Caterpillar Ready To Break Out?

03/06/12 01:18:16 PM

by Chaitali Mohile

Will the stock break the previous high resistance?

Security: CAT
Position: N/A

As you can see from the weekly chart of Caterpillar (CAT) in Figure 1, the stock was in a long-term bullish rally since 2010. The ascending price action paused at 115 levels. Note the negative divergence between price movement and the full stochastic (14,3,3). This was an indication of a weakening in the rally. CAT formed a top at 115 levels, indicating a bullish reversal rally. In addition, the average directional index (ADX) (14) showed a bullish trend reversal signal. Thereafter, the stock plunged below the 50-day moving average (MA) support. Gradually, the declining rally retraced towards its long-term support of a 200-day moving average (MA). The downward price movements reversed from this MA support. The previous high of 115 is the major resistance for the pullback rally.

FIGURE 1: CAT, WEEKLY

Graphic provided by: StockCharts.com.

Currently, CAT is struggling near the resistance (see the blue dotted line). A fresh uptrend is developing. The moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) (12,26,9) is positive, indicating a bullish momentum in the rally. The highly overbought stochastic oscillator could be an indication that prices may pullback to consolidate near resistance. The oscillator could plunge a few points to create some room for the future breakout rally. Since the other two indicators are bullish, we can anticipate an upward breakout in the near future. Traders and investors can enter the fresh long positions at this breakout point.

FIGURE 2: CAT, DAILY

Graphic provided by: StockCharts.com.

Now let us turn to the daily chart (Figure 2). CAT was consolidating under the 200-day MA resistance for about two months. A bullish breakout at 95 levels dragged the stock into a bullish region above the 50-day and 200-day MA supports. Later, the rally moved horizontally.

The stochastic was highly oberbought and the MACD (12,26,9) was moving lower. This points to the possibility of a sideways consolidation. The consolidating rally formed a bullish flag & pennant formation on the daily time frame. This pattern is a bullish continuation and the upward breakout resumes the prior advance rally; hence, CAT would climb to higher levels after the bullish breakout occurred on the chart. The potential target for CAT would be 115 - 95 = 25 (length of flag pole) + 115 (breakout level) = 140 levels. This target is very attractive for short and medium-term traders.

The negative MACD (12,26,9), the developing uptrend, and an overbought stochastic oscillator would help CAT surge to a new high of 140 levels.

Thus, CAT is one of the top list candidates. The stock is getting ready to undergo the bullish breakout.

Chaitali Mohile

Active trader in the Indian stock markets since 2003 and a full-time writer. Trading is largely based upon technical analysis.

Company:	Independent
Address:	C1/3 Parth Indraprasth Towers. Vastrapur
	Ahmedabad, Guj 380015
E-mail address:	chaitalimohile@yahoo.co.in
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TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Caterpillar Ready To Break Out?

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