Marathon Oil had its Relative Strength (RS) Rating upgraded from 67 to 73 Wednesday -- a welcome improvement, but still short of the 80 or higher score you prefer to see.
When you're researching the best stocks to buy and watch, keep a close on eye on relative price strength.
IBD's proprietary RS Rating tracks market leadership by using a 1 (worst) to 99 (best) score that shows how a stock's price action over the last 52 weeks compares to other publicly traded companies.
Over 100 years of market history reveals that the best-performing stocks typically have an RS Rating of over 80 in the early stages of their moves. See if Marathon Oil can continue to rebound and clear that threshold.
See How IBD Helps You Make More Money In Stocks
Marathon Oil is trying to complete a double bottom with a 32.64 entry. See if the stock can break out in volume at least 40% higher than normal. It's a later-stage pattern, and investors should be aware that those are often less likely to lead to significant gains.
Earnings Report
The company showed 14% earnings growth in its most recent report. Revenue rose -4%. Look for the next report on or around May 3.
The company holds the No. 13 rank among its peers in the Oil & Gas-Integrated industry group. ExxonMobil and YPF ADR are also among the group's highest-rated stocks.
