By Roberto Pedone

Senior Contributor

07/19/13 — 07:13 AM EDT

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr ) — At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend — a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Must-See Charts to Buy in July

Magnum Hunter Resources

Magnum Hunter Resources (MHR ) is an oil and gas company engaged in the exploration for and the exploitation, acquisition, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids resources in the U.S. and Canada. This stock closed up 3.6% to $3.94 in Thursday’s trading session.

Thursday’s Range: $3.79-$3.95

52-Week Range: $2.37-$5.24

Thursday’s Volume: 2.75 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 4.18 million

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From a technical perspective, MHR spiked higher here right off its 200-day moving average at $3.81 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last month and change, with shares moving between its low of $3.31 to its high of $4.13. This move is starting to push shares of MHR within range of triggering a major breakout above the upper-end of its recent range, and above some past overhead resistance levels. That breakout will hit if MHR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.05 to $4.13 and then once it takes out some past overhead resistance levels at $4.30 to $4.69 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MHR as long as it’s trending above its 50-day at $3.63, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 4.18 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MHR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $5.24. Any high-volume move above that level will then give MHR a chance to tag $5.50 to $6.

Key Energy Services

Key Energy Services (KEG ) is an onshore rig-based well servicing contractor that provides well services to oil companies, foreign national oil companies and independent oil and natural gas production companies. This stock closed up 2.9% to $6.68 in Thursday’s trading session.

Thursday’s Range: $6.45-$6.71

52-Week Range: $5.61-$9.57

Thursday’s Volume: 1.65 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 3.11 million

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From a technical perspective, KEG bounced higher here right above some near-term support at $6.34 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of KEG within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if KEG manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.80 to $6.87 and then once it clears its 200-day at $7.04 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KEG as long as it’s trending above some near-term support at $6.34 or above its 50-day at $6.27 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 3.11 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then KEG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.35 to $7.89.

Keep in mind that KEG is due to report earnings on July 25 after the market close. Trade the breakout if we get it accordingly since earnings are always an unknown.

Advantage Oil & Gas

Advantage Oil & Gas (AAV ) and its subsidiaries are engaged in the business of oil and gas exploitation, development, acquisition and production in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. This stock closed up 2.1% to $4.24 in Thursday’s trading session.

Thursday’s Range: $4.12-$4.28

52-Week Range: $2.79-$4.51

Thursday’s Volume: 206,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 326,940

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From a technical perspective, AAV trended modestly higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $4.11 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.83 to its intraday high of $4.28. During that move, shares of AAV have been mostly making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move is now pushing shares of AAV within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if AAV manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.48 to its 52-week high at $4.51 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AAV as long as it’s trending above its 50-day at $4.11 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 326,940 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then AAV will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $5 to $5.50, or even $6.

SandRidge Energy

SandRidge Energy (SD ) is a natural gas and oil company engaged in exploration, development and production activities. This stock closed up 6.5% to $5.51 in Thursday’s trading session.

Thursday’s Range: $5.20-$5.51

52-Week Range: $4.52-$7.80

Thursday’s Volume: 16.94 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 7.10 million

Shares of SD spiked sharply higher on Thursday after Omega Advisors Leon Cooperman said at the Delivering Alpha conference that he thinks the stock has the potential to double.

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From a technical perspective, SD ripped higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $5.02 with monster upside volume. This stock also broke out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.18 to $5.35 on an intraday basis. That move is quickly pushing shares of SD within range of triggering an even bigger breakout trade. That trade will hit if SD manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.60 to $5.80 and then once it clears some past resistance at $6.20 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SD as long as it’s trending above its 50-day at $5.02 or above that breakout level at $5.18 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 7.10 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.50 to $7.80, or even $8.50.

Keep in mind that SD is set to report earnings on August 6 after the market close. I would target a move to $5.80 to $6.20 ahead of earnings and then a possible run north of $6.20 after earnings if the stock reacts positively to the numbers.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

— Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis. is an independent atrader 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 www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.