DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.
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Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."
Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.
With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.
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comScore
comScore (SCOR) provides a range of digital media analytics solutions in the U.S., Europe, Canada and others. This stock closed up 3% to $39.38 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 429,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 195,363
Volume % Change: 142%
From a technical perspective, SCOR jumped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $37.86 with above-average volume. This spike to the upside on Monday is quickly pushing shares of SCOR within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if SCOR manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $39.70 to its 52-week high of $39.78 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SCOR as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $37.86 or above more near-term support levels at $37 or $36 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 195,363 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SCOR will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $45 to $50.
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Williams Partners
Williams Partners (WPZ), an energy infrastructure company, focuses on connecting North America's hydrocarbon resource plays to growing markets for natural gas and natural gas liquids. This stock closed up 3.5% at $51.75 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 3.42 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 972,045
Volume % Change: 269%
From a technical perspective, WPZ jumped notably higher here back above its 200-day moving average of $50.73 with strong upside volume flows. This trend to the upside on Monday is quickly pushing shares of WPZ within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if WPZ manages to take out its 50-day moving average of $52.26 and then once it clears more key near-term overhead resistance at $52.90 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WPZ as long as it's trending above Monday's intraday low of $50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 972,045 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then WPZ will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $55.28 to $56.30, or even its 52-week high at $57.29.
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Access Midstream Partners
Access Midstream Partners (ACMP) owns, operates, develops and acquires natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil gathering systems, and other midstream energy assets in the U.S. This stock closed up 3.1% to $62.76 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 2.51 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 434,394
Volume % Change: 427%
From a technical perspective, ACMP jumped higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $62.41 with heavy upside volume flows. This move also pushed shares of ACMP into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $62.08 to just under $63. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if ACMP manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $63.64 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACMP as long as it's trending above Monday's intraday low of $60.98 or above its 200-day at $59.40 and then once it sustains a move or close above $63.64 with volume that hits near or above 434,394 shares. If that move begins soon, then ACMP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $65.55 to $65.90, or even its 52-week high at $66.71. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ACMP a chance to make a run at $70.
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GSI Group
GSI Group (GSIG), together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures and sells precision photonic and motion control components and subsystems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical, industrial, electronics and scientific markets. This stock closed up 3.8% at $12.32 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 141,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 69,503
Volume % Change: 110%
From a technical perspective, GSIG spiked notably higher here back above both its 50-day moving average of $12.07 and its 200-day moving average of $12.15 with above-average volume. This trend to the upside on Monday also pushed shares of GSIG into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $11.91 to $12.05. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if GSIG manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $12.40 to some more near-term overhead resistance just above $12.60 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GSIG as long as it's trending above Monday's intraday low of $11.80 or above $11.60 and then once it sustains a move or close above $12.40 to around $12.60 with volume that this near or above 69,503 shares. If that move gets set off soon, the GSIG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $13.19 to its 52-week high at $13.71. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give GSIG a chance to tag $15.
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Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications (LVLT), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a facilities-based provider of a range of integrated communications services primarily in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This stock closed up 2.9% at $43.46 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 3.83 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 2.14 million
Volume % Change: 89%
From a technical perspective, LVLT jumped higher here right above its 200-day moving average of $41.17 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $37.61 to its intraday high of $43.60. During that uptrend, shares of LVLT have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if LVLT manages to take out its 50-day moving average of $43.56 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $44 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in LVLT as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $41.17 and then once it sustains a move or close above $43.56 to $44 with volume that's near or above 2.14 million shares. If that move materializes soon, then LVLT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $46.20 to $48.21, or even its 52-week high at $49.22.
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To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.
-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.
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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.
Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including
CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.
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