ChartWatchers

This Weak Industry Group Approaching Very Bullish Historical Period

Tom Bowley

Tom Bowley

Chief Market Strategist, EarningsBeats.com

There haven't been too many areas of the market that have performed worse than retail stocks over the past month.  While the NASDAQ 100 ($NDX) has jumped to record highs over the past month, weak retail stocks in that index like Dollar Tree (DLTR), Walgreens (WBA), O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY), Tractor Supply (TSCO) and Ross Stores (ROST) are littered among the worst performing NDX stocks.


But here's the good news.

The Dow Jones U.S. Apparel Retailers Index ($DJUSRA) is approaching key price support where I'd expect to see strength emerge.  Take a look at the current weekly chart:

You can't trade the index, but there's a strong positive correlation between the index and the XRT, which is an ETF that tracks retail stocks.

In addition to the key price support level approaching, it's important to note that the three best consecutive months of the year for the DJUSRA are February, March and April where the DJUSRA enjoys average monthly gains of 1.6%, 4.7% and 1.0%, respectively, over the past 18 years.  Trading the XRT is one way to potentially profit from such historical strength.

If you prefer individual stocks, Ross Stores (ROST) looks particularly attractive technically.  Check this one out:

ROST has been outperforming the DJUSRA for months and from a price perspective touched a major gap and price support level at 65.50 on Friday.

Happy trading!

Tom

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Bowley
About the author: is the Chief Market Strategist of EarningsBeats.com, a company providing a research and educational platform for both investment professionals and individual investors. Tom writes a comprehensive Daily Market Report (DMR), providing guidance to EB.com members every day that the stock market is open. Tom has contributed technical expertise here at StockCharts.com since 2006 and has a fundamental background in public accounting as well, blending a unique skill set to approach the U.S. stock market. Learn More