Chart Patterns  |  DEC 2009

Highs & Tight Flags by Thomas Bulkowski

Stocks & Commodities V. 27:12 (38-42): Highs & Tight Flags by Thomas Bulkowski Does the high & tight flag work as well as some say? Find out here. I have spent 30 years playing the markets. During that time, I have written several books including two encyclopedias covering 166 price patterns from chart patterns to event patterns to candlesticks, but one pattern outperforms the rest: the high & tight flag. New research indicates that this chart pattern may not live up to expectations. Let’s take a closer look. WHAT IS IT? The high & tight flag was popularized by William O’Neil in his book, How To Make Money In Stocks. He mentions several identifying characteristics, but I let the pattern’s performance statistics tell me what is or is not important. We agree that a substantial price rise should occur quickly: a move of at least 90% (nearly a double) within about two months. The flag portion of the high and tight flag (Htf) need not look like a flag at all. In fact, many Htfs sport a loose collection of price movement that doesn’t resemble any recognizable pattern. What you are looking for is a consolidation region near where price doubles. For example, Figure 1 shows what a high & tight flag looks like. Price begins its climb from a low of 1.86 on January 23, 2009 (point A), and reaches a high of 3.78 on March 25, 2009 (point B), or a 103% move in 42 trading days, which is also the maximum time I allow. After price doubles, it consolidates, dropping back to a low at C of 2.92, for a drop of 23% in about a week. This Htf has a nice flag pattern. That means once the stock reaches the flagpole top, price trends downward following two parallel lines, resembling a flag on a pole. I show that on Figure 1 outlined in blue.

by Thomas Bulkowski