FRME: Inverse Head And Shoulders detected on 16 Sep 2026
All prices, scores, and news on this page reflect data available before market open on .
Browse all Inverse Head And Shoulders detections →On 16 Sep 2026, our scan flagged FRME as a inverse head and shoulders setup scoring 51 out of 98 (Fair tier), with a 58% win probability based on our historical pattern database and a 0.82 to 1 risk to reward profile from the published levels. This is a swing trade setup: win probability reflects a multi-day swing hold, not an intraday move. At $41.73, the conservative target is $43.45 with a stop at $39.62.
Overall Score
51
of 98
Fair
Win Probability
58%
Low
Trade R:R
0.82
: 1
$1.72 to target
$2.11 to stop
Swing Trading Plan
Entry
$41.73
Target
$43.45
Stop Loss
$39.62
Holding Period
3-12 trading days
Expected Return
+$0.29
Exp. Reward
+$0.75
Exp. Risk
-$0.46
Expected figures are probability-weighted from our historical pattern database; Trade R:R is measured from the entry, target and stop levels.
Current Setup
FRME is forming an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern with current price at $41.73, positioning just above key support near $41.79 while approaching resistance at $41.18. The pattern displays moderate structure quality (10.0/15) with solid volume support (11.0/12) but weak breakout confirmation (6.0/13), yielding an overall score of 51/98. Price sits 7.12% below the 52-week high and 24.94% above the 52-week low, suggesting mid-range accumulation. Technical backdrop shows neutral momentum: RSI at 50.45 indicates balanced conditions, MACD histogram positive at 0.045, and Bollinger Band position at 0.65 suggests room to move higher. Volume ratio of 1.04x average reflects modest participation. The conservative target sits at $43.45, implying 4.1% upside from current levels.
Stock Context
FRME reported Q2 2026 earnings on July 22 with adjusted EPS of $0.74, missing analyst expectations by 29.6% despite 15% year-over-year revenue growth. The quarter was pressured by credit quality headwinds: non-accrual loans increased to $118.2 million while classified loans rose to $393.3 million from $357.1 million the prior quarter. Offsetting concerns, net interest margin expanded to 3.38%, up 13 basis points year-over-year, and loan growth reached $221.7 million on a 5.8% annualized basis. The First Savings acquisition completed in February 2026, adding $2.4 billion in assets and 127 banking centers across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The company declared a $0.37 dividend with ex-date September 4, 2026. The earnings miss followed by dividend maintenance and modest recent gains (1.36% over one week) suggests consolidation after disappointment.
What to Expect
A successful inverse H&S breakout would require price to clear resistance at $41.18 on elevated volume—currently at 1.04x average, breakout would need >1.3x to confirm conviction. The measured move target of $43.45 represents the structural expectation, offering roughly 4.1% upside. The pattern's win_probability of 57.75% indicates slightly better-than-coin-flip odds, though the low breakout score (6.0/13) cautions against expecting explosive follow-through. Invalidation occurs below key support of $41.79; a close below this level would negate the setup and suggest continued weakness. Volume participation will be critical—thin breakout volume would signal weak institutional commitment and reduce pattern reliability.
Risk Factors
FRME's Q2 earnings miss—29.6% below EPS expectations and 5.2% below revenue forecasts—signals execution risk and potential analyst downgrades ahead. Credit deterioration presents material downside: non-accrual loans surged $118.2 million while classified loans rose $36.2 million quarter-over-quarter, indicating emerging borrower stress. With extremely low beta (0.07) and moderate volatility (18.23%), the stock shows defensive characteristics but limited upside leverage if the financial sector rallies. Analysts project full-year 2026 revenue at $825.9M with Q3 at $210M; Q2's $196.1M shortfall means FRME must accelerate materially to hit targets or face guidance cuts. The stock trades in a bearish market regime (-0.23) despite a bullish sector regime (-0.17), creating cross-current headwinds. One-month performance of -3.67% suggests recent sentiment deterioration post-earnings.
Sources:
First Merchants Corporation (FRME) Latest Press Releases & Corporate News - Yahoo Finance
·
First Merchants Corp (FRME) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Loan Growth Amid Credit ...
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First Merchants Corporation Announces First Quarter 2026 Results | First Merchants Corporation
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First Merchants Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results | First Merchants Corporation
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First Merchants Corporation (FRME) Stock Price, News, Quote & History - Yahoo Finance
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First Merchants Corp (FRME) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Financial Performance Amid ...
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First Merchants Corp (NASDAQ:FRME) Reports Major Earnings Miss in Q2 2026 | ChartMill.com
·
First Merchants sets Q2 2026 results for July 22 | FRME Stock News
·
First Merchants Corp (FRME) Stock News Today | TradingKey
How We Find and Score This Setup
We scan more than 6,000 NYSE and NASDAQ stocks every trading day and compare each detected pattern against a database of 370,000+ historical detections. Every setup is scored across three dimensions: Structure, Volume, and Breakout Readiness. Win probability is a calibrated estimate of how similar historical setups performed over the following 10 trading days. This is a swing trading tool built for multi-day holds. It is not built or tested for day trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FRME a good swing trade?
FRME scored 51 out of 98 on our inverse head and shoulders scan, with a 58% historical win probability over a 3-12 trading days hold. Fair setup based on our systematic scoring.
What is the entry, target, and stop loss for this setup?
The setup's reference price is $41.73, with a conservative target of $43.45 and a stop loss at $39.62.
What would invalidate this inverse head and shoulders setup?
A close below the stop loss at $39.62 would invalidate the setup and suggest the pattern has failed.
How is the win probability calculated?
Win probability is a calibrated estimate of how similar historical inverse head and shoulders setups performed over the following 10 trading days, drawn from a database of 370,000+ historical pattern detections across 6,000+ NYSE and NASDAQ stocks.
Market & Sector Regime
Market
Bearish
-0.24
-1.0
0
+1.0
Finance Sector
Bullish
-0.18
-1.0
0
+1.0
Overall Score
27
of 40
Pattern Quality
8
of 20
Setup
9
of 20
R/R
7
of 18
Context
Pattern Quality Score
10
of 15
Structure
6
of 13
Breakout
11
of 12
Volume
Recent Performance
Momentum & Trend
RSI (14)
50.5
Neutral
MACD Histogram
+0.05
Bullish
Bollinger Band Position
65.0%
Mid Zone
Volatility & Risk
20-Day Volatility
0.18
Low
ATR %
1.7%
Low
Beta
0.07
Defensive
Volume Analysis
Volume Ratio
1.04x
Average
20-Day Avg Vol
365K
shares / day
Current Volume
379K
shares traded
Price Levels
52W High
$44.93
Target
$43.45
Support
$41.79
Current
$41.73
Resistance
$41.18
Stop Loss
$39.62
52W Low
$33.40
Disclaimer: This analysis is algorithmically generated for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past pattern performance does not guarantee future results. Win probabilities are based on historical data across 370,000+ observations. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor. AI-assisted contextual analysis by Claude (Anthropic). Indicators reflect values at time of detection.