Strong system buy signals are flashing for pharma stock McKesson Corp. (MCK), writes Don Pendergast, but with bearish chart patterns evident, this is not a “set-and-forget” kind of trade.
While the pathway from its November 2008 low of $28.72 to its April 2012 high of $92.69 wasn't exactly as straight as an arrow, it still cannot be refuted that shares of McKesson Corp. (MCK) have enjoyed a substantial bullish trend over the past 40-some months, despite some pullbacks along the way.
Does this large-cap, dividend-yielding stock have more room to rise, or is its recent bullish gap a final warning that the stock is due for a major trend reversal? Here's a closer look at MCK's daily chart now:
Click to Enlarge
At first glance, MCK's daily graph depicts a generally bullish image; the accelerating uptrend line is an important technical clue that helps traders and investors discern whether the stock is a good candidate for swing trading and/or covered calls. Another positive sign is the bullish long-term money flow situation, as the stock has a strong 100-period Chaikin money flow histogram (not shown).
MCK also has excellent 13-week comparative relative strength versus the .SPX, making it potentially attractive to institutional investors seeking to put their money onto a "train" that's already moving in the desired direction.
Beyond these ostensibly bullish factors, the RMO (Rahul Mohindar Oscillator) trading system from MetaStock 11 has just fired a long entry signal, one that will trigger a potential trade entry on a rise above $90.60. See Figure 2 below:
Even better for bulls, the stock recently completed a successful test of trend line support on April 10, 2012. So, based on these findings, we can say that MCK has been and is currently in a long-term bull market.
However, there is more to the picture here: two separate technical factors that may be acting as early warning signs that MCK may have more bearish plans in mind in the weeks and months ahead.
The recent substantial bullish gap may be what is known as an “exhaustion gap,” the kind that typically shows up near the end of a wildly bullish run in a stock or exchange traded fund (ETF). Even during the most recent rally in MCK, there seems to be ample evidence that the gap on October 21, 2011 was a breakaway gap, with the gap of January 31, 2012 being a continuation gap.
If those labels are correct, then the gap of three sessions ago is more than likely an exhaustion gap. When you also consider that several key price cycles in MCK have already turned lower—implying an upcoming correction in the stock—you begin to see that caution may now be warranted if attempting to play MCK on the long side.
One way to consider playing this new RMO buy signal here may be to go long on a break above $90.60, using the recent swing high at $92.69 as the rational price target.
The area directly surrounding that price area will no doubt be a battleground between highly confident bulls and forward-looking bears, so why not just avoid the expected volatility and close out a winning move as the stock approaches that resistance area?
As for an initial/trailing stop, perhaps using the trigger bar's low of $89.40 as your initial loss-protection point would make sense before following up with a two-bar trailing stop of the daily lows until either the price target is reached or the trade stops out. Risking no more than 2% of your account equity on such a trade might also be an excellent idea, too.
The broad US markets are staging a minor relief rally now, so be nimble and think like a trader if choosing to trade MCK on the long side on this particular set-up.
By Don Pendergast, independent trader, TheLTSLetter.biz
