Stock Trading Strategy

The point of trading is to turn a profit, so why put money in a stock that is not moving? Doing so would mean risk without reward. Furthermore, an open position showing a loss should be cut immediately because small losses are the KEY. At TheStockBandit.com, our objective is to expect profits that outweigh expected losses by at least a 3:1 ratio. Losses are a part of the game, so you must respect them and keep them small. Therefore, only get in stocks on the move with the intention to ride them into profits and exit upon the loss of momentum. It is at this point in the trade that we TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN!!
This strategy is best achieved by buying stocks that are breaking out of tight consolidations on an expansion in volume. This type of move in a stock tells us that the previous area of indecision (consolidation or trading range) has been resolved to the upside and money is flowing into the stock (volume expansion). Volume is the fuel that pushes the stock upward once it begins to move. A lack of volume is a lack of fuel, and the move may be short-lived. Be wary of breakout (or breakdown) moves on light volume as they are prone to failure.
Be in no hurry to put on trades. Trades placed out of boredom lead to bad habits and poor results in the long run. This leads to a loss of trading confidence, which is even more damaging than losing dollars!

Over time (weeks, months, years), be absolutely sure to keep your down days and weeks as small as possible. Growing your account happens when you stay in winners while they run, and cut losers at the first sign of negativity. Big winners are not for offsetting big losers. Wealth comes from big winners, so keep the losers small.
Trading Strategy - What is Your Timeframe?
First of all, decide your timeframe for trading. This is important because it not only determines position sizing, but also where to get out of a trade. Stock picks from the Bandit Broadcast are selected because they are set up for initial moves which are ideal for day trading, as well as longer term moves which are ideal for swing trading. Deciding which approach works for you will help you to determine which exit strategy fits your trading plan best.
Regardless of which timeframe you trade, the key is to keep your risk profile for every trade in check. The stocks listed in the Bandit Broadcast stock newsletter are poised for at least an initial move which is ideal for day trading, as well as for an extended move for swing trading.
The following links will take you to the pages which will outline a specific Stock Trading Strategy to fit your timeframe.

Swing Trading Strategy

If your trade timeframe supports swing trading, here is the strategy we implement for our own trades. This may not be the exact way you wish to swing trade, but it is intended as a guide to help you determine a trading strategy that suits not only your timeframe, but also your personality as a trader. If your timeframe is shorter, please see the day trading strategy page for more information.
Swing Trading Strategy:
When swing trading, your position size will usually be smaller than when day trading due to the fact that you are looking for a larger move. Your stop loss orders should be placed wider than when day trading for this reason. Naturally, your profit targets are farther away, so patience is a necessity.

Stocks often gap, so here are some guidelines for swing trading:

• If a stock gaps 1-2%, enter 1/2 of the intended position size and monitor the stock's behavior before adding to the position.
• If a stock gaps 2-3%, only enter 1/4 of the intended position size.
• If a stock gaps over 3%, it may be best to pass on the trade entirely, as the risk/reward profile of the trade is no longer the same.
Here are a few rules of thumb to help determine exits when swing trading:
• If the prior day's low is taken out on the breakout day (or high for shorts), exit the trade.
• Once a trade is held overnight, place a stop-loss order no further away than below the recent consolidation area, as a move beneath it would signal a failure.
• Once a trade is profitable by at least 10%, never give back more than half of the open profit. This helps to avoid the frustration of letting winning trades turn into losing trades.
• Once a trade is profitable by at least 5%, move the stop-loss order to breakeven on a closing basis.
• Partial buys and sells can be very helpful. If a stock breaks out in a sluggish fashion, consider entering only a partial position. If a trade is exhibiting little follow-through after the breakout, decrease the position size.
• Always monitor the health of the overall market, and the health of your positions. When things aren't acting right, either lighten up or go to cash entirely to preserve capital. It's easy to get back in!
These are some general guidelines for any trader with a swing trading strategy to determine exits that fit their timeframe, and are intended for educational purposes as you seek to define a swing trading strategy that suits your needs.