This long-ago featured Computer Software - Medical firm had encountered prompt distributional pressure after reaching new multi-year highs when it last appeared in this FSU section on 9/15/08 under the headline, "Negative Reversal on Weekly Chart Raised Concerns". Its reversal and gaps down were noted in CANSLIM.net's ongoing coverage as weak technical action raised concerns, It had been highlighted in yellow in the 09/09/2008 Mid-Day Breakouts Report. It was first featured on Monday, January 31, 2005 in the CANSLIM.net Mid Day Breakouts Report (read here).

It is worth noting that the company has maintained a steady annual earnings history (good A criteria). Its 2 latest quarterly comparisons also showed better than the minimum +25% earnings per share increases and there has also been gradual sales revenues acceleration in recent comparisons. The small supply of shares in circulation (the S criteria) could contribute to greater volatility, especially if the institutional crowd rushes in or out. The number of top-rated funds owning its shares slipped from 400 in Dec '10 to 389 in Mar '11, raising minor concerns with respect to the I criteria. That is all the more reason for disciplined investors to watch for convincing proof of heavy accumulation by the institutional crowd before taking any action, resisting the temptation to get in "early" before a technical breakout.

After a stock breaks out, it is imperative to continue monitoring its daily and weekly price and volume patterns for any possible ailments that may develop. Every so often, there are a few ominous technical signals that emerge. Prudent investors have learned to identify them due to the fact that they tend to lead to lower prices. One of these disconcerting technical signals is called a negative reversal. A negative reversal occurs when a stock opens up the session heading higher but then reverses and ultimately closes lower. Reversals are often considered more severe if the stock's initial gains lift it to a new high, but it then reverses and closes for a loss on heavier than average volume and ends near the session's utmost lows. Negative reversals can occur on a daily, weekly and monthly chart. In general, the longer the time frame involved, the more concern is prompted by the severity of the reversal. Volume is directly correlated with the severity as well.

Quality Systems Inc (QSII -$2.29 or -6.20% to $39.22) has pulled back to its 10-week average line, an important support level. Last week's loss created a negative reversal on its weekly chart as it encountered prompt distributional pressure after reaching new multi-year highs. Its reversal and gaps down were noted in CANSLIM.net's ongoing coverage as the weak technical action raised concerns, hurting its outlook. This high-ranked leader from the Computer Software - Medical group was featured again in yellow in the 09/09/2008 Mid-Day Breakouts Report. It was first featured on Monday, January 31, 2005 in the CANSLIM.net Mid Day Breakouts Report (read here). After making great progress; later, weak action resulted in its removal from the Featured Stocks list. However, it is worth noting that in the interim the company has maintained a steady annual earnings history (good A criteria). Its 2 latest quarterly comparisons also showed better than the minimum +25% earnings per share increases. The small supply of shares in circulation (the S criteria) could contribute to greater volatility, especially if the institutional crowd rushes in or out.

Good news for investors is that the number of breakouts has been steadily increasing in recent weeks, which has helped confirm the recent rally. This featured stock has traded up as much as +135% since it was featured on January 31st, 2005 in the CANSLIM.net Mid-Day BreakOuts Report as it was breaking out of a cup-with-handle type pattern (read here). It was featured again in detail with an annotated DailyGraph® included in a May 19th, 2005 Special Report (read here). In fact, QSII was first featured at CANSLIM.net in a Special Report after the confirmed rally that started in October '02, and it has risen 8-fold since (read here).

Quality Systems Inc. (QSII +$6.03 or +7.11% to $78.73) ) vaulted out of a solid three and a half month base on Monday, rising on three times its average daily trading volume. This was yet another new technical buy signal. However, the stock quickly sprinted more than 5% beyond its pivot point. Caution is warranted, as chasing stocks beyond the proper buy point increases your risk.

These types of massive CAN SLIM based winners offer invaluable lessons on how leading stocks breakout and behave. Today's breakout has allowed this leader to enter new all-time high territory. With it still maintaining solid fundamentals, it is a fair guess that higher prices are likely to follow. However, investors should be cautioned that late-stage bases can be more failure prone. That gives all the more reason to avoid buying it too extended from a proper base, and also to protect yourself with a stop loss in the 7-8% range.

Former Favorite Paused At All-Time High - Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Negative Reversal on Weekly Chart Raised Concerns - Monday, September 15, 2008

Fresh Breakouts Confirm Rally - Monday, November 14, 2005