Rob C's Swing Trading Journal

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/14/2020

 

Well it was bound to happen, but I didn’t think so dramatically. I have been trading the market open for over a year and never making a trend trade. Thus these swing trades will be exposed in intraday news that I usually don’t worry about. It doesn’t help I had 4 long positions open. But it was pretty dramatic. Three of my positions were all within a dime of reaching their limit order to take a partial profit. I was up 3R for the day in unrealized profit. I then put my phone away because I was running some errands. I checked an hour later and not only did none of the stocks reach the limit order, but I was in the red by -2R in unrealized loss. Wow a 5R swing in one hour. I saw some negative news broke. All 4 of the stocks rallied at the end of the day to almost bring me back to B/E.

Long CRWD at 52.10. First partial at 53.47. Second partial at 55.47. Third partial today at 57. Forth partial at 58. Fifth partial at 59. Stop moved to 57. Almost reached by final target then dropped almost 4% to end up in the red.

Long KNL at 24.46. Stop at 24. Showed strength and instead of taking a partial at $25 I added. It kept showing strength and I almost took a partial but that plan was interrupted by the news. Still finished positive.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First target $57. KO opened positive and then never saw green again. Ending slightly in the red.

Exited MSI today. I had a tight stop after the really poor close yesterday so only took a -0.6R loss. But it was a good learning experience. With a close that bad yesterday, after I saw the stock weak this morning I should have just exited then instead of waiting to hit my stop.

Log ADNT today at 21.33. First target 21.70. Stop at 21. Broke an important level and I went long. Stayed very strong and almost reached my first target then dropped hard and almost reached my stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yardley 6]

6 hours ago, Rob C said:

Rob, 

How are you getting these stocks? Is it from Brian's list?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob C 826]

Hi Yardley, thanks for the note.

All I know about swing trading is from Brian's book and videos. So I use the same scanning procedure to find stocks that he explains in his book and video in the swing trading section of the BBT website. As you can see from my last two weekly watchlists I have posted, my stock list is completely different than Brian's. That is for 3 reasons. First, Brian is way better at choosing stocks to trade. Second, I stay away from low price stocks. Thirdly I do like to trade support and resistance trades. So I will pull from the hot sectors and industries stocks that are in a trend that will break some important resistance/support line soon. I also like stocks about to make an all time high that are in a hot sector.

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/15/2020

 

Another bit of a roller coaster day. In these markets you seem to need to be watching your swing trades like a day trader. I was stopped out of ADNT at the open. The price kept falling. I went long again when the price bounced off a tech level at 20.50. Then when it broke PDC I sold 70% of my shares to reduce the risk. I still like ADNT as a channel play, but it is too wild. So I reduced my share size and tightened my stop.

Exited CRWD at 60.95 (entered at 52.10). First partial at 53.47. Second partial at 55.47. Third partial today at 57. Forth partial at 58. Fifth partial at 59. Then all out at 60.95.

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. First target 25.15. Stop at 24.25. Very little volume until 1:30pm EST.  It did finish strong at the close. Still holding.

Long KO at 56.04. First partial at 56.93. Price running at all time highs so will target dollar levels for partialing. Stop moved to B/E.

Stopped out ADNT at the open today at 21.

Long ADNT today (again after stop out) at 20.56. First partial at 21.33 where I sold heavy at 70% of my position to reduce risk. Next target 21.80. Stop at 21. It did finish strong at the close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/16/2020

 

Busy right from the opening bell.

 

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. First partial today at 25.15. I had a limit order to take another partial at 25.45 and it missed by a few pennies. Stopped moved to B/E.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Next target 58. Stop at 56. RSI has broken into the 70s so it is time for a consolidation. Will hold and wait.

Long ADNT at 20.56. First partial at 21.33. Second partial today at 21.80. Third partial today at 22.10. Next target 21.80. Stop at 21. It did finish strong at the close.

Long, exited and long again WORK today. Entered 23.03 I got this one from Brian’s watchlist. Opened very strong and created a bull flag. I waited for the break of the bull flag and went long at 23.05. I actually got a first partial in at 23.20 where there is a resistance level and 200MA-15min. I gave it a tight stop at the bottom of the consolidation at 22.92. The price dropped and quickly blew right through it and I was stopped out. The price found good support at the 200MA-5min and moved back up. I went long again when it broke and held VWAP. I went half share size because I have too many long swing trades now so I am overly exposed to a market correction.

Long CENT today at 32.40. Price broke the 32.30 resistance level and held. I went half share size because I have too many long swing trades now so I am overly exposed to a market correction. First target $33. Stop of 32. But if the volume doesn't arrive in a day or two I may have to bail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by Rob C

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/17/2020

 

Another eventful day. Soon after the open I noticed my swing trades were up 3R in unrealized gain for the day. So I stopped day trading (I already had one good trade, so that was OK) and looked at my positions and saw none of my 5 positions were at a sell point. They were all up some giving a good unrealized gain, but nothing to sell. Too bad because by days end I had a loss.

 

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. Stop at B/E. First partial at 25.15. Again KNL did get with n a few cents of my limit order to take more profit, but then fell the rest of the day to finish flat. KNL had news of closing a factory. It didn’t seem to have much of an impact with little volume today.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Next target 58. Stop at 56. Little change today. Will hold and wait.

Long ADNT at 20.56. First partial at 21.33. Second partial at 21.80. Third partial at 22.10. Stop moved up 21.42. Opened well, then dropped 3% to almost stop me out by a few cents. Then finished very strong to almost PDC. It is interesting that the price range today was identical to yesterdays. Today we finally broke 1M volume. ADNT has been trading in a tight volume range near 1M for the last 7 trading days.

Stopped out again on WORK today. Two stop outs in two days. I think I will call it quits on this stock.

Exited CENT today. I was shocked how little volume today. I felt uncomfortable holding the stock so I exited for a small profit. Funny after I exited, the stock slowly moved higher on extremely low volume to reach my first target. But I feel I did the right thing. I will keep an eye on CENT to see if the volume returns.

 

Have a good weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob C 826]

Watchlist for week of 1/20/2020

 

ROKU has a descending triangle you can’t ignore. RSI isn’t too low at 42. It is the only potential short I have on my watchlist. May short if the price breaks below 126.

 

 

I really like CENT or a long. Price broke resistance, MACD crossed recently, RSI is not at over bought yet and has a very large gap to fill. But the extremely low volume is what keeps me out of the trade. I will go long as soon as volume is seen.

 

ICE has broken out to an all time high. RSI at 65 and the $100 mark may pull it up. Trigger at >$97 or a good intraday setup.

 

EVN at the $13 resistance level again. If it breaks it (also an all time high) I will go long if it has volume.

 

I like GRMN a lot. It tried on Friday to make on all time high and bounced at that level. If it breaks and hold 99.30 will go long. I like that it is close to $100 as a level to pull it higher. Good volume on Friday. MACD is about to cross (bullish). RSI not too high at 61. You can draw an ascending triangle and a double bottom on the daily chart.

 

 

Secondary list

ORCC hitting historic low levels with RSI=27. Price may bounce due to the dividend getting very large at 7.8%. It is on my secondary list due to the R/R not being that good. I would need a really good intraday setup to go long.

WFC dropped due to disappointed Q-report. Looks like it may bounce. R=27. Div=4.2%. Also on the secondary list due to poor R/R. I would also need a really good intraday setup to go long.

I like the bull flag on the daily for BILI. May test all time high again.

HRL just made an all time high Friday. I may be chasing this one. MACD crossed (bullish) two days ago and RSI=66. Maybe with a good intraday setup I will go long.

I like PG with an all time high, MACD crossing, not too high RSI (63). But PG had earnings this week. So I will wait until after they report.

 

 

 

 

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/21/2020

 

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. Stop at B/E. First partial at 25.15. KNL finished with strength and was green on a red day.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Next target 58. Stop at 56. KO was also green on a red day.

Stop out today at 21.42. ADNT entered at 20.56. First partial at 21.33. Second partial at 21.80. Third partial at 22.10. Price tumbled right from the open. Luckily it bled slow enough that it hit my stop instead of opening way below my stop.  

Long GRMN today at 99.60 per plan. First partial today at 100.71. Stop at 99.50. MACD crossed today (bullish).

Long ICE today at 97.10 per plan. Stop at 96.42. ICE showed strength and moved higher after my entry. But finished today very weak. I almost bailed at the closed due to the weakness, but I thought at least the stock is flat when the markets are red. Apparently that was a mistake. ICE announced after the close that one of the executives is retiring. We will see if it gaps down tomorrow on the news.

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/22/2020

 

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. Stop moved to 25. First partial at 25.15. Second partial today at 25.42. Next target 25.67 (high of today).

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 56.50. First partial at 56.93. Second partial today at 57.48. Took an early partial due to the RSI=73.5. Next target 58. Stop moved to 56.50. KO finished the day with strength.

Long GRMN at 99.60. First partial at 100.71. Stop at 99.50. Moved higher today and made another all time high. Then moved lower the rest of the day. Finished weak. If it wasn’t for that higher high created today and the support seen at 100, I would have exited at the close.

Stop out ICE today at 96.42 per plan. I knew this was coming when they reported bad news last night. Will keep an eye on it for a later trade.

Edited January 22, 2020 by Rob C

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/23/2020

 

Long KNL at 24.46 and 25.03. Stop at B/E. First partial at 25.15. Second partial at 25.42. Next target 25.67. Almost stop me out at the open. Flat for the day, though made a nice hammer on the daily cart.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Second partial at 57.48. Next target 58. Stop moved to 56.50. Finished the day with lots of strength.

Stopped out on GRMN today at B/E per plan. First partial at 100.71. The price spiked down at the open and filled my stop order. I just wish my fill wasn’t the low of the day. 

Long WBA at 52.95 today. First partial at 53.45. This was from Brian’s watchlist. It made a nice double bottom and I went long. Finished the day with weakness. Almost bailed on the trade at the close. But since it was still above VWAP I held. I hope I don’t regret it. Stop at B/E.

Long GILD at 63.25 today. First partial at 63.63. Second partial at 63.97. This was from Brian’s watchlist as well. Went long when it broke above VWAP and held. Stop moved to B/E. Finished the day with strength. Stop at B/E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/24/2020

 

Lots of stop outs today, though none for a loss. It is nice going into the weekend with only one position.

 

Stopped out KNL today at 25.24. Entered at 24.46 and 25.03. First partial at 25.15. Second partial at 25.42.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Second partial at 57.48. Next target 58. Finished the day with lots of strength. Finished a little in the red but better than the broad markets.

Stopped out WBA at B/E today. First partial at 53.45. I should have exited yesterday at the close when it was weak.

Stopped out GILD at B/E today. First partial at 63.63. Second partial at 63.97. A bit surprised by the weakness since it finished with strength yesterday, probably just the broader markets.

Entered and exited ADNT today. The price dropped hard today and reached the bottom of the channel. Also, it looked like a good reversal on the 5min chart. Went long at 19.74 and when it reached VWAP I thought I don’t really want to hold this position over the weekend. So I exited at VWAP ($20.19).

 

Everyone have a good weekend!

[Rob C 826]

Watchlist for week of 1/27/2020

 

D – Looking for utilities that haven’t already run yet. Plus with the Corona virus, the run to safety may be stronger. The price is hovering at the yearly high and getting close to an all time high. Bouncing off the 9MA-D 4 out of 5 days. RSI not overbought with 63. Will go long with a starter position at 84.50 and more at 85.40.

 

ROKU still has that descending triangle. Looks like a short if it drops below 127. Very scary going short on ROKU. Will need a large stop or protective call.

 

BBIO is forming an ascending triangle. RSI=49. MACD may cross with one or two green days. Volume has been strong the past month. Long >35.70

 

ORCC holding at $16 with lots of volume. I don’t know which way it will pop. But it looks like it will very soon. RSI=29 and MACD will go bullish with a couple of green days so I will probably take it long if it breaks 16.25. But honestly it looks like it may break down more.

 

OLLI has gone bullish. Feels like Friday would have been the entry so I may be chasing it. RSI=46. MACD will cross to the bullish with one more green day. Will go long if I can get a good entry. Short% is high with 22%.

 

GLIBA seems to be forming a cup and handle. Will go long at 74.40 with a starter position if it breaks 73.50. MACD just crossed to the bearish. That will need to flip before I take a full position. RSI=53

 

STML is over sold but holding the bottom well. RSI=23. Price fell last week on a Q4 preannouncement of lowering guidance. Big drop for the quarter not so big for the year. Dropping 30% in price for a 7% yearly shortfall seems overdone. Short%=10%. May go long >7.15

 

GRME is consolidating after reaching an all time high. Great support at 14.65. RSI=69. Good div of 5.4%. Would go long off of a bounce from 14.65 or a break of 15.

 

ALLY is showing good volume and is right at a resistance line then has a nice size gap to fill. MACD has been bullish. RSI=62. There was a death cross 5 days ago but that could easily reverse with one or two green days. The 20MA will cross 50/200MA with one more green day. Long >32.80

 

Secondary list:

KNL

CENT  (if it ever gets volume)

GRMN

EXC

DIS

LK

SDC

TD

APD

 

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/27/2020

 

Very busy but profitable day.

.

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Second partial at 57.48. Next target 58. Finished the day weak, but happy it was only down -0.35% when SPY was down -1.6%

Long and stopped out D today. Took this near the open when it was showing strength. I thought it may be wise to take a safe play (Utilities) today. I only went half shares and a reasonably tight stop. After entering, D was weak the rest of the day and I was stopped out for a -0.3R loss.

Long and exited LK today. Entered at 37.16 and partialled twice and all out at 39.18.

Long and exited SDC today. Entered at 12.51 and partialled three times and all out at 13.44.

Long KWEB today at 47.83. First partial profit at 48.58. Stop at B/E. Only have 1/3 shares left. I didn’t want to hold a Chinese stock over night. So I kept the risk low.

Long GMRE today at 14.76. Price bounced off of the 14.60-14.65 support level again and I went long per plan. The price slowly drifted upward the rest of the day but not high enough to take a partial profit. Finished very weak. Makes me nervous. But I stayed in since it is nice to hold a position in a stock that was down -0.27% on a day SPY was down -1.6%. Also I am worried the daily now looks bearish with a dome created. This is my most worrisome position. Stop at 14.55.

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/28/2020

  

Long KO at 56.04. Stop at 55.40. First partial at 56.93. Second partial at 57.48. Next target 58. Missed my stop today by a penny and bounced. But still finished the day weak, again. If I had a decent internet connection at the close I would have exited the trade today,

Long again on D today. Took this near the open when it was showing strength again. Entered at 83.70 and first partial at 84.47. Stop at B/E.

Long KWEB at 47.83. First partial profit at 48.58. Second partial at 49.16. Stop at B/E.

Long GMRE at 14.76. For a stock that gets 200k-300k volume each day I was looking at <2k volume the first hour of trading today. It felt like the stock was halted. I exited on low volume at 14.87.

[Rob C 826]

Swing trade journal 1/29/2020

  

Exited KO at 56.91 per plan. Entered at 56.04. First partial at 56.93. Second partial at 57.48. A good trade. May get back in but right now a dome is being created and MACD is about to cross to the bearish side.

Long D at 83.70. first partial at 84.47. Second partial today at 85.34. Made an all time high today (or at least high for the last 5 years). Stop at B/E.

Long KWEB at 47.83. First partial profit at 48.58. Second partial at 49.16. Third partial today at 49.79. Stop moved up to 48.27

Long and stopped out on LK today. Entered at 38.14. First partial today at 38.63. Stop moved up to 37.92. LK dropped substantially in the morning and I went long on a double bottom. Then a huge 1 min spike down near the closing caught my stop and I was stopped out. So I am flat for this trade.