five Below, Inc. | FIVE | Sept. 10 |
| Eastman Chemical Co. | EMN | Sept. 10 |
| International Paper Co. | IP | Sept. 3 |
| Anaplan, Inc. | PLAN | Sept. 2 |
| Celanese Corp. | CE | Aug. 26 |
| Westlake Chemical Corp. | WLK | Aug. 25 |
| Deere & Co. | DE | Aug. 24 |
| Expedia Group, Inc. | EXPE | Aug. 24 |
| Johnson Controls International | JCI | Aug. 21 |
| Canadian Solar, Inc. | CSIQ | Aug. 20 |
| General Motors Co. | GM | Aug. 20 |
| Starbucks Corp. | SBUX | Aug. 18 |
| Builders FirstSource, Inc. | BLDR | Aug. 18 |
| Steel Dynamics, Inc. | STLD | Aug. 17 |
| Brinker International, Inc. | EAT | Aug. 13 |
| Enphase Energy, Inc. | ENPH | Aug. 13 |
| Nucor Corp. | NUE | Aug. 11 |
| Freeport McMoRan, Inc. | FCX | Aug. 10 |
| Natera, Inc. | NTRA | Aug. 10 |
| Industrial Select Sector SPDR | XLI | Aug. 6 |
| Penn National Gaming, Inc. | PENN | July 30 |
| Procter & Gamble Co. | PG | July 29 |
| SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | XME | July 28 |
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | EWY | July 28 |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | AMD | July 23 |
| Materials Select Sector SPDR | XLB | July 20 |
| Caterpillar, Inc. | CAT | July 20 |
| Roku, Inc. | ROKU | July 16 |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions, Inc. | CTSH | July 16 |
| Costco Wholesale Corp. | COST | July 15 |
| Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR | XLY | July 13 |
| SunPower Corp. | SPWR | July 13 |
| Walmart, Inc. | WMT | July 8 |
| Danaher Corp. | DHR | June 24 |
| Fiverr International, Ltd. | FVRR | June 19 |
| HubSpot, Inc. | HUBS | June 8 |
| Square, Inc. | SQ | June 8 |
| FedEx Corp. | FDX | June 3 |
| SPDR S&P Retail ETF | XRT | June 3 |
| iShares MSCI Japan ETF | EWJ | May 29 |
| Synopsis, Inc. | SNPS | May 27 |
| Agilent Technologies, Inc. | A | May 15 |
| Qualcomm, Inc. | QCOM | May 12 |
| Facebook, Inc. | FB | May 7 |
| Dollar General Corp. | DG | Apr. 28 |
| ServiceNow, Inc. | NOW | Apr. 27 |
| Five9, Inc. | FIVN | Apr. 24 |
| Chewy, Inc. | CHWY | Apr. 24 |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | Apr. 23 |
| VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF | SMH | Apr. 17 |
| Veeva Systems, Inc. | VEEV | Apr. 17 |
| Okta, Inc. | OKTA | Apr. 16 |
| Target Corp. | TGT | Apr. 16 |
| Invesco QQQ Trust | QQQ | Apr. 14 |
| Apple, Inc. | AAPL | Mar. 27 |
| Nvidia Corp. | NVDA | Mar. 27 |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | EEM | Mar. 19 |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | Feb. 22 |
| * Click each symbol for current chart. |
Add to watchlist
AAPL
Add to watchlist
FFIV
Add to watchlist
SAIL
Add to watchlist
EMR
Add to watchlist
PDCO
