As of 04/30/2025   Indus: 40,669 +141.74 +0.3%     Trans: 13,640 +63.98 +0.5%     Utils: 1,033 -3.63 -0.4%     Nasdaq: 17,446 -14.98 -0.1%     S&P 500: 5,569 +8.23 +0.1%	YTD -4.4%   -14.2%    +5.1%   -9.7%   -5.3%	Targets    Overview: 04/25/2025     41,700 or 38,000 by 05/15/2025   14,400 or 13,000 by 05/15/2025   1,075 or 1,000 by 05/15/2025   18,300 or 16,500 by 05/15/2025   5,700 or 5,300 by 05/15/2025
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 4/15/25

As of 04/30/2025   Indus: 40,669 +141.74 +0.3%     Trans: 13,640 +63.98 +0.5%     Utils: 1,033 -3.63 -0.4%     Nasdaq: 17,446 -14.98 -0.1%     S&P 500: 5,569 +8.23 +0.1%	YTD -4.4%   -14.2%    +5.1%   -9.7%   -5.3%
Targets    Overview: 04/25/2025     41,700 or 38,000 by 05/15/2025   14,400 or 13,000 by 05/15/2025   1,075 or 1,000 by 05/15/2025   18,300 or 16,500 by 05/15/2025   5,700 or 5,300 by 05/15/2025
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 4/15/25

Bulkowski on the Best Chart Patterns

Note as of 9/20/21: The following statistics have not been updated with more recent information, so they are outdated. This page provides a ranking of patterns, sorted by various means (performance, failure rate, performance over the decades) but not like the list below. However, the pages at the link have been updated recently.

The table shows the best performing chart patterns for upward breakouts (top half) and downward breakouts (bottom half), sorted by the 2 month's performance column.

I scanned my database of chart patterns (the popular ones) and found over 30,000 samples. Then I measured the price move 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the breakout. However, I show only a maximum of 3 months in the table.

This measurement technique is different than the one I used in my books. There, I measured the move assuming a perfect trade, from breakout to ultimate high or low (after which price dropped or rose by at least 20%).

This table is just another way of slicing the same information. However, it does contain surprises.

Notice that the cup with handle doesn't appear in the list. That's because performance is poor -- it ranked 11th, so it didn't make the top 10.

Click on the associated link for more information about a chart pattern.

-- Thomas Bulkowski.

See Also

• Alphabetical list of chart pattern performance, by rank.
• Failures of chart patterns sorted by break even failure rate rank.
• Performance of chart patterns, sorted by average rise or decline rank.
• Alphabetical list of event pattern performance, by rank.
• Failures of event patterns sorted by break even failure rate rank.
• Performance of event patterns, sorted by average rise or decline rank.
• Best buy price. The best buy price is $20 or below.
• Failures. Which months show the most failures?
• Failure rates. Chart patterns fail more often than before.
• Best buy days. Which day of the week is the best one to buy or sell?
• Best buy months. Can buying at the end of the worst performing month and selling at the best performing be profitable?
• Seasonality. What are the best months to buy and sell stocks?
• Market cap. Chart patterns in small cap stocks outperform.

Sad case: two dozen empties.