Overview
Today’s scan identified 42 continuation breakout signals on February 17, 2026, presenting a robust selection of opportunities across multiple sectors. The quality of today’s setups is notably strong, with several tickers showing textbook continuation patterns near demand zones with solid institutional backing. Standout features include elevated relative volume on several candidates and strong positioning within established supply/demand frameworks.
The best setups today combine proximity to demand zones with institutional support and favorable risk/reward profiles. Energy alternatives, medical services, and industrial equipment lead the quality tier, while several micro-cap opportunities present higher-risk, higher-reward scenarios for aggressive traders.
Top 5 Picks
GEV ($819.15) — Energy: Alternative/Other
Technical Setup: GEV presents an exceptional continuation setup, trading at demand with a 2.1% gain today. The stock sits just 3.2% below its 52-week high and has rallied an impressive 224.7% from its 52-week low. Currently positioned at a 1-hour demand zone (upper: $796.02, lower: $771.40), the stock is 2.82% from the lower boundary with a strength rating of 4.8. Notably, there is no overhead supply zone, providing clear upside runway. The ATR%-M of 4.2 indicates healthy volatility for momentum continuation.
| Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry Zone | $810 – $825 |
| Stop Loss | $765 (below demand) |
| Target 1 | $875 |
| Target 2 | $925 |
Institutional Backing: Exceptional institutional presence with 3,186 funds holding positions (INST classification), providing substantial support and liquidity for continued upside momentum.
VRT ($243.53) — Electrical Power/Equipment
Technical Setup: VRT delivered a strong 3.8% gain on normal relative volume (1.0x) and sits just 4.7% below its 52-week high after a remarkable 354.4% rally from lows. The continuation breakout is validated by the 6.0 ATR%-M reading and positioning between zones with no overhead supply. Current demand zone (upper: $195.52, lower: $193.09) sits 19.71% below, providing strong support. The ADR of 6.3% offers excellent intraday movement for profit-taking.
| Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry Zone | $240 – $247 |
| Stop Loss | $230 (below recent consolidation) |
| Target 1 | $260 |
| Target 2 | $280 |
Institutional Backing: Heavily institutionally supported with 2,356 funds (INST classification) and Bucket B2 designation, indicating strong smart-money accumulation.
NTRA ($211.25) — Medical Services
Technical Setup: NTRA is trading precisely at a 30-minute demand zone (upper: $210.48, lower: $209.24) just 0.36% from current price with a strength rating of 6.3. The 2.4% gain today on 0.7x relative volume suggests institutional accumulation rather than retail chase. Overhead supply sits at $227.68-$236.58 (7.78% away), providing a clear measured move target. The ADR of 4.1% and Risk (ATR) of 76.7% indicate controlled volatility suitable for swing positions.
| Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry Zone | $209 – $213 |
| Stop Loss | $205 (below demand) |
| Target 1 | $227 |
| Target 2 | $236 |
Institutional Backing: Solidly backed by 1,467 institutional funds (INST classification), providing stability and trend persistence.
VSEC ($213.34) — Commercial Services: Consulting
Technical Setup: VSEC surged 5.3% on 1.1x relative volume and is positioned at supply, which typically signals short-term resistance. However, the supply zone (upper: $225, lower: $218.33) is only 2.34% away, suggesting an imminent breakout continuation. The 4-hour demand zone below at $201.25-$205.75 (3.56% away, strength 6.2) provides excellent support. With the stock up 133% from 52-week lows and only 5.2% from highs, momentum strongly favors bulls.
| Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry Zone | $218 – $220 (breakout above supply) |
| Stop Loss | $208 (mid-demand zone) |
| Target 1 | $230 |
| Target 2 | $245 |
Institutional Backing: Supported by 469 institutional funds with dual bucket classification (B1, B2), indicating multi-timeframe accumulation.
H ($169.59) — Leisure: Lodging
Technical Setup: H gained 2.5% on elevated 1.1x relative volume, currently positioned at a 30-minute supply zone (upper: $172.24, lower: $170.00) just 0.24% away. While at supply typically suggests caution, the low ATR%-M of 1.1 indicates compression preceding expansion. Daily demand below at $157.45-$160.06 (5.62% away, strength 7.1) offers robust support. The stock is up 65.6% from lows and only 6.1% from 52-week highs, showing strong trend continuation characteristics.
| Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry Zone | $172 – $174 (breakout confirmation) |
| Stop Loss | $165 (below daily demand) |
| Target 1 | $180 |
| Target 2 | $190 |
Institutional Backing: Well-supported by 816 institutional funds, providing liquidity and trend stability in the hospitality sector recovery.
Honorable Mentions
- ATR ($141.65): Containers/Packaging play between zones with 705 institutional funds, positioned 14.25% above monthly demand.
- BLSH ($32.00): Financial specialty stock at 1-hour demand with 261 institutional holders, 0.08% from zone floor.
- IMMX ($8.12): Biotech momentum play up 10.8% and 506% from lows, but between zones requiring careful entry timing.
- POWW ($1.98): Aerospace/Defense micro-cap up 4.8% on 1.8x RVOL, but zero institutional backing increases risk.
- IX ($35.15): Consumer finance play between zones with 1.4x RVOL; watching for 8.11% pullback to daily demand.
Strategy Summary
Today’s continuation breakout setups present above-average quality with clear institutional participation and well-defined supply/demand zones. The top-tier opportunities—GEV, VRT, and NTRA—combine strong institutional backing (1,400+ funds each) with favorable technical positioning at or near demand zones.
Key sectors represented: Energy alternatives, medical services, industrial equipment, and business consulting dominate the quality tier, reflecting rotation into growth and cyclical recovery themes.
Risk/Reward Assessment: The best setups offer 2:1 to 3:1 reward-to-risk ratios with clearly defined stop levels below demand zones. Traders should prioritize entries at demand (GEV, NTRA, BLSH) over supply-zone breakouts (H, VSEC) unless volume confirms breakout strength. Position sizing should reflect the higher Risk (ATR) percentages on GEV (78.7%) and VRT (81.3%), while NTRA’s lower 76.7% allows for slightly larger positions. Overall, today’s continuation breakouts favor patient entries with defined risk parameters.