Sepa Strategy

SEPA Strategy Analysis

Analyze stocks using Mark Minervini's SEPA (Specific Entry Point Analysis) framework — a complete system for identifying high-probability growth stock entries with strict risk management.

Core philosophy: Buy the right stock, in the right stage, at a precise entry point, with strict risk controls. Win rate is ~50-55% — profitability comes from asymmetric risk/reward (small losses, large gains), not from predicting direction.

This skill is for educational/analytical purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice. Never execute trades based solely on this analysis.

Step 1: Gather Stock Data

Collect the following data for the stock. Use yfinance or any available market data tool.

Compute the moving averages, 200MA slope, 52-week range, volume ratio, and relative performance from daily price history in code rather than estimating them — two years of history covers the 200-day MA and its 5-month slope.

If certain data is unavailable, note it and proceed with what you have. Missing RS rating is a significant gap — flag it.

Step 2: Stage Analysis — Identify the Current Stage

Every stock cycles through four stages. Read references/stage-analysis.md for full details.

Determine which stage the stock is in:

If the stock is NOT in Stage 2, stop here and tell the user. No further analysis needed.

Within Stage 2, count the base number (how many consolidation-then-breakout cycles have occurred):

• Base 1-2: Safest, most upside potential — full position
• Base 3-4: Still valid but reduce position size
• Base 5-6: Late stage — half position at most
• Base 7+: Avoid — likely transitioning to Stage 3

Step 3: Trend Template — 8 Mandatory Conditions

All 8 conditions must be met simultaneously. If any fails, the stock does not qualify. Read references/trend-template.md for detailed explanations.

Present results as a checklist:

Memory aid: Conditions 1-5 = "MA staircase" (Price > 50MA > 150MA > 200MA, 200MA rising). Conditions 6-7 = "Price position" (far from low, near high). Condition 8 = "Relative strength" (market leader).

Step 4: Fundamental Check

Strong fundamentals separate real leaders from momentum-only stocks. Read references/fundamentals.md for thresholds and rating criteria.

Check these in order of importance:

1. Quarterly EPS growth ≥ 20% (prefer 25-50%+). Below 20% = disqualify.
2. EPS acceleration: Current quarter growth > prior quarter growth. Deceleration (even with positive growth) is a warning.
3. Annual EPS growth ≥ 25% for each of the past 3 years.
4. Revenue growth ≥ 15% annually, ≥ 20-25% quarterly preferred. If EPS grows but revenue doesn't, the growth is likely from cost-cutting (unsustainable).
5. Margin trend: Gross and net margins stable or expanding = healthy. Contracting margins even with EPS growth = red flag.
6. Institutional ownership increasing: Smart money accumulating = fuel for Stage 2 move.
7. Catalyst: New product, FDA approval, major contract, market expansion, etc. Stocks with catalysts can run 50-100%+; without, typically 15-25%.

Rate fundamentals: A (EPS >30%, positive, revenue growing) / B (15-30%) / C (0-15%) / D (negative — skip).

Step 5: Pattern Recognition

Identify which consolidation pattern is forming (if any). Read references/patterns.md for detailed identification rules for each pattern.

VCP (Volatility Contraction Pattern) — The Core Pattern

The signature SEPA pattern. Look for these 7 characteristics:

1. Stock must be in Stage 2 uptrend (prerequisite)
2. Pullback depths decrease in sequence (e.g., 20% → 12% → 6% → 3%). Minimum 3 contractions, 4-5 ideal.
3. Volume shrinks with each contraction. Final contraction shows "Volume Dry-Up" (VDU) — multi-week low volume.
4. Higher lows — each pullback bottom is higher than the previous one.
5. Clear pivot point — the consolidation range high = resistance level to break.
6. RS > 70 (preferably 85-90+)
7. Market in bull or neutral environment

Other Valid Patterns

All patterns share the same entry rule: breakout above the pivot point with volume ≥ 1.5x the 20-day average.

Step 6: Entry Point Analysis

Read references/entry-rules.md for detailed entry mechanics, true vs false breakout identification, and the pocket pivot alternative.

Primary Entry: Pivot Point Breakout

• Pivot point = the highest price in the consolidation range. This is the supply/demand inflection point.
• Buy zone = pivot price to +5% above pivot. This is the only valid entry window.
• Beyond +5%: Do NOT chase. Wait for the next setup.
• Breakout volume: Must be ≥ 1.5x the 20-day average volume (≥ 2x is strong confirmation).
• Earnings proximity: Avoid entering within 2 weeks of an earnings report.

Breakout Quality Check

Risk/Reward Validation

Before entering, verify:

• Stop loss distance: Entry price to stop ≤ 7-8%
• Reward/risk ratio: Target profit / stop distance ≥ 2:1 (prefer 3:1)
• If ratio < 2:1, the entry is too risky — skip it.

Step 7: Market Environment Check

Read references/market-environment.md for detailed criteria.

The market environment is the master switch for position sizing — it sets the risk per trade used in Step 8:

Even the best setups fail in bear markets. Holding cash during bear markets IS a winning strategy — preserving capital for the next bull run.

Step 8: Position Sizing & Stop Loss Plan

Read references/position-sizing.md for the full formula, examples, stop loss evolution, and pyramiding rules.

Position Size Formula

Shares = (Account Value × Risk Per Trade %) ÷ (Entry Price − Stop Price)

Example: $100,000 account, 1% risk, buy at $50, stop at $46.50:

• Max loss = $100,000 × 1% = $1,000
• Stop distance = $50 − $46.50 = $3.50
• Shares = $1,000 ÷ $3.50 = 285 shares ($14,250 = 14.25% of account)

Stop Loss Evolution (3 phases)

Iron rules: Stop losses only move UP, never down. Never average down on a losing position. After 3-4 consecutive losses, reduce risk per trade to 0.5%.

Pyramiding (Adding to Winners)

Only add to winning positions, with decreasing size: 50% initial → 30% at +8% → 20% at next base breakout. Never add to losers.

Step 9: Respond to the User

Present a structured analysis report with these sections:

Report Structure

1. Stock & Stage: Ticker, current price, identified stage, base count if Stage 2
2. Trend Template Scorecard: 8-condition checklist with pass/fail and actual values
3. Fundamental Grade: A/B/C/D with EPS growth, acceleration status, revenue, margins
4. Pattern Identified: Which pattern (VCP, cup-handle, flat base, flag, HTF, or none), with key measurements (contraction depths, volume behavior)
5. Entry Assessment:
   • If a valid pattern exists: pivot price, buy zone, breakout volume requirement
   • If not yet formed: what to watch for
   • If already extended: "This has moved beyond the buy zone — wait for the next consolidation"
6. Market Environment: Current assessment and the risk per trade it implies
7. Position Sizing: Using the formula, show exact shares, stop price, first target, second target, and reward/risk ratio. Ask the user for their account size and risk tolerance if not provided.
8. Overall Verdict: One of:
   • Strong Buy Setup — all criteria met, actionable now
   • Watch List — promising but pattern not yet complete or one condition marginal
   • Pass — fails trend template, wrong stage, or poor fundamentals

Always end with the disclaimer that this is educational analysis, not investment advice.

Reference Files

• references/stage-analysis.md — Four-stage theory, transition signals, base counting
• references/trend-template.md — Detailed 8-condition explanations and memory aids
• references/fundamentals.md — EPS, revenue, margins, institutional holdings, catalysts
• references/patterns.md — VCP 7 rules, cup-with-handle, flat base, flag, high tight flag, quality vs fake signals
• references/entry-rules.md — Pivot point mechanics, buy zone, pocket pivot, true vs false breakout identification
• references/position-sizing.md — Formula, stop loss 3-phase evolution, pyramiding, loss handling
• references/market-environment.md — Bull/choppy/bear criteria and position adjustment rules