AI Trader | Minervini: 41 SEPA setups, ZCSH best at 3.13:1

Mark Minervini

Forty-one actionable out of 377—that’s a selective tape, and I like that. ZCSH is the one that catches my eye: tight VCP, volume 7.4x confirming the breakout, and a 3.13:1 reward-to-risk at 84.16. But don’t chase it—if it stalls or closes back below that pivot, I’m gone. The other 82 on watch mean nothing until they tighten up and show me the same kind of institutional commitment. Right now, your job is to protect capital and let the winners prove themselves.

The Trend Template Gate

Market: Confirmed Uptrend. Every stock must pass all 8 Trend Template criteria (Stage 2 uptrend) before I look at the setup. Today’s scan covers 8 deepvue scans merged and deduplicated.

Today at a Glance

Scanned 377. Actionable 41 · Watch 82 · Avoid 254.

Portfolio Snapshot

Recent Trades:

🟢 WEAT +0.3% — Trimmed for portfolio risk limit

🟢 MPC +1.8% — Trimmed for portfolio risk limit

🟢 ZETA +1.7% — Trimmed for portfolio risk limit

🔴 FIVN -2.0% — Trimmed for portfolio risk limit

🔴 FIVN -2.2% — Trimmed for portfolio risk limit

Open Positions

SEPA Setups — At or Near the Pivot

ZCSH · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: ZCSH is coiled tighter than a drum, and that's exactly what I want to see. The base has been contracting, volume is drying up on the pullbacks, and now we're sitting at the pivot with a buy at 84.16. That's not a guess; that's the line in the sand. The risk is defined at 77.43, which is about 8% below entry—acceptable for a stock showing this kind of institutional footprint. My target of 105.2 gives me over 3 to 1 reward-to-risk, and that's the kind of asymmetry I only act on when the setup is imminent, not when it's already extended. If volume confirms on the breakout, I want to be there at the exact moment of the trigger, not chasing it two days later.

Why wait: Because "imminent" isn't "now." If ZCSH hasn't actually broken out yet, then waiting is not just smart—it's mandatory. I don't buy anticipation; I buy confirmation. If the stock stalls at this pivot or rolls over on heavy volume, that 84.16 level becomes a trap, and my stop at 77.43 would be a gift to the market makers. The relative strength is a question mark, and that's a red flag. I need to see ZCSH outperforming the market, not just holding its own. If it can't show me that, then the base might be a distribution pattern in disguise. So I wait for the exact breakout candle with volume, or I walk away. There's no third option.

BSVN · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: BSVN is setting up exactly the way I like to see it—tight price action after a proper consolidation, and now it’s knocking on that pivot at 57.77. The VCP is in the later stages, with contraction in range and volume drying up on the pullbacks. That’s the tell. When volume expands on the breakout attempt, that’s your confirmation. The risk is defined at 53.15, which is about 8% below entry. That’s acceptable if the stock is acting right. The target of 72.21 gives you over 3 times the risk, so the math works. I don’t need to know the RS number to see that this is a high-probability setup if it triggers. The time to act is when price clears that pivot with conviction, not before, not after. If it stalls or fails to hold above 57.77 on volume, you walk. No exceptions.

Why wait: Because the status is IMMINENT, not CONFIRMED. I’ve seen too many traders buy a few cents early and get shaken out on a false start. The pivot is the line in the sand. If BSVN opens strong and trades through 57.77 on volume that’s at least 40-50% above its average, then you take it. But if it gaps up and fades, or if it touches 57.77 and immediately reverses, that’s a failed breakout—and you’ll be glad you waited. Also, check the broader market. If the index is under pressure, even a perfect setup can fail. Patience is a weapon. Let the stock prove itself at the exact moment of truth. You don’t get paid for being early; you get paid for being right. And being right means waiting for that trigger, then acting without hesitation.

LPG · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: LPG is coiling into the exact kind of tightness I look for—the VCP is in its final stage, and price is pressing against the pivot at 55.38. Volume is at 0.96, which tells me the selling pressure has dried up; that’s the prerequisite for a proper breakout. The risk-reward is 3.13 to 1, which clears my minimum threshold, but that’s not the reason to act. The reason is that the base is complete, the stock is at the point of least resistance, and if it takes out that buy point with conviction, the move should be swift. I don’t need to predict the future—I need to be positioned at the exact moment supply is exhausted and demand takes over. That moment is now, not after a 5% extension.

Why wait: Because a breakout that isn’t confirmed is just a guess. If LPG opens below 55.38 or fails to hold that level on above-average volume, the setup is invalidated, and waiting saves you from a losing trade. The stop at 50.95 is 8% below the entry—that’s acceptable, but only if you’re buying at the pivot, not chasing a gap or a weak push. If the stock stalls at resistance and rolls over, you’ll see it in the price action: lower highs, shrinking volume on the up days. Waiting also gives you time to check the relative strength line—if it’s not trending up against the market, this breakout has a lower probability of working. Patience isn’t hesitation; it’s discipline. You wait for the trigger, not the hope.

FTI · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: FTI is setting up exactly the way I like to see it before I pull the trigger. The base has tightened, the VCP is showing me that sellers are exhausted, and price is coiling right at that pivot of 80.8. Volume is at 0.648, which is below average, but that’s actually constructive here—I don’t want to see heavy volume until the breakout itself. When that stock clears 80.8 on a volume surge, that’s my confirmation. The risk-to-reward at 3.13 is acceptable, but more importantly, the stop at 74.34 is tight enough that I can be wrong and lose a small amount. This is a timing game, and the timing is now—not next week, not after it runs 10% from here. You act at the pivot, not after the fact.

Why wait: Because if you’re asking me if this is imminent, you’re already thinking about waiting, and that’s a red flag. Waiting means you’re hoping for a better price, but in a proper base breakout, the better price is the breakout itself. If FTI stalls here or fails to clear 80.8 on volume, then you wait for the next setup—there’s no shame in that. But if you wait for it to be obvious, you’ll be buying extended, your stop will be wider, and your edge will be gone. I’d rather miss the move than chase it. The market doesn’t reward hesitation; it rewards preparation and execution. If the breakout doesn’t happen, you lose nothing. If it does, and you’re not ready, you’ve already lost the trade mentally. So decide: are you in at 80.8 with a stop at 74.34, or are you out? There’s no middle ground in this game.

PSX · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: PSX is tightening up into a proper VCP right here, and the buy point at 260.78 is the exact pivot where supply dries up and demand takes over. The volume contraction at 0.838 tells me institutions aren't dumping shares into this base—they're holding, waiting for the trigger. My stop at 239.92 is just below the recent swing low, giving me a defined risk of about 8%, and with a target near 326, I'm looking at a 3-to-1 reward. That's the kind of asymmetry I only act on when the setup is imminent, not speculative. If this pivot holds, you're buying strength at the precise moment of breakout, not chasing extended price action.

Why wait: If you don't see volume expand on the breakout day—ideally at least 40-50% above average—then this pivot is a trap, and you wait. The relative strength line is a question mark, and I never buy a stock that's not outperforming the market at the point of breakout; that's my edge. If PSX stalls below 260.78 or pulls back on rising volume, the base is failing, and my stop would get hit anyway. Patience is a weapon. I'd rather miss this move entirely than take a low-quality entry that violates my risk-first rules. The market will give you another chance, but it won't give you back capital lost to a premature buy.

Watch List

Avoid

What I’d Tell You

Risk first, always. Know your stop before you enter. Size from the stop, not from how much you want to make. If a stock violates after the breakout — closes below the 20-day, fails to follow through, shows heavy selling — do not wait for the hard stop. Act. The difference between a good trader and a great one is not the entries; it is the exits.

Stage, pattern and sentiment labels are generated by rule-based approximations (Weinstein stage analysis, Minervini trend template and heuristic pattern detection), not by precise technical analysis. Data as of September 05, 2026. For informational and educational purposes only — not investment advice. Always verify against primary sources before making any investment decision. SEPA-inspired system. VCP geometry is partially visual; the detector is a proxy. All thresholds are author calibration.