DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility. Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors." Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock. With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently. Must Read: Warren Buffett's Top 10 Dividend Stocks Bloomin' Brands Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), through its subsidiaries, owns and operates casual, upscale casual and fine dining restaurants primarily in the U.S. This stock is trading up 2.7% to $26.05 in Friday's trading session. Friday's Volume: 4.82 million Three-Month Average Volume: 1.88 million Volume % Change: 674% From a technical perspective, BLMN is spiking higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $24.68 with monster upside volume. This spike to the upside on Friday has now pushed shares of BLMN into breakout and new 52-week high territory, since the stock has flirted with or taken out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $25.66 to its previous 52-week high of $25.88 a share. Traders should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if BLMN manages to clear Friday's intraday high and its new 52-week high of $26.25 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BLMN as long as it's trending above its 50-day moving average of $24.67 and then once it sustains a move or close above $26.25 with volume that registers near or above 1.88 million shares. If that move gets started soon, then BLMN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $26.45 to its all-time high at $27.27. Any high-volume move above $27.27 will then give BLMN a chance to tag or take out $30. Must Read: 10 Stocks Carl Icahn Is Buying 2U 2U (TWOU) provides cloud-based software-as-a-service solutions for nonprofit colleges and universities to deliver education to qualified students. This stock is trading up 3% to $18.42 in Friday's trading session. Friday's Volume: 298,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 214,544 Volume % Change: 233% From a technical perspective, TWOU is jumping notably higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $18.26 with above-average volume. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern, after shares found buying interest at $16.69 to $16.92. That bottom formed right above TWOU's 200-day moving average of $16.66. This spike to the upside on Friday has briefly pushed shares of TWOU into breakout territory, since the stock has flirted with some near-term overhead resistance at $18.75. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if TWOU manages to clear Friday's intraday high of $18.89 to around $19 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TWOU as long as it's trending above Friday's intraday low of $18 and then once it sustains a move or close above $18.89 to $19 with volume that hits near or above 214,544 shares. If that move gets started soon, then TWOU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 52-week high of $20.57. Must Read: 10 New Stocks Billionaire David Einhorn Loves The Gap The Gap (GPS) operates as an apparel retail company worldwide. This stock is trading up 3.5% to $41.79 in Friday's trading session. Friday's Volume: 5.59 million Three-Month Average Volume: 3.76 million Volume % Change: 191% From a technical perspective, GPS is gapping notably higher here back above both its 200-day moving average of $40.69 and its 50-day moving average of $41.39 with strong upside volume flows. This strong gap to the upside on Friday is now starting to push shares of GPS within range of triggering a major breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels. That trade will hit if GPS manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $42.92 to $43.85 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GPS as long as it's trending above Friday's intraday low of $41.09 or above its 200-day moving average of $40.69 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that registers near or above 3.76 million shares. If that breakout begins soon, then GPS will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 52-week high of $46.85. Any high-volume move above that level will then give GPS a chance to tag $50. -- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis. Must Read: Warren Buffett's Top 10 Stock Buys Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned. Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at http://ift.tt/19UMVdH or @zerosum24.
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