Quote from hezhu:
It is helpful to use a pattern search tool and a chart slide show tool to find all stocks to form the cup with an handle quickly. I used use a free software aq to do this. then you can analyse the qualitative sides of selected stocks following CAN-SLIM. I used to do some backtest for patterns (close to cup with an handle), it shows the CAN-SLIM really works statistically. Only it makes money too slow.
The crux of CANSLIM is not cup and handle. It is basically a earning and price momentum based strategy. Also cup and handle is not the only pattern WJO talks about. He mentions several patterns
Cup with handle
Saucer with handle
Double Bottom
Flat base
High, tight flags
Base on top of base
Ascending bases.
CANSLIM is a very popular methodology amongst many hedge funds and institutions. For them WJO has a different product line called WONDA. With WONDA and other services of WJO what you get is lot different from IBD.
There are couple of other methodologies very similar to CANSLIM or improvement on CANSLIM which are also popular with institutional investors and hedge funds.
I think your study has fundamental flaw in understanding the methodology itself.
http://www.winninginvesting.com/canslim.htm
CANSLIM = Current Quarterly Earnings
Look for companies with the largest increases in quarterly earnings compared to the same quarter last year. Bigger is better! Seventy-five percent of the winners in OâNeilâs study had quarterly earnings jumps of 70% or more. The minimum acceptable increase is 18%. One caveat though, avoid stocks with tiny year-ago earnings, e.g. less than five cents. Huge increases donât mean much if you're comparing to a miniscule year ago number.
CANSLIM = Annual Earnings
Consistent annual growth rates of 25% or more over the last four or five years are an important factor. Consistency is the key word. Make sure forecast earnings for next year are in line with the historical growth rate.
CANSLIM = New Products or New Management, and new Highs
Look for a catalyst that will propel fast earnings growth. O'Neil also includes new highs in stock price here. He wants stocks at or near their all time highs. This is the hardest aspect of the strategy for most new investors to accept. Our natural tendency is to buy stocks after they have gone down in priceânot when they are at new highs.
CANSLIM = Supply of Stock
Stock prices move as a result of supply and demand for the companyâs shares. If thereâs not many shares in circulation, a small amount of buying could push prices up quickly. Look for companies with 5 to 25 million shares outstanding.
CANSLIM = Leader
Here OâNeil is talking about stock price action, not a companyâs success in selling product. Look for stocks that have outperformed at least 80 percent of the rest of the market during the past year. The company should have the best performing stock in its industry.
CANSLIM = Institutional Ownership
Institutions are mutual funds, corporate pension plans, insurance companies, etc. OâNeil likes some, but not too much institutional ownership. Look for 5% to 25% institutional ownership.
CANSLIM= Market Direction
Very few stocks go up when the market is going down. Buy only when the market as a whole (S&P 500 Index) is going up.
Those are the selection criteria. Once youâve picked promising candidates, you have to decide when, if ever, to buy the stock. OâNeil looks at a stockâs price chart for guidance. He looks for stocks that have been consolidating (bouncing around a limited range) for a while, and then move up to (or close to) new highs.