5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

 DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- There isn't a day that goes by on Wall Street when certain stocks trading for $10 a share or less don't experience massive spikes higher. Traders savvy enough to follow the low-priced names and trade them with discipline and sound risk management are banking ridiculous coin on a regular basis.

Just take a look at some of the hot movers in the under-$10 complex from Thursday, including Biostar Pharmaceuticals (BSPM), which is soaring higher by 49%; YuMe (YUME), which is ripping to the upside by 30%; BioFuels Energy (BIOF), which is jumping higher by 27%; and Metabolix (MBLX), which is spiking higher by 34%. You don't even have to catch the entire move in lower-priced stocks such as these to make outsized returns when trading.

One low-priced stock that recently soared higher was healthcare player NuPathe (PATH), which I highlighted in Nov. 7's "5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar" at $1.75 per share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of NuPathe had just started to reverse its downtrend, which was signaling that the downside volatility for the stock was potentially over in the short-term. That reversal in trend was quickly pushing shares of PATH within range of triggering a breakout trade above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.79 a share.

Guess what happened? Shares of NuPathe didn't wait long to trigger that breakout, since the stock exploded the upside on Nov. 8 with monster upside volume. Shares of PATH went on to tag an intraday high the following trading session at $2.42 a share. That represents a big gain of close to 40% in just a few days for anyone who bought shares of PATH and played this breakout setup. As you can see, trading breakouts that trigger with volume can produce huge profits in very short order.

Low-priced stocks are something that I tweet about on a regular basis. I frequently flag high-probability setups, breakout candidates and low-priced stocks that are acting technically bullish. I like to hunt for low-priced stocks that are showing bullish price and volume trends, since that increases the probability of those stocks heading higher. These setups often produce monster moves higher in very short time frames.

I'm not as eager to recommend investing long-term in stocks that trade less than $10 a share because these names can be very speculative, and the odds for picking the long-term winners aren't great. But I definitely love to trade stocks that are priced below $10. I like to view them as a trading vehicle with lots of volatility and lots of upside when the trade is timed right.

When I trade under-$10 names, I do it almost entirely based off of the charts and technical analysis. I also like to find under-$10 names with a catalyst, but that's secondary to the chart and volume patterns.

With that in mind, here's a look at several under-$10 stocks that look poised to potentially trade higher from current levels.

Demand Media

One under-$10 Internet services player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Demand Media (DMD), which focuses on an Internet-based model for the professional creation and distribution of content at scale. This stock has been hit hard by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 44%.

If you take a look at the chart for Demand Media, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a triple bottom over the last month, with shares finding buying interest at $4.80, $4.72 and $4.88 a share. Shares of DMD have now started to spike higher off those support levels, and the stock is quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.39 to $5.46 and then once it takes out its 50-day moving average at $5.76 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 681,665 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then DMD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.50 to $7 a share. Any high-volume move above $7.14 would then give DMD a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from June that started near $8.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy DMD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.88 or at $4.72 a share. One can also buy DMD off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Atlatsa Resources

Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Atlatsa Resources (ATL), which engages in the mining, exploration and development of platinum group metals properties located in the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 198%.

If you take a look at the chart for Atlatsa Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months and change, with shares soaring higher from its low of 28 cents per share to its intraday high of 46 cents per share. During that uptrend, shares of ATL have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of ATL have now started to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at 43 cents to 44 cents per share. That move is quickly pushing shares of ATL within range of triggering another big breakout trade.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in ATL if it manages to break out above its 52-week high at 50 cents per share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 170,178 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ATL will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at 63 cents to 73 cents per share, or even 80 cents per share.

Traders can look to buy ATL off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of 39 cents per share, or near more support at 37 cents per share. One can also buy ATL off strength once it clears its 52-week high at 50 cents with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Achillion Pharmaceuticals

An under-$10 biotechnology player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN), discovers, develops and commercializes anti-infective drug therapies in the U.S. and internationally. This stock has been destroyed by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares down big by 66%.

If you take a look at the chart for Achillion Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways for the last month and change, with shares moving between $2.26 on the downside and $2.98 on the upside. This sideways trading pattern is occurring after shares of ACHN gapped down sharply in late September from $7.50 to under $3 with heavy downside volume. Shares of ACHN are now starting to trend higher and move within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACHN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.85 to $2.98 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.76 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACHN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its gap down day high from September at $3.62 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give ACHN a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone that started at $7.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy ACHN off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $2.44 to $2.26 a share. One can also buy ACHN off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Silver Standard Resources

An under-$10 basic materials player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Silver Standard Resources (SSRI), which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of silver-dominant resource properties principally in the Americas. This stock has been hammered by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 59%.

If you take a look at the chart for Silver Standard Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending modestly for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $5.47 to its recent high of $6.27 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SSRI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SSRI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in SSRI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.27 to $6.38 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.75 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SSRI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.55 to its 200-day moving average at $7.81 a share.

Traders can look to buy SSRI off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $5.47 a share. One can also buy SSRI off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Vringo

One final under-$10 application stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Vringo (VRNG), which innovates, develops and monetizes mobile technologies and intellectual property. This stock is off to a slow start in 2013, with shares up just 8.7%.

If you take a look at the chart for Vringo, you'll notice that this stock formed a major bottoming chart pattern over the last month and change, with buyers stepping in to support the stock near $2.60 a share. Following that bottom, shares of VRNG have now started to uptrend from $2.64 to its intraday high of $3.15 a share. That move is starting to push shares of VRNG within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VRNG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.20 to $3.40 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.40 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then VRNG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.90 to its 52-week high at $4.05 a share. Any high-volume move above $4.05 will then give VRNG a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.42 to $5 a share.

Traders can look to buy VRNG off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $2.89 a share, or around that major support zone near $2.60 a share. One can also buy VRNG off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

To see more hot under-$10 equities, check out the Stocks Under $10 Setting Up to Explode portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.