Swing Trading Plan
Holding Period
2-7 trading days
Expected figures are probability-weighted from our historical pattern database; Trade R:R is measured from the entry, target and stop levels.
Current Setup
QDEL is forming a post-collapse recovery pattern from recent lows, trading at $17.00 amid a broader decline of 52% from its 52-week high. The structure score of 12.5/15 indicates a solidifying support framework, with key support at $11.69 and resistance at $19.80. The breakout score of 11.75/13 shows moderate momentum building, though volume remains subdued at 0.63x average (1.18M vs. 1.89M daily average), suggesting caution on conviction. RSI at 60.72 indicates the stock sits in neutral territory, neither overbought nor oversold. The pattern shows a 68.25% win probability, suggesting recovery-phase trades have historically worked, but current volume dynamics warrant attention.
Stock Context
QDEL collapsed following Q1 2026 earnings on May 5, 2026, where Point of Care revenue declined 34% due to a significantly weaker respiratory season, with U.S. influenza-like illness visits down 30% year-over-year. Labs revenue fell 5%, pressured by pending China NHSA pricing reductions and the termination of its Grifols joint arrangement. The stock is recovering against this backdrop as near-term catalysts emerge: a new CFO, Micah Young, was appointed effective July 6, 2026, signaling management restructuring aimed at improving financial performance. The healthcare sector trades in a bullish regime (0.83 score), providing tailwinds for recovery plays, though the broader market remains bearish (regime score -0.33). The 37% two-week gain reflects initial short-covering and stabilization.
What to Expect
A successful breakout above $19.80 resistance would target $17.86 on a conservative basis, representing a 5.1% move from current price. Historical win-probability data (68.25%) indicates the setup favors recovery continuation, assuming volume confirms the move. The invalidation level sits at $11.69; a break below this support would signal pattern failure and suggest the collapse phase continues. Volume confirmation is critical—current volume at 0.62x relative average is weak, and a sustained breakout would require a surge above 1.5x average volume to validate institutional participation. The 1.44 ATR suggests intraday swings of $1.44, or 8.47% of price, which is elevated but manageable within the pattern range.
Risk Factors
Multiple headwinds cloud the recovery: (1) Respiratory demand remains severely impaired—a seasonal business line declining 34% YoY with no clear timeline for normalization. (2) China exposure is acute; the company faces pending NHSA pricing reductions that could structurally compress margins on Labs revenue ($353M in Q1). (3) Beta of 1.51 means QDEL magnifies broad market moves during the current bearish regime, creating downside risk if sentiment deteriorates further. (4) Volume collapse from 1.89M average to 1.18M current signals weak retail interest and potential liquidity dislocation on large moves. (5) Q2 2026 results (not yet reported as of July 8) could reignite selling if respiratory dynamics worsen or China headwinds accelerate. The appointment of a new CFO, while constructive long-term, may signal prior operational challenges and introduces near-term execution risk.
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 QDEL a good swing trade?
QDEL scored 70 out of 98 on our post collapse recovery scan, with a 68% historical win probability over a 2-7 trading days hold. Good setup based on our systematic scoring.
What is the entry, target, and stop loss for this setup?
The setup's reference price is $17.00, with a conservative target of $17.86 and a stop loss at $15.97.
What would invalidate this post collapse recovery setup?
A close below the stop loss at $15.97 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 post collapse recovery 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.