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 China Auto Logistics (CALI), which is skyrocketing higher by 60%; Plug Power (PLUG), which is exploding higher by 50%; CombiMatrix (CBMX), which is ripping higher by over 27%; and Clean Diesel Technologies (CDTI), which is spiking higher by 25%. 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's been on fire since I recently flagged it is clinical stage biopharmaceutical player Novavax (NVAX), which I highlighted in Nov. 21's "5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar" at $3.25 per share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of Novavax were uptrending over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.68 to $3.27 a share. That move was quickly pushing NVAX within range of triggering a major breakout trade above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.39 to $3.50 a share.

Guess what happened? Shares of Novavax didn't take long to trigger that breakout, since the stock started to clear those overhead resistance levels the following week with strong upside volume flows. This stock has done nothing but uptrending since my article, with shares of NVAX tagging an intraday high today of $4.25 a share. That represents a gain of just over 30% in only a few weeks, but there might still be much more gains in store for NVAX. If this stock can maintain its uptrend, then we should see NVAX tag $5 a share very soon.

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.

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners

One under-$10 biopharmaceutical player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (CPRX), which is focused on the development and commercialization of prescription drugs targeting diseases of the central nervous system with a focus on the treatment of drug addiction and epilepsy. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 364%.

If you take a look at the chart for Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares soaring higher from its low of $1.29 to its intraday high of $2.09 a share. During that uptrend, shares of CPRX have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed share of CPRX within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CPRX if it manages to break out above its 50-day moving average of $2.11 a 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 volume of 2.21 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CPRX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.87 to $3 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give CPRX a chance to re-test its 52-week high at $3.65 a share.

Traders can look to buy CPRX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $1.65 to $1.63 a share. One can also buy CPRX off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Gulf Resources

Another under-$10 basic materials player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Gulf Resources (GURE), which manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt, and manufactures and sells chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration. This stock has been a favorite target of the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 140%.

If you take a look at the chart for Gulf Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $1.10 to its recent high of $3.10 a share. During that uptrend, shares of GURE have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of GURE within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in GURE if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.87 to its 52-week high at $3.10 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 467,986 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GURE will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $4 to $4.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy GURE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support levels at $2.38 a share, or near its 50-day moving average of $2.23 a share. One can also buy GURE off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

TherapeuticsMD

One under-$10 specialty pharmaceutical player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is TherapeuticsMD (TXMD), which is focused on the sales, marketing and development of branded and generic pharmaceutical and OTC products primarily for the women's health care market. This stock has been in play with the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up 56%.

If you take a look at the chart for TherapeuticsMD, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last three months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $2.03 to its recent high of $5.27 a share. During that uptrend, shares of TXMD have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of TXMD within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TXMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.93 a share to its 52-week high at $5.27 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 volume of 450,661 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then TXMD will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $6 to $7 a share.

Traders can look to buy TXMD off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at 4.30 a share, or near its 50-day moving average of $4.15 a share. One can also buy TXMD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Dolan

Another under-$10 stock that looks poised for a sharp move higher is Dolan (DM), a provider of necessary business information and professional services to the legal, financial and real estate sectors in the U.S. This stock has been hammered by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares off huge by 80%.

If you take a look at the chart for Dolan Company, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly over the last two months, with shares plunging lower from its high of $3 a share to its recent low of 66 cents per share. During that downtrend, shares of DM have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of DM into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 20. Oversold can always get more oversold, but it's also an area where a stock can make a powerful bounce higher from.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in DM if it manages to break out above Thursday's high of 77 cents per share and then above some more near-term overhead resistance at 80 cents per 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 321,823 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then DM will set up for a possible powerful bounce higher that could easily take this stock back above $1 to $1.20 a share.

Traders can look to buy DM off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right around some key near-term support levels at 71 cents to 66 cents per share. One can also buy DM off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Geron

One final under-$10 bio therapeutic drugs player that's starting to enter breakout territory is Geron (GERN), which develops therapeutic products for cancer that inhibit telomerase. This stock has been on absolute fire in 2013, with shares up a whopping 324%.

If you take a look at the chart for Geron, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.83 to its intraday high of $6.08 a share. During that move, shares of GERN have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move has now pushed shares of GERN into breakout territory, since the stock has taken out some near-term overhead resistance at $5.86 a share on an intraday basis.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GERN if it manages to close above that key near-term overhead resistance level at $5.86 a share, and then once it takes out its intraday high of $6.08 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 4.61 million shares. If we get that move soon, then GERN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $7.79 a share.

Traders can look to buy GERN off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $5 a share. One can also buy GERN off strength once it starts to take out $5.86 to $6.08 a share 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.