Maximizing Returns with High-Probability Setups
The high-probability setups delivered precision results once again. We saw bullish targets hit and exceeded for $JPMorgan Chase(JPM)$ $Wal-Mart(WMT)$ $Dow Jones(.DJI)$ $Strategy(MSTR)$ $iShares Bitcoin Trust(IBIT)$ Bitcoin, and ETH, while our bearish setups for $Apple(AAPL)$ $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$ are playing out.
I launched this curated feature in November to filter the best opportunities among the 30+ securities with high market capitalization we constantly analyze considering technical indicators and S/R levels (Indices, ETFs, Megacaps, Metals, and Crypto). The consistent success rate is 76%!
The strategic benefits of maintaining a specific, constant watchlist include:
Mastery of Asset Personality: Every stock has a unique behavioral signature. By tracking the same assets regularly, we recognize their specific recurring patterns and volatility ranges, significantly improving predictability.
Capturing Rotations: When money flows out of Tech and into Retail or Financials, our watchlist captures that capital rotation immediately.
Fundamental Conviction: We understand the fundamental drivers behind the charts, giving us the conviction to hold through noise or exit when the thesis breaks.
Institutional Liquidity: These are high-volume, institutional-grade assets. Unlike small-caps, where low liquidity can cause slippage and skipped stop-losses. These securities allow for instant execution. You can enter and exit sizable positions without fear of being trapped in a squeeze or a flash crash.
Antidote to FOMO: A fixed list prevents you from chasing unpredictable, low-liquidity small caps in hopes of a lucky double digit spike. If you are seeking aggressive acceleration, you can use leverage. By utilizing leveraged ETFs or the options market on these high-volume Mega Caps or Index ETFs, you can achieve significant percentage returns while trading stable, institutional-grade assets.
High Probability Setups Update
As discussed over the weekend, we are entering an expected period of consolidation. While the VIX signaled a potential spike, the week began with bullish momentum as anticipated. Let's review the latest market updates alongside the charts. Ultimately, news headlines often serve as the catalysts that drive price in the direction already suggested by the technical setup.
The Dow Jones declined -0.94% and the S&P 500 pulled back -0.34%, despite the latter briefly touching a record intraday high that matched our $6,963 level with precision. The session’s weakness stemmed primarily from a sharp selloff in defense stocks after President Trump announced via Truth Social that he would prohibit dividends and stock buybacks for defense contractors until production delays and executive compensation issues are addressed. The unexpected policy announcement sent shockwaves through the sector, with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin each tumbling roughly 5% and pulling the broader industrials sector XLI down -1.9%.
The news simply served as a trigger for an overbought condition. The $Lockheed Martin(LMT)$ chart is a textbook example of this, showing a shooting star pattern printed above the Bollinger Band, validated by strong daily volume and an RSI reading above 70. This technical setup suggests the news merely provided a catalyst for a healthy pullback that was already highly probable. Once the price returns to the Bollinger range there can be bullish continuation.
Energy stocks compounded the market’s losses, declining 1.2% as crude oil futures fell 2.0% to settle at $55.99 per barrel. The weakness followed President Trump’s disclosure of a deal securing 30 to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, a supply agreement designed to ease price pressures. Meanwhile, healthcare provided a bright spot, surging 1.0% on M&A activity. Eli Lilly and AbbVie each climbed over 4% following reports of their respective acquisitions of Ventyx Biosciences and Revolution Medicines. Technology stocks delivered mixed results: strong gains in Alphabet (+2.5%) and Nvidia (+1.0%) helped keep the Nasdaq 100 flat 0.06%.
When observing the technical chart for $Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund(XLE)$ (energy sector ETF), the bearish candle printed on Monday above the Bollinger Band and validated by high volume offered a reasonable anticipation of a pullback. Sector ETFs typically respect technical indicators, and these overbought conditions usually lead to a reversal. If you see the charts for $Chevron(CVX)$ and $Exxon Mobil(XOM)$ , they are identical to this one below.
The Dow Jones ETF $SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust(DIA)$ was marked in the Weekly Compass las “Long” or buy with $483.0 as the invalidation level for the bullish setup highlighted based on technical indicators, with $487 as immediate target followed by $491 and $496. The bullish move was impulsive last week and continuation was likely despite of the geopolitical news during the weekend. As you see the first target was reached and surpassed with conviction on Monday, the upper Bollinger band was touched but not breached, bullish continuation was likely as on Tuesday considering price action, but that day the band was breached, raising alarms. Today, the price opened with a gap and above the Bollinger band, touched $496 with impressive precision and reversed.
When a resistance is surpassed it can become the new reference for a stop loss, and when a resistance rejects the price while the price action is above the daily Bollinger band, there are good references to lock profits. Solid 2.6% move, 7.8% if using UDOW (x3), and for the options users, much more.
I mentioned in the Weekly Compass the possibilities for a $JPMorgan Chase(JPM)$ bull flag, and that’s what happened; technical indicators and price action indicated bullish continuation, support and resistance levels helped us to assess potential destinations.
In this case the third resistance was reached on day one and reversed quickly, on Tuesday the bullish move consolidated but found the same rejection. We have studied that rallies at the beginning of the week must be assessed carefully when the market is in a mature stage. Today’s decline is a validation of a potential evening star formation. The high probability setup reached with conviction the third layer with a 3.1% gain, 6.2% with the leveraged 2x ETF JPX, or much more with options.
Remember, having the levels is one part of the equation, a correct technical interpretation gives you the directional expectation. I provide that professional reading considering the indicator that better explains the price action and the security. There is not a single golden indicator.
TSLA
I’ve been bearish on $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$ during the last two weeks, and the stock is falling with conviction. High volatility assets like TSLA, NVDA, PLTR or BTC can present significant spikes in the middle of a broader bearish formation (remember that I use weekly charts in the Weekly Compass).
For SG users only, Welcome to open a CBA today and enjoy access to a trading limit of up to SGD 20,000 with unlimited trading on SG, HK, and US stocks, as well as ETFs.
🎉Cash Boost Account Now Supports 35,000+ Stocks & ETFs – Greater Flexibility Now
Find out more here.
Complete your first Cash Boost Account trade with a trade amount of ≥ SGD1000* to get SGD 688 stock vouchers*! The trade can be executed using any payment type available under the Cash Boost Account: Cash, CPF, SRS, or CDP.
Other helpful links:
💰Join the TB Contra Telegram Group to Get $10 Trading Vouchers Now🎉
How to open a CBA. How to link your CDP account. Other FAQs on CBA. Cash Boost Account Website.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

