Dear Reader,

Yesterday, we looked at a Daily Price Chart of Starbucks Corp, noting that the stock has recently been making a series of higher highs and higher lows.

For today’s Trade of the Day e-letter we will be looking at a Moving Average Convergence/ Divergence (MACD) chart for ShockWave Medical Inc. stock symbol: SWAV.

Before breaking down SWAV’s MACD chart let’s first review what products and services the company offers.

ShockWave Medical, Inc., a medical device company, engages in developing and commercializing intravascular lithotripsy technology for the treatment of calcified plaque in patients with peripheral vascular, coronary vascular, and heart valve diseases worldwide. The company offers M5 catheters for treating above-the-knee peripheral artery disease (PAD); C2 catheters for treating coronary artery disease; and S4 catheters for treating below-the-knee PAD.  

MACD Indicator confirms Price Momentum

The SWAV daily price chart below shows that SWAV is in a price downtrend as the 24/52 day MACD line (black line) is below the 18-Day EMA (purple line). The Moving Average Convergence/ Divergence chart is shown below the daily price chart.

MACD uses moving averages to create a momentum indicator by subtracting the longer-term moving average from the shorter-term moving average. The MACD is calculated by subtracting a stock’s longer term 52-Day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) from its shorter term 24-Day EMA. This creates the MACD line.

MACD ‘Sell’ Signal

The 18-Day EMA line functions as a buy/sell ‘trigger’. When the 24/52 Day MACD line crosses above the 18-Day EMA line it indicates positive momentum and higher prices for the stock. When the 24/52 Day MACD lines crosses below the 18-Day EMA it indicates negative momentum and lower prices for the stock. MACD is more of a leading indicator than a moving average cross over which tends to lag price movement.

MACD Histogram shows Acceleration of Momentum

Also included in a MACD chart is the histogram bar graph. This portion of the chart helps to illustrate the distance between the 24/52 Day MACD and the 18-Day EMA.

When a crossover initially occurs, the histogram’s bar will be near flat as the two indicator lines have converged. As the lines begin to separate, the bars grow in height, indicating a widening gap and acceleration for the stock’s momentum. When the histogram’s bars begin to shrink this indicates a narrowing of the gap between the 24/52 Day MACD and the 18-Day EMA and a slowing of the stock’s momentum. When the gap between the two indicators begins to narrow, this typically indicates a crossover of the indicator lines could happen soon.

Sell SWAV Stock

As long as the 24/52 Day MACD line remains below the 18-Day EMA, the stock is more likely to keep trading at new lows in the coming days and weeks.

Since SWAV’s bearish run is likely to continue, bearish positions should be initiated.

Our initial price target for SWAV stock is 187.00 per share.

96.4% Profit Potential for SWAV Option

Now, since SWAV’s 24/52 Day MACD is trading below the 18-Day EMA this means the stock’s bearish decline will likely continue. Let’s use the Hughes Optioneering calculator to look at the potential returns for a SWAV put option purchase.

The Put Option Calculator will calculate the profit/loss potential for a put option trade based on the price change of the underlying stock/ETF at option expiration in this example from a flat SWAV price to a 12.5% decrease.

The Optioneering Team uses the 1% Rule to select an option strike price with a higher percentage of winning trades. In the following SWAV option example, we used the 1% Rule to select the SWAV option strike price but out of fairness to our paid option service subscribers we don’t list the strike price used in the profit/loss calculation.

Trade with Higher Accuracy

When you use the 1% Rule to select a SWAV in-the-money option strike price, SWAV stock only has to decrease 1% for the option to breakeven and start profiting! Remember, if you purchase an at-the-money or out-of-the-money put option and the underlying stock closes flat at option expiration it will result in a 100% loss for your option trade! In this example, if SWAV stock is flat at 200.26 at option expiration, it will only result in a 2.5% loss for the SWAV option compared to a 100% loss for an at-the-money or out-of-the-money put option.

Using the 1% Rule to select an option strike price can result in a higher percentage of winning trades compared to at-the-money or out-of-the-money put options. This higher accuracy can give you the discipline needed to become a successful option trader and can help avoid 100% losses when trading options.

The goal of this example is to demonstrate the powerful profit potential available from trading options compared to stocks.

The prices and returns represented below were calculated based on the current stock and option pricing for SWAV on 1/12/2023 before commissions.

When you purchase a put option, there is virtually no limit on the profit potential of the put if the underlying stock continues to decline in price.

For this specific put option, the calculator analysis below reveals if SWAV stock decreases 5.0% at option expiration to 190.25 (circled), the put option would make 46.9% before commission. 

If SWAV stock decreases 10.0% at option expiration to 180.23 (circled), the put option would make 96.4% before commission*.

The leverage provided by put options allows you to maximize potential returns on bearish stocks.

The Hughes Optioneering Team is here to help you identify profit opportunities just like this one.

Interested in accessing the Optioneering Calculators? Join one of Chuck’s Trading Services for unlimited access! The Optioneering Team has option calculators for six different option strategies that allow you to calculate the profit potential for an option trade before you take the trade.

Average Portfolio Return of 207.7%

Below is a screenshot of the current open trade profit opportunities from Chuck’s Inner Circle Trading Service. There are currently $172,188.07 in open trade profit opportunities with an average portfolio return of 207.7% demonstrating the ability of the Optioneering Strategy to deliver substantial returns with no losing portfolios**.

**Open trade profit results represent the open trade profit performance for the portfolio displayed on 1/12/23. Open trade profits may have increased or decreased when trades were closed out. Trading incurs risk and some people lose money trading. Past performance does not necessarily predict future results. Member profits and losses are not tracked. Profit potential is taken from results of signaled trades, not actual member results. Not all members make the trades.

Get Trade Insights Directly From Chuck

You can start getting market insights directly from 10-Time Trading Champion Chuck Hughes.

See what he’s trading and when with his exclusive Inner Circle Trading Service where he will send you his hand-picked stock and option trades.

Just call Brad at 1-866-661-5664 or 1-310-647-5664 to join or CLICK HERE to schedule a call! 

Wishing You the Best in Investing Success,

Chuck Hughes

Editor, Trade of the Day

Have any questions? Email us at dailytrade@chuckstod.com

*Trading incurs risk and some people lose money trading.