Wednesday, March 17, 2010

penny stocks to watch

Penny stock to watch – penny stocks offer investors ways to trade, buy, or sell stocks. Investors can invest $1 and get a turnaround of $35. The risks however make it harder for investors to earn money. Hot penny stocks to watch should be considered because you can stay alert to the shifts in the stock markets. The trading industry is one of the largest growing businesses on the market. Penny stocks are making its way in stocks since people are drawn to the low startup costs to get into the stock market. Yet...
...although investing in the penny market is reasonable, there are risks involved. Learning which penny stocks to watch for can help you reduce those risks. People often confuse stocks that are penny stocks with having upside. company is worth $10 million it can double to $20 million easier than a $100 billion dollar business can go to $200 billion. So a $1 stock must go to $2 quicker than a $100 stock can go to $200. But that's flawed logic. Stocks are priced based on their market cap divided by shares. So a $100 billion dollar company could be selling at $1 per share or 1 share of $100 billion. What people are generally looking for is not a penny stock but a small cap stock. Actually, generally the penny stock buyers are the "lotto ticket" type that just want to buy a dream. In reality, these people would be better making intelligent decisions with regards to which stock to buy, and buying stock options instead out of the money. This way they still have the extreme high risk high reward and they can still spend a small amount of capital while taking that risk.

stocks to watch 2010

According to the latest stock news, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Incorporation (POT) Shares is in the break out mode. It is predicting that in 2010 the company’s sales will increase. It is a forecast that tells investors that it is time to become a shareholder since the market is warm.

Apple (AAPL) is another company that is increasing sales during 2010. The iPhone market in particular has already increased per quarter. This means that more Apple, Mac sales will occur this year. It would be easy to gain around 30 to 50 percent by investing in Apple’s company.

General Electric (GE) is doing well also. GE is one of the most recommended companies to invest in because it is safer. They have already hit over $15 in stocks and expect to increase to $8 more this year.

GMCR (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) is growing in the stock shares. The Keurig coffer marker is a hot item. This is another hot small cap stock to watch. Since the company allowed Wal-Mart to sell their coffee marker, and since they bought the Timothy coffee marker and made it available in Canada, there has been a battle in bidding amid GMCR and Peet’s coffee maker. Current trading for GMCR is over $60. Some people are projecting it will hit $90 this year.

Other stocks to watch in 2010 include Citigroup © and Research in Motion (RIMM). Citigroup may reach up to $7 during 2010. This means that it could gain as much as 80 or 100%.

RIMM shares are in the low 60s at this time since Black Berry struggles against competitors. The company is trading at around 13 times the 2010 earnings. It is projected that it will increase to $90.

Penny stocks are claimed to be riskier than other stock marketing. Thus, if you have not gotten in on the latest penny stock news now is the time to get started. This is a few of the hot stocks for 2010, but we recommend that you go online and so some more research if you plan to become an investor.

Other companies you may want to research or put on your penny stocks to watch list is Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) and Cell Therapeutics (CTIC). These companies are projected to do well this year also.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

buy shares

The stock market gives everyone the opportunity to buy a piece of a company that offers shares or stocks to the public. People from all types of financial backgrounds can buy and sell stocks just like the millionaires. Some shy away from trading due to not completely understanding how the market works. One thing that must be verified should be the legitimacy of the company. All it will take is a telephone call to the company or doing some research on line. Deciding on a stockbroker is the first thing that must be done prior to selecting stocks. A broker that has years of experience will be the best choice. To make stock investments without the help of someone experienced would be an unwise choice. Buying shares is much easier than trying to make money selling some type of product or service. To buy shares on line will take the expertise of an advisor prior to purchase. Being able to understand the basic fundamental aspects of what it takes to buy stock shares can be confusing at first. When it comes to making the decision to buy stocks, there are certain things that must be considered like finding the ones that show signs of long term growth. Many individuals will start trading what is classified as the penny stock. The penny stocks can be purchased for less than one dollar. One of the most important factor is the financial health of the company. If the major news channels are broadcasting financial woes regarding a particular company, it normally means a substantial drop in the stock prices. Some individuals capitalize on the misfortunes of companies by buying shares at a low price in hopes that some type of recovery will take place in the near future. Deciding to buy stocks shares can be a hard decision to make. It may take months of studying the performance of certain stocks before an informed decision can be made regarding which ones to purchase. Due to the instability of major companies, many major stocks have decreased in price. Companies that were selling stocks for hundreds of dollars are now being sold for a dollar or two. It has become so easy to buy shares on line. The hardest choice to make will be what stocks to buy. If limited knowledge of the market exists, then the aid of a broker or brokerage firm may be needed. A commission will be payable to the brokerage firm. Trading on line stocks is very fast paced and is not for the faint at heart. It does not take much money to start day trading so the average person can participate. Being able to maintain self control and not give up when the stocks show signs of deceasing in value is not an easy task. Knowing when to sell is a decision that can be hard to make. Prior to taking the plunge when it comes to buying stocks, take the time to do some research regarding the trends of the market. Being prepared to lose money is one of the hardest obstacles that most will have to overcome.

good stocks to buy

http://explosive-stocks.blogspot.com/2010/03/good-stocks-to-buy.html

Are you looking for good stocks to buy? Have newsletter promises of the next hot stocks to buy if you pay them a large subscription gotten you curious to buy stocks, yet you don't want to pay for such a large fee?

Having a real broker is handy because you can have face to face consultations A personal broker can be expensive, can be worth the money. You want to know which one out there is a good stock to buy. Well, you get what you pay for. If you do not enjoy spending time on the computer or you are known to make mistakes on computers, perhaps you should pay the extra cost of a personal broker.

The process of online stock buying is quite simple for a novice and can help you know which stocks are good stocks to buy right NOW. The best time to use an online broker is when: You know (when you actually understand the market) enough to not need advice on good stocks to buy. You are certain which stocks you plan to buy. You need real time quotes for, for instance, day trading (buy and sell on a day to day or even minute to minute basis.) You need their research facilities for convenience.

Remember that an online broker is not your buddy. His or her purpose is to make money for their own pocket, and they will work to that end, whether you prosper or fail. Most online brokers have real time trading. That means that they can make a trade instantly. Some familiar ones are Fidelity Investments who sell IRAs and do online trading; Scottrade, who offers three levels of trading; TD Ameritrade who is more a long term planners than a day trader: andE*Trade who does trading in 7 markets and 6 local currencies: , the United States, Canada , the U.K., Germany, Hong Kong, France, and Japan. Commissions presently are in the range of $6.99 to $9.99. Also, there is often a minimum deposit for opening an account with an online broker. This can range from $500 - $2,000.
Always prescreen your stocks.
Determine how many stocks you can afford to buy. Know the likely loss potential for each transaction and act accordingly. Some buyers never let any one stock purchase cost more than 1% of the commissions. In other words, to buy stock abc that costs $1 to buy make certain to have $100 to invest. Compare each purchase with the whole portfolio. Then you can adjust the size of your investment.

One can make some money buying shares online and trading stocks with small sums of money. Buying penny stocks is as good a place to start as any. Good penny stocks to buy can cost less than $1 and can double in price. Remember, risks are much greater with penny stocks than with other stocks. They are either small undiscovered companies which will grow or fold due to management beyond your control, or they are out and out scams. Make them a small part of your portfolio. You must have the information needed to make a very well informed decision if you are buying penny stocks. Never let emotions enter the arena of stock buying or you will lose money and what seems like a good stock to by may turn out to be a real loser.

Choosing Stocks to Buy Now

Finding places to invest your money in today’s struggling economy can be difficult, and the tumultuous nature of the market doesn't make it any easier to decide what stocks to buy now. There are always inspirational stories of microcap, or penny stock investors striking it rich by holding a long position their holdings, or savvy options players who leveraged huge gains in the market, but these stories are the exception to the rule. They require constant and diligent maintenance and research that the average investor doesn’t have time to apply. To find the right financial stocks to buy now, start with a solid strategy that won’t be deviated from. The first step in this plan is to avoid overcomplicating your approach. Too much research and analysis can become a substitute for real action. Worse yet, a person can research a stock until they convince themselves it’s worth buying. The best stock to buy now has the signs of still being the best in the near or far future. To find companies that have this attribute, look for those paying strong dividends over the long term. Even in a negative return market, factoring in dividend returns can create a positive. This was true in 2004 for both the DOW Jones and the S & P 500. The attraction of dividends is their exponential rates of return compared with non-dividend paying companies. Companies with a long record of paying out to their stockholders are the priority to look into. Newer companies may seek to reduce dividend payments to expand the company. One of the best stocks to buy right now is Johnson & Johnson, who have been paying dividends as high as 3.3% for decades. The opposite is true of Whole Foods, who decided to cut dividends to put the money into growing the company. One of the best stocks to buy right now is Johnson & Johnson, who have been paying dividends as high as 3.3% for decades. The opposite is true of Whole Foods, who decided to cut dividends to put the money into growing the company. Johnson & Johnson has been paying out and raising their dividend since 1944. In general, a good stock to buy now has great cash flow so there aren’t any concerns about receiving dividend payments in the future. The next part of this simple strategy is to hold on to a dividend paying company’s stock indefinitely. After enough time passes, the dividend payments surpass the original amount invested. and this process can be sped up by reinvesting your dividend payments to buy more shares and receive larger payouts at the quarterly dividend payment. Other stocks to buy right now are Hansen Natural Corp, a beverages manufacturer and distrubutor, and Intuitive Surgical, a company that blew up as a microcap and now sells for over $300. Hot stocks to buy now may be a sell or a hold tomorrow. Keep the cashflow, the reputation, and the experience of the management team in mind when researching opportunities.

Best Stocks To Buy

Best Stocks to Buy In 2010

When it comes to buying stocks online it pays to know which is the best stocks to buy now and in the future. We are in 2010 and the stock market has improved significantly over the past couple of years. But, it pays to look back a couple of years to see how well certain companies has done this year. You can compare the quotes to find out if the company is worth investing in.

In order to know which is the best stocks to buy, you will need to find out which companies are earning high returns on investments. You will also need to keep up with the trends to decide which is the best stocks to buy now. The latest buy and sell signals should be considered.

Best stock to buy may be US Stocks in which Will the Bears surrender control. As of the first of 2010, US Stock Markets came to an abrupt end in its record setting for winning streaks. Dow Jones hit an average of 4%, which the industrial plummeted to its worth monthly loss in one year. What this means is that Dow Jones for now may not be one of the best stocks to buy.

Best stocks to buy now may be today’s hot picks which include THS and S & P 500. In 2008, S & P hit a negative return of -$38.49, but in 2009 the bank increased returns to 23.45%. THS was at the highest in with at 46.74% and dropped slightly in 2009 to 36.72%.

One of the best stocks to buy right now may be ONP (Orient Paper Incorporation). The company is based in China and manufacturers paper products and paper for China. The company’s trading history is steadily rising.

Buying stocks online is smart because you can keep up with the trends and shifts in the stock market. Right now one of the best stocks to buy is the Citigroup.

Some of the MSN stock advisors are suggesting that now is the time to invest in PeopleSupport. People Support is considered one of the best stocks to buy because the company has 18.5 million shares, with a market cap of 122 million giving them an % chg. YTD of around 144.3.

You may refer to others advice however who may tell that the best stocks to buy now is QuadraMed who has shares of 42 million, with a 129 market cap and 112.5 YTD.

Metallica Resources is at 84 shares, 315 million in market caps, and 101.6 YTD. The point here is if you are good in the stock market it pays to keep up with the signals, shifts, and trends that occur daily. Since stock business went fully electronic the changes occur often.

If you are new in the stock exchange we suggest that you take time to learn about the charts, systems, trends, sell, buy, and other details that focus on the stock exchange market. Don’t venture into stock exchange without learning buying stocks online and which is the best stocks to buy right now.

Best Investment For IRAs

Best Investment –IRA investments

IRAs are an effective and marvellous way to build a portfolio of best investment funds. However, before you rush out and start picking out IRAs you will need to assess your needs and find a plan that suits your personal circumstances.

1. You have to decide how much money you wish to invest in an IRA fund. There many places you can get advice locally, speak to a professionally trained adviser. Be prepared with a list of questions as you will pay a small fee for the information and you want to make sure that you obtain all the necessary information. If you are new to this game then search online and get knowledgeable before you make your appointment.

2. Once you have collated all the information you have to decide whether the advice offered is best for you. When choosing a provider for best investment rates check what type of restriction there on the policies. There are many best investment IRAs but you need to select them on the basis of low fees and high performing funds. Do not sign anything there and then, bring it home and read everything through thoroughly.

3. Lastly look carefully at the fees you have to pay to your IRA provider. Make a note of the fees for trading stocks, bonds and property to get the best investment funds. The last things you want is pay a huge amount of fees on the overall investment profits, because you want to have nice hefty sum of cash in your account at the end of the investment period.

Choosing the best investment IRA that will work for you totally depends on your age, and how many years until retirement and how much you can spare to invest. Make sure you have a solid plan of action and focus strongly on current market trends, looking at how you can manage the risk.

The ideal thing to do is to have a diversified portfolio so that if there is major loss then you will not loose all your money. Minimize the risk by going for investments in gold and property and bonds. Most people find that investing in things like gold, silver, copper and platinum are good because when the stock market plunges, precious metals tend to escalate upwards to protect your money.

Another best investment to discuss with your IRA advisor is buying CDS-CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. CDS can earn some very high rates on your IRAs contributions and there is only a small risk involved. If you get into the best investment game at a much older age then think about investing in money market funds. Although compared with CDS the return is much lower, the only drawback you will experience is IRAs early claiming penalty. You can also spread your investments in mutual funds and protect your funds in the IRA account. All the money in the mutual funds is invested through a group so the financial load is spread. So if you want to be comfortable in your old age select the best investment funds through your financial advisor.

accumulate cheap stocks in down markets

Many people confuse cheap stock with low priced stocks, this is not the same. In this article when I refer to cheap stocks, I mean undervalued stocks, or stocks that are cheap relative to various indicators of value, such as the P/E ratio. With that out of the way here is what you should do.Buy cheap stock and take steps to a good return on your money. Look for companies that may not be the most popular, although they are solid and well managed. Evaluate the business, cash flow and growth factors. Make sure to read the paper and online sources for information on businesses.

Run the numbers on the stock screen. Consider stocks fair value and cash flow situation. Most cheap financial stocks will increase in value if you are patient. With the current economy and accounting assumptions it can be difficult to select a cheap stock. Take a look at losses and write offs, borrowing cost and much more to predict the earning power.

Earning power is a hard thing to predict so buy cheap stock that has been researched in depth. This will help give a clearer picture of how the stock will do in the future. Analyze the short run and the long run projections for the stock. Price to earnings ratio will show the value of the stock. Affecting each shares value and determining how much you will make or lose.

With the current economy there are no get rich quick schemes out there. Although the market will turn around eventually, so be patient and you may be rewarded. Unemployment has had an adverse effect on the market. Along with other economic factors such as the housing market tanking in recent years has affected everyone.

Wait for the stock price to slip below the fair value. With the undervaluation of the stock, it gives a level of safety in the purchase. This will minimize the risk of purchasing the stock and still seek solid returns. Buy low and wait and watch for the value to rise.

Cheap stock trading online is easy with many sites offering free stock trades. Open an account and receive a certain number of free trades. Real time market, limit orders and scheduled investment trades are available. Online brokerage services are convenient and easy to use.

With tools like online trading common folk can sit at home and trade their stock. A computer is the tool that allows you to open an account and invest in the market all online. No need to have a broker to do it for you. Even those with a limited income can buy and trade cheap stock.

By buying shares online that represent a significant discount to value, it enables you to have a small piece of a business at a reasonable price. What the hope is that the future of the business is bright for your stock to increase in value. Economic conditions and of course the performance of the business play a part in the whole picture.

Hoping that the company makes a profit and pays its stockholders the profit or a dividend payment. Some businesses choose to reinvest the profit money back into the business to make it stronger. Both of these scenerios are good for the stockholder. Anytime a business makes a profit it is good.

stock option software

With so many stock options software around, how would you know which is the best one to select?

First and foremost it will be determined by your budget. Are you willing to invest more money on a stock option trading software or a you happy with free trial software. Furthermore, your budget would also determine what kind of software you would avail of. Is it simply a stock option software or a stock option tracking software? They have different features that you may not find necessary and so it is best to select the one with the maximum options you could use.

There are stock option trading software that helps you manage your investments in your portfolio. Some of them are more focused towards the accounting part. You will be pleased to know that you no longer have to keep calculating inside your head how much you are going to make. Call options and Pull Options have to be considered carefully and thanks to the help of a stock option software a trader only needs to concentrate on the actual trading process.

Aside from these you need to know how much information you really need. Some stock options software are actually expensive because they have complex interface and graphs that you probably could do without. Thus it is suggested to use a trial version first. If you find yourself using it quickly without having to consult the help feature often, then you've probably met your match.

Also try to search for softwares that work well with what you have. If you are a Mac user then certain softwares are made for PC so make sure you are getting the correct version. The Microsoft Excel could easily be mixed with other stock option trading software, and together they could yield the best suggestions on which stocks to buy.

Another feature that you may find useful in a stock option trading software is its ability to predict the future value of your stock options. Thus you will know if it is worth buying or selling it. It also evaluates the risks involved with different stocks and helps you avoid making costly mistakes in purchasing them. It could even forewarn you as the best time to make the purchase or sell your stock options.

Employee stock option software are also convenient for employees who were granted with stock options by their companies. Not all employees are familiar with stock trading particularly with stock options which is even riskier. That is why they need all the help they could get and this software is your best bet.

With so many things to consider surely you are probably perplexed by now as to how many you should be making from different stocks more so with how much you are actually making currently. Luckily a stock option tracking software makes necessary reports on your stock options current developments. You could even digest the reports by industry or whichever criteria that you want.

Some people try to save up by buying only a single stock option software, but most of the time, these gives out generic information that you would probably figure out by yourself in the long run. In choosing stock options software make sure to do some actual trading first. Then make a list of all those information you wish you knew before making decisions. That will tell you which stock option trading software you should get.

buying shares online

When you are stock trading, buying shares online can be both a risky and lucrative business, if you know how to utilize the market to your advantage. Trading stocks requires a broker which up until a few years ago required you to know someone in the business who would take care of your needs and advise you on certain trades. In the digital age, you can now do all of your stock trading online, with a broker that is available any time. Buying shares online has never been easy with an online stock broker, but choosing the right brokerage for you can be something of a task.

When looking at the many different brokerages and trying to decide which service you should use, you should first know how to buy shares online. Many brokerages have a small walkthrough that will guide you through the process before you get started, so you completely understand the process. Understanding this process and the interface used is extremely important, because without it, you'll be at a loss for purchasing stocks online. When you buy and sell shares online, no matter what brokerage you decide on, you'll have to pay fees. Some brokerages offer you the first ten or so trades for free, but after that, they'll get either a set amount, or a percentage of the trade, depending on which brokerage you decide on.

With a brokerage, you can buy stock shares online and hang on to them for as long as you deem necessary without worrying about paying fees or other costs. In fact, the only time you do pay is when you decide to buy or sell. Because online stock trading has become so popular, it's really opened up the world of the stock market to small business owners and individuals alike. Previous market contenders who were unable to get into the stock market trade now have options available to them, making them viable traders. Online brokerages handle over 30 million trades a year, so now is the best time to hop on board the online stock buying wagon and experience the ease of use yourself.

Brokerages are available to guide you through the process, so if you have any questions about the buying or selling process using their website, you can speak in person to an individual who will answer all of your questions. This is a very rare trait these days, and with this expertise, you'll quickly learn how to manipulate the market in your favor.

If you're still interested in trading stocks online and you want to know more before signing up for a brokerage, there are many online websites that will teach you the ropes without you having to be a member of any brokerage. These websites offer mentors for people who are looking to get into the stock market exchange without wearing themselves thin before they are even in the market. This is often the best way to get yourself acquainted with online trading, as you can watch your mentors trades and see how the process is done before you are set loose on your own.

Stock Market Software Programs

If you plan to get into the stock market exchange it is best that you choose a good stock market software program so that you can keep up with the forecasts in price trends.

Stock market investment software designed to help you forecast the price trends in Forex and the stock market. Some of the stock market trading software is complex since the programs may have a set of forecasting algorithms, which combine common and technical factors, e.g. growth rates, earnings, price, book ratios, and dividend yields.

Such software for stock market will sketch up on Estep, or T-Model, Dividend Discount, and generate a predictable rate of returns for universal stocks. These are the best stock market software programs, since the price trend lines up with the current price and projects a pessimistic price trend. If the arrows or lines point down it means it is a negative price trend.

Some of the best stock market software analyzes the securities as well as the broader market trends. These are the universal software programs that comprise of more than 1500 stocks, in addition to over 2500 mutual funds. It includes about 40 market exchange traded funds, as well as a broad selection of chief market indexes. The software is capable of forecasting the interest rates as well as an using proprietary yield curves.

Another feature that makes these types of programs the best stock market software is that you can use the program to predict which direction your portfolio is heading.

If you are investing in Forex and just starting out, you may be interested in trying some of the Forex charting programs. The programs have available tools which may include FX Net Dania Charts, or the FX Power. Some have FXTREK Desktop tools, or Market Scopes Charting. The charts are easy to use and designed for beginners. You can use these tools to discover ways to use limited measurement instruments, such as indicators that point to price, shifts in the stock market and so forth. Forex provides charts that are standard and user-friendly.

Some of the stock market software has the limited studies of scientific and indicators. The data that appears on the charts go back 10 years or longer to provide you with Fibonacci facts from real-life investigative studies.

Desktop software include charts that offer deliver quality combined with sophisticated Forex chart applications for active traders. These charts are used to analyze stock markets with extreme precaution and designed to allow you to focus on the currency markets. The charts can deliver all-inclusive suite of studies, which focuses on customized charts.

These are the best stock market software for Forex investors because the technology includes a Window structured system that provides you with reliability and faster processing speed. You can use the FX Desktops provided to review a collection of charts in a single window pane.

Some of the stock market software with charts have integrated attributes and features that help you to keep up with the Market Scope. There is a collection of indicators to help you focus the trends, price, currency exchange, market shifts, and so forth.

Bull Flag Screen Update

A Bull flag is a chart pattern where after going up fairly rapidly, a stock consolidates and channels back and forth for awhile. Typically stocks that break out of these stock patterns go soaring.
One way to find these type of stocks is:

-Use a stock screener to find stocks that have done well recently. This depeneds on your time frame, but an example would be to take the top 1000 performing stocks in the past 3 months or so. Usually the better performing, the more likely the bull flag breakout will lead to big gains.
-Then of those stocks screen out all of those which aren't within 10% of their 52 wk high.
-From that list you're looking for stocks in a short amount of time that have traded sideways or downward. You might do this by screening out all of those with more than 5% price gain (or even 3% or 2%), in the past 3 weeks and also screen out those that have gone down more than 15% in the top 2 weeks, so you're left with those in the middle Of course, you certainly could do a longer period of time than 3 weeks, just know that you should be biased to the downside at this stage, as bull flags are more likely to flag downward, and doing so is usually pretty healthy.

Now you have your list of stocks.

I like to anaylize the sector from there, only taking the top sectors, and I might even do that before selecting the top 500 in the screen. (for example the top hundred of stocks in oil, metals, and ags, right now might be a good selection).
But regardless, you need to watch this list for breakouts. A stock should break out of the flag. Theerer are two potential buypoints. Buypoint one is just above the trendline of the consolidation channel. The 2nd is just above the 52 week high.

You should picck stocks that you like, that have moved on volume, and that have good earnings, and set stop buy orders at either or both of these buypoints for as many of these patterns as you want....
You should also set a stop below the bottom of the consolidation channel. The tighter the channel, and closer it is to the 52 week high, the better risk/reward because of these stops.

You can have mutiple bull flag screens for different time periods, and perhaps you want those that also have good fundimentals. I like to try to find stocks that are consolidating near there high with earnings comming up as those usually are setting up very nicely, and setting a stop buy order on the breakout can leave very good results.


(image has been lost) <-- Notice the bull flag before it broke out. THis is when gold was around 500 in early 06. Now golds approaching 1000. <--Sometimes a stock will flag down, and then meet support at the Moving Average. If it bounces then it will go up and hit the trendline resistance and then bounce down to support again. The support and resistance will squeeze together, and that's when the value of the stock (or commodity) will make it's move. When to sell?
Generally if you look at a stocks movement BEFORE the consolidation you can take half the gain from the start of the rally until the consolidation period. Add that gain to the bottom of the consolidation, and that's a pretty decent limit sell point. You can take some of your shares and sell them before hand, some at that point, and then some after if you would like.


Stock screen will look like
% price change past 6 months = TOP 1000 AND
52 week high (less than or equal to) 12% AND
% price change past 1 month >-20% AND
% price change past 1 month <3% id=" xxxx" id="yyy" months =" TOP">-20% AND
% price change past 1 month <3%
PEG= Bottom 10
P/S= bottom 3

Adding things like PEG and P/S may lead to bigger gains, and may be better for longer term patterns.

update: Because my example image of gold in 2006 is gone, I decided to add a bit of information. WeeklyTA explains the bullflag in his post Common Breakout Patterns.

Bull flags are usually very small and can last for only one day or several weeks. The way to tell the entry is by using the appropriate moving averages. Sometimes, I like to enter a flag regardless for fear that I may miss the breakout. However, the closer the pattern is to the 15- or 20-day, the faster the breakout will materialize.

The book Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns by Bulkowski provides some information about bull flags that you can't find elsewhere.
As you can see 55% reach the target price in a bear market, while 64% of bull flags meet their target in a bull market. Obviously it pays more to invest in a bull market as the average rise is greater as well.
Perhaps more important than identifying bull flags is knowing how to trade them. The best flags are the tall ones, there's even a special pattern for bull flags called "high and tight bull flags" which is talked about in IBD founder William O'Neil's book How To Make Money In Stocks. Bulkowski also mentions information about high and tight flags. This information is already shared at stocktradinginvestments with the following posts on high and tight flags.

High And Tight Flag Trading System Introduction - This trading system examines the use of high and tight flags and talks about identifying them.

Flag Trading System Part 1/3 - Now that the basics of the trading system are explained this goes into the process of actually using the system.

Flag Trading System Part 2 - The series continues explaining how and when to buy and sell and how to use stops and trailing stops, limit sell orders, and more.

high tight flags - This shows a brief example of how the flag trading system will identify stocks.

It appears that Flag Trading System Part 3 has not yet been developed, but I'm eager to learn more about the series as it should conclude

High And Tight Flag results - Additional information by Bulkowski himself showing you the research results on his high and tight flag case study.

As you can see clearly a high and tight bull flag is superior to a regular bull flag, so keep that in mind when looking for bull flags.

If you trade bull flags it's a good idea to set a stop just below the recent consolidation low or if you really want to be picky you can set it at the breakout point that you buy it, and if it crosses below, you can either buy it again when it crosses above the buypoint again or else move onto another bull flag.

Bull flags are more powerful when they have strong earning surprises behind them such as those featured at Zacks.

If you combine good strong earnings, strong earnings growth and fundamentals, earning surprises with recently strong price action followed by a consolodation and a breakout again, you will be able to get a stock that has the potential to have big gains. Of course past results aren't always an indication of future results, so use caution when trading bull flags or high and tight flags, or any stocks for that matter.