AI Trader | Minervini: 37 SEPA setups, FTI best at 3.13:1

Mark Minervini

FTI is a textbook pivot, but that volume at 0.67 tells me the breakout lacks institutional conviction. I don’t buy a base breakout without at least 1.5x average volume—that’s the fuel that confirms the move. The risk-reward is solid, but I’d rather wait for a tighter VCP or a higher-volume retest than chase a lukewarm pop. Patience beats participation when the tape isn’t screaming.

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 342. Actionable 37 · Watch 84 · Avoid 221.

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

FTI · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: FTI is tightening up into a proper VCP right here, and the buy point at 80.8 is the exact pivot where supply dries up and demand takes over. The volume ratio at 0.67 tells me we haven't seen the climax yet, but that's actually a good thing—it means the base is still constructive, not exhausted. My stop at 74.34 is just below the recent swing low, giving me a defined risk of roughly 8%, and with a target at 101, I'm looking at a 3.13 reward-to-risk. That's the kind of asymmetry I only act on when the setup is imminent, not speculative. If this breaks on above-average volume, I want to be there at the trigger, not chasing it two points higher where the edge evaporates.

Why wait: Because "imminent" is not "confirmed." I don't buy the pivot before it breaks—I buy the break itself. If FTI stalls at 80.8 or rolls over on weak volume, that's a failed breakout, and my stop would take a hit for no reason. The relative strength is a question mark, and I never ignore that; if this stock isn't leading its group or the market, the breakout has a lower probability of follow-through. Waiting costs me nothing if the move never comes, but acting early costs me capital and confidence. I'd rather miss a trade than take a bad one. The moment I see volume confirm the break above 80.8, I'm in. Until then, patience is my edge.

PSX · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: PSX shows a Base breakout with buy point at 260.78. R/R 3.13:1 against a 239.92 stop.

Why wait: ? Because an imminent setup is not a trigger. If you buy here, before the pivot, you’re guessing, and guessing gets you stopped out more often than not. The market doesn’t care about your opinion; it cares about price and volume at the exact moment of decision. If PSX stalls below 260.78 or breaks down on heavy volume, this setup is dead, and waiting saves you capital. Also, your relative strength is a question mark—that’s a red flag. I don’t buy laggards. If PSX isn’t outperforming the market or its sector, the breakout is more likely to fail. Let the stock prove itself at the pivot with a decisive move and volume. You’ll get a better fill, a tighter risk, and a higher probability of follow-through. Patience isn’t passive; it’s active risk management.

HPQ · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: HPQ is tightening up into a proper VCP, and the current setup is giving me the kind of contraction I want to see before a pivot. The buy at 32.88 is right at the edge of that base, and if volume confirms on the breakout—which I’m watching closely—this is the moment to act. The risk is defined at 30.25, which is only about 8% below entry, and with a target of 41.1, you’re looking at a 3.13 reward-to-risk ratio. That’s the kind of asymmetry I’ll take every day. The relative strength is still a question mark, but if the stock can push through that pivot with institutional volume, the trend will speak for itself. You don’t need to predict the future; you need to react to the tape at the exact moment it confirms.

Why wait: Because the status is IMMINENT, not CONFIRMED. I don’t buy anticipation; I buy the pivot. If you jump in before 32.88, you’re guessing, and guessing gets you stopped out more often than not. The volume reading at 0.881 is below what I’d call a decisive surge—that tells me the market hasn’t fully committed yet. If HPQ stalls or fades back into the base, that stop at 30.25 will hit you, and you’ll have paid tuition for a lesson you didn’t need. Patience is a weapon. Wait for the breakout to trigger with volume expansion, and if it doesn’t come, you walk away. There’s always another setup. The market pays you for being right at the right time, not for being early.

ECO · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: The base is tightening exactly the way I like to see it. ECO has been coiling for weeks, and the contraction in price range tells me the sellers are exhausted. The buy point at 71.87 is the pivot—the moment where supply dries up and demand takes over. I don’t need to guess; I need to act when the stock proves it. Volume is at 0.741, which is below average, but that’s fine here because I’m not looking for confirmation yet. I’m looking for the trigger. When price crosses 71.87 on a volume surge, that’s my signal. The risk is defined at 66.12, which is a tight 8% stop from entry. That’s acceptable. The target of 89.84 gives me a 3.13 reward-to-risk ratio. That’s the kind of asymmetry I want. If this breaks, I’m in. Not before, not after.

Why wait: Because the stock hasn’t actually broken out yet. Status is IMMINENT, not CONFIRMED. I don’t buy potential—I buy the pivot. If I jump in now, I’m guessing, and guessing is how you get chopped up. The relative strength is a question mark, and that’s a red flag. I need to see ECO outperform the market, not just hold its own. Without RS confirmation, I’m flying blind. Also, volume is weak. A breakout on low volume is a trap. I’d rather miss the first few points than take a false move and get stopped out. Patience is a weapon. I wait for the exact moment price clears 71.87 with conviction. If it doesn’t, I move on. There are always other setups. The market will pay me for discipline, not for being early.

COP · Base breakout · R/R 3.13:1

Why now: COP is tightening into a proper VCP right here, and the buy point at 137.52 is the exact line in the sand. The stock has spent weeks coiling, shaking out weak hands, and now it’s pressing against that pivot with volume starting to dry up on the pullbacks—that’s the contraction I want to see. My risk is defined at 126.52, which is just over 8% below entry, and the reward is 171.90, giving me a 3.13 to 1 payoff. That’s a slugging percentage setup, not a singles hitter. If it breaks on above-average volume, I’m in immediately. No hesitation, no waiting for a higher close. The market doesn’t reward the timid at the exact moment of truth.

Why wait: Because if COP doesn’t trigger that pivot on volume, you’re just guessing. A base breakout that fails to confirm within a day or two turns into a trap—you’ll be buying a false move and eating a stop before you even get a chance to manage the trade. I’d rather miss the first 2% than take a 8% loss on a broken pattern. Also, I don’t have the RS number yet, and that’s a non-negotiable filter for me. If relative strength is below 80 or lagging the market, this breakout is lower probability, no matter how pretty the chart looks. Wait for the volume surge and the RS confirmation. If it doesn’t come, there’s always another stock. The market pays you to be patient, not to be early.

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 08, 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.