7. Weekly Operational Workflow

PowerShell note: Use ; to chain commands, not &&
Correct: python script1.py ; python script2.py
Incorrect: python script1.py && python script2.py

1. Optional automation: Run python watch_downloads.py (from project root) so new downloads are renamed and filed into holdings/ and data/input/.

2. IBD downloads: From IBD Digital, export (Excel) at minimum:

   • Big Cap 20

   • Big Cap 50 (used as the IBD 50-family input in this pipeline via BIG_CAP_50_*.xls pattern in weekly_run)

   • IBD Relative Strength / RS master list: weekly export uses the same filename each week, e.g. [local path] STRENGTH AT NEW HIGH.xls. Also matches IBD_RS*.xls / “RELATIVE STRENGTH” patterns—see etrade_identify.py.

   • Save into Downloads (or a watched folder) so watch_downloads or manual copy can place files in data/input/ with the expected BIG_CAP_20_*.xls, BIG_CAP_50_*.xls, IBD_RS_*.xls naming.

   • MarketSurge workflow note (PowerShell): Correct command to copy only IBD/MarketSurge files (and avoid unrelated files):

     # Correct command — only copies IBD/MarketSurge files, not unrelated files
     Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\*.xlsx", "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\*.csv" |
       Where-Object {$_.Name -match "^(IBD|Big.Cap|RS.Leader|Near.Pivot|Technical.Strength|MarketSurge)"} |
       Copy-Item -Destination "[local path] Projects\ibd-strategy\data\input\"

3. E*TRADE exports: Download positions for IRA and Brokerage; ensure filenames end up as etrade_ira_raw_YYYY_MM_DD.csv and etrade_brokerage_raw_YYYY_MM_DD.csv in holdings/ (via watcher or manual rename).

4. Run pipeline: From project root: python weekly_run.py. Resolves latest inputs by date in filename (YYYY_MM_DD) or mtime.

5. Outputs: Check data/output/ for watchlists, reports, performance_latest.json. Console prints performance tracker status; browser may open http://localhost:8765/dashboard.html (server started if port 8765 is free).

6. Interpreting the dashboard: See §10.

7. Commit and push weekly run: git add -A ; git commit -m 'W## weekly run complete' ; git push

7.1 File naming conventions¶

normalize_etrade.py — correct usage¶

Requires two positional arguments: python normalize_etrade.py <raw_csv> <clean_csv>

Example (replace date with today’s date): python normalize_etrade.py holdings/etrade_ira_raw_2026_04_27.csv holdings/etrade_ira_clean_2026_04_27.csv python normalize_etrade.py holdings/etrade_brokerage_raw_2026_04_27.csv holdings/etrade_brokerage_clean_2026_04_27.csv

Note: weekly_run.py handles this automatically when holdings files from today exist. Only run manually if clean files are missing after watch_downloads.py

7.2 Entry Decision Checklist — Complete Entry Rules¶

Run through all 10 checks in order before any entry. Every rule below came from a real trade W14-W18 where the rule was missing or violated.

60-Second Checklist — Run Before Price Chart¶

Mandatory gate on IBD Digital Stock Checkup and MarketSurge pattern data before opening the price chart. Completes in under 60 seconds. If any step fails — do not proceed to chart analysis.

THEN: Look at price chart (daily chart for current base stage; weekly for context).

Real example — CRDO:

• Weekly chart showed +493% from pivot — misleading (405-day-old pivot)

• Daily chart showed Stage 3(3) — stopped entry correctly

• Always check daily chart for actual current base stage

See also §4.12 Pre-Buy Thesis Template (MarketSurge pattern fields).

The Two-Step Rule (Core — non-negotiable)¶

Step 1: Price above IBD buy point? YES -> Step 2 / NO -> wait
Step 2: Volume 1.40x+ after 1pm ET? YES -> BUY / NO -> wait

BOTH must be YES simultaneously.
Established after: WWD, ADI, NVDA failed breakout

Complete 10-Point Entry Checklist¶

1. IBD market pulse: Confirmed Uptrend?
   Exposure 60%+: consider entries
   Exposure below 40%: hold cash, no new entries

2. Composite Rating 85+?
   Prefer 90+. Below 75 = auto-disqualify.

3. RS Rating 80+?
   Prefer 85+. Below 70 = auto-disqualify.

4. Acc/Dis Rating B or better?
   A = strong institutional accumulation
   C or below = wait for improvement
   D or E = auto-disqualify

5. Profitable company? (IRA requirement)
   Positive EPS required for IRA quality strategy
   Brokerage: pre-earnings growth names acceptable

6. Beta within account mandate?
   IRA: under 1.5 (prefer under 1.0)
   Brokerage: under 2.5
   Aggressive: any beta acceptable

7. Earnings more than 2 weeks away?
   Earnings within 2 weeks = binary risk = wait
   Exception: position already held through earnings

   Holding through earnings: See Earnings Season — Conference Call Risk below. Do not re-assess on headline price alone.

8. Price within 5% of IBD buy point?
   Below buy point: not ready — wait
   0-5% above: in buy zone — valid entry
   5-8% above: extended — caution
   Above 8%: do not chase — wait for base

9. Volume 1.40x+ average after 1pm ET?
   Never check volume before 1pm — misleading
   1.40x+ = institutional confirmation = BUY
   Below 1.0x = weak = wait

10. Ticker appeared 2+ consecutive weeks?
    1 week: note only
    2 weeks: watchlist — approaching
    3+ weeks: high conviction — actively ready
    5+ weeks: highest conviction — deploy on signal

Entry Signal Score (Enhancement 8)¶

Score 75-100: BUY_ZONE — all four components aligned
Score 60-74: WATCH — developing, set price alert
Score 45-59: MONITOR — early stage
Below 45: NOT_READY — conditions not aligned

Score is a guide — two-step rule still required before entry.

Buy Zone Calculation¶

IBD buy point from chart (weekly view, 10 cents above base high)
Buy zone top = buy point x 1.05

Example: Buy point $600 Buy zone:$600 to $630 Above$630: extended — do not enter

To find buy point:
IBD Digital: Stock -> Chart tab -> Weekly -> look for
horizontal buy point line
MarketSurge: Near Pivot list shows stocks within 5% of buy point

Position Sizing Rules¶

IRA quality account:
First position: up to 50% of available cash
Second add: smaller than first (pyramid up)
Third add: smaller than second
Max any one name: 70% of IRA invested capital

Brokerage momentum account:
Standard: $2,000-3,000 per position High conviction: up to 40Paper trade size:$2,000 fixed (for statistical comparison)

Volume-Adjusted Sell Rules (§16.15)¶

Standard 8% rule — apply when ANY true:
Company-specific negative news
Volume on down day 1.40x+ (distribution)
Composite drops below 75
Acc/Dis drops to D or E

After exit — classify per §4.15 Enhancement 11:
Type 1 (thesis broken) → permanent exit, no re-entry watch
Type 2 (macro interruption) → Thesis Intact Exits watchlist

Extended hold (8-12%) — apply when ALL true:
Macro/sector decline only (not company news)
Volume below average on down day
Composite 85+, RS 80+, Acc/Dis B+
Thesis unchanged

Failed breakout rule:
Stock breaks above buy point then falls back below
Exit the breakout entry only
Keep original lower-cost position

Earnings Season — Conference Call Risk¶

When holding through earnings, price immediately after the announcement does not represent the final institutional view.

Three-stage reaction model (MRVL May 2026):

• Stage 1 (headline): Retail reacts to EPS/revenue numbers

• Stage 2 (call): Institutions process CEO language and guidance detail

• Stage 3 (settle): Digested institutional assessment

Rule: Wait for the full conference call to complete before re-assessing any position held through earnings. The Stage 3 settled price is the meaningful signal.

See also §4.15 Conference Call Risk and §4.11 Pre-Earnings Run-Up Rule.

Auto-Disqualifiers (do not enter regardless of price)¶

• Composite below 75

• RS below 70

• Acc/Dis D or E

• Base stage 4+ (daily chart)

• Not profitable (IRA only)

• Earnings within 2 weeks

• Price more than 8% above buy point

• IBD market at 0%-20% exposure

Real Trade Examples¶

WWD April 14: Violated Rule 9 (volume below average)
Result: -11.25% loss

ADI April 20: Violated Rule 9 (volume 0.66x)
Result: Position struggled early

NVDA $215 ATH: Violated Rule 8 (1.3% above, volume 0.83x)
Modified exception — conservative 5 shares
Result: -6.87% failed breakout, sold correctly

AGX May 3: Violated Rule 8 (15-17% above buy point)
Result: Waiting for base — correct discipline