As of 07/08/2025
  Indus: 44,241 -165.60 -0.4%  
  Trans: 15,945 +134.00 +0.8%  
  Utils: 1,047 -6.55 -0.6%  
  Nasdaq: 20,418 +5.94 +0.0%  
  S&P 500: 6,226 -4.46 -0.1%  
YTD
 +4.0%  
 +0.3%  
 +6.5%  
 +5.7%  
 +5.8%  
  Targets    Overview: 06/30/2025  
  Up arrow45,100 or 43,000 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow16,800 or 14,700 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow1,090 or 1,025 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow21,300 or 19,600 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow6,350 or 6,000 by 07/15/2025
As of 07/08/2025
  Indus: 44,241 -165.60 -0.4%  
  Trans: 15,945 +134.00 +0.8%  
  Utils: 1,047 -6.55 -0.6%  
  Nasdaq: 20,418 +5.94 +0.0%  
  S&P 500: 6,226 -4.46 -0.1%  
YTD
 +4.0%  
 +0.3%  
 +6.5%  
 +5.7%  
 +5.8%  
  Targets    Overview: 06/30/2025  
  Up arrow45,100 or 43,000 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow16,800 or 14,700 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow1,090 or 1,025 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow21,300 or 19,600 by 07/15/2025
  Up arrow6,350 or 6,000 by 07/15/2025

Bulkowski on Ascending and Inverted Scallops

Updated and added 10 examples on 6/17/25.

For more information on this pattern, read Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns, 3rd Edition.

If you click on this link and then buy the book (or anything) at Amazon.com, the referral will help support this site. Thanks. -- Tom Bulkowski

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An inverted and ascending scallop

Ascending and Inverted Scallops: Overview

The inverted and ascending scallop looks like the right half of an umbrella. The beauty of this chart pattern is that it performs so well in both bull and bear markets, sporting a low break even failure rate and a large average rise.

Discovered by Thomas Bulkowski in the early 2000's but it may have been uncovered by others earlier.

Ascending and Inverted Scallops: Important Bull Market Results

Overall performance rank (1 is best): 14 out of 39
Break even failure rate: 9%
Average rise: 45%
Throwback rate: 66%
Percentage meeting price target: 64%

The above numbers are based on 1,776 perfect trades. See the glossary for definitions.

Ascending and Inverted Scallops: Identification Guidelines

CharacteristicDiscussion
Price trendMost often you'll see these in an upward trend leading to the pattern or at the bullish turning point of a downward price trend.
ShapeInverted and backward J shape. It looks like the right half of an umbrella. The rise should be a straight, or nearly straight run up, then rounded at the top followed by a small decline.
Smooth topThe peaks should form a rounded turn but larger patterns may not be as smooth.
RetraceThe end of the pattern on the right usually retraces 54% of the prior up move. Avoid 100% retraces.
VolumeTrends downward 70% of the time
ConfirmationThe pattern confirms when price closes above the highest high in the pattern.
 

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Ascending and Inverted Scallops: Trading Tips

Consult the associated figures on the right.

Trading TacticExplanation Inverted and ascending scallop measure rule
The Measure Rule
Inverted and ascending scallop avoidance
New Stop Location
Measure ruleCompute the height from the highest peak (B) to the lowest valley in the pattern (A) and then multiply it by the above 'percentage meeting price target.' Add the difference to the highest peak (B) to get a price target C. The link to the left provides more information on the measure rule.
StopIf price drops below the right scallop edge, sell. See the measure rule figure to the right for the proper stop location.
BuyBuy when price closes above the highest peak in the pattern (B).
SwingersSwing traders will want to buy when price bottoms on the right and sell when it climbs to the top of the pattern.
AvoidIf price drops below the start of the pattern (A), then avoid this one.
Avoid valleyIf price forms a distinct right valley and then price drops below the valley, sell. The figure to the right ("New Stop Location") shows the proper location for a stop in this situation.
Breakout volumeHeavy breakout volume suggests better performance. The link shown to the left discusses statistics on breakout volume. The following link gives additional information on other chart patterns that also do well after heavy breakout volume.

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Inverted and ascending scallop chart pattern example

Ascending and Inverted Scallops: Example

The figure on the right shows an example of an inverted and ascending scallop chart pattern. Price bottoms at point A and then rises to B where it rounds downward to C.

To calculate a price target, subtract the price of valley A from peak B. That finds the height. Multiply the height by 64% (the percentage meeting price target from Important Bull Market Results table near the top of this page) and add the result to the price at B. Place a stop loss order a few pennies below C, and raise the stop as price climbs.

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Ascending and Inverted Scallops: 10 Examples

The following is a slide show. Click the right or left arrows, or the circles below the chart to navigate around the slides.

 

1 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

AB shows the scallop. This one, as with most inverted and ascending scallops (95%), breaks out upward when price closes above the top of the chart pattern.

The next chart gives more examples.
2 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Here are two ascending and inverted scallops, AB and BC.

The next chart gives more examples.
3 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

This chart shows an ascending and inverted scallop but the breakout direction isn't clear. It's upward, though. The pattern isn't as smooth as I like to see.

The next chart gives more examples.
4 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Ascending and inverted scallop AB breaks out downward when the stock closes below A, which happens at C.

The next chart gives more examples.
5 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Ascending and inverted scallop AB shows a red line at C, which is the upward breakout price.

The next chart gives more examples.
6 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Ascending and inverted scallop AB breaks out upward at C. Notice that price didn't rise far before tumbling and busting the upward breakout.

The next chart gives more examples.
7 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Ascending and inverted scallop, AB.

The next chart gives more examples.
8 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

This ascending and inverted scallop breaks out downward at D when the stock closes below A. At C, the stock was higher than the top of the scallop, but it didn't close higher.

The next chart gives more examples.
9 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Ascending and inverted scallop in red.

The next chart gives more examples.
10 / 10
Inverted Ascending Scallop chart pattern

Shown are three ascending and inverted scallops.

The End.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

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See Also

 

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