Investors have different methods of deciding when to enter and exit a trade. Those who prefer technical analysis over fundamentals use a variety of technical charts, looking for patterns such as ascending triangles, head and shoulders and double bottoms. This type of methodology has rapidly grown in popularity among individual investors, but the biggest challenge when using these patterns is deciding when to exit an existing position.
Key Takeaways
- Traders tend to have an exit strategy in mind for when a trade backfires, but less have a plan for when to exit winning trades.
- For traders trying to determine when it’s time to cash out, constructing and assessing technical charts is an important strategy.
- Most technical chart patterns are based on the concept of establishing support and resistance for the stock or other security in question and using this information to determine when to enter and exit a position.
- Popular patterns that traders might track include ascending triangles, head and shoulders and double bottoms.
When to Exit a Trade
Most traders understand the need for an exit strategy when a trade goes against them, but fewer have a plan for winning trades. That’s because, on an emotional level, it’s easier to see the need to get out when you’re at a loss, whereas it’s harder to exit a winning position. However, experienced traders are in the habit of developing a profit exit, the price point at which they close their position and pocket their gains. The key to succeeding at this is to choose the correct approach to setting a closing price and stick to it.
Many different targets can be used when using technical chart patterns, but most are based on the concept of support and resistance. While there’s no sure way to predict future resistance, chart patterns give you a good starting point for establishing a price target. One of the most popular methods involves measuring the height of the pattern and then either adding it to or subtracting it from the breakout price.
Exit Strategy Example
Let’s look at this chart as an example: a trader who is able to identify this ascending triangle will set his or her target near $25. This target price of $25 is calculated by taking the height of the pattern of $2.60 ($22.40 – $19.80) and adding it to the entry price of $22.40.
Image by Sabrina Jiang © Investopedia 2021
You can also use the height of the pattern to calculate the target on patterns that predict a downward trend, such as a head and shoulders pattern. The only difference is that the height is subtracted from the entry price rather than added to it.
Many conservative investors use the height of the pattern to calculate their maximum target but often choose to close out their position earlier, ensuring that they lock in their profits.
Risk management is an essential skill for any trader and setting a stop-loss target is one of the first disciplines experienced traders learn to master. But consistently setting a profit exit is just as important, and chart patterns are useful tools to help you develop a successful trading strategy.
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