Our technical indicator scanner runs daily across the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, ranking stocks by the balance of bullish versus bearish signals drawn from a broad set of momentum, trend, and volume-based indicators. Below are the five stocks generating the strongest technical buy signals on 17 August 2026. As always, these findings are a starting point for further research, not a recommendation to buy or sell.
1. Align Technology (ALGN) – 14 technical buy signals
Price: $181.31 (+2.9% on the day) | Bull signals: 14 | Bear signals: 5
View the full technical analysis of Align Technology
Align Technology’s dental-technology platform continues to attract attention on both the fundamental and technical fronts. The company posted second-quarter 2026 revenue of roughly $1.06 billion, a 4.3% year-on-year improvement, while earnings per share of $2.64 came in ahead of consensus estimates and above the prior-year figure of $2.49. Although forward revenue guidance was described as slightly soft relative to analyst expectations, the earnings beat appeared sufficient to sustain positive market sentiment.
On the intellectual-property front, Align secured a meaningful victory in a Chinese court in mid-August, prevailing in a patent-infringement action against rival Angelalign. For a company with significant international growth ambitions, defending its IP in key markets such as China is strategically important, and the outcome was broadly welcomed by the market.
From a technical standpoint, the stock’s 14 bullish signals against just 5 bearish ones suggest that momentum indicators, moving-average crossovers, and volume trends are broadly aligned to the upside. Analysts have recently highlighted ALGN as a strong momentum stock, and the iTero scanning platform remains a potential growth driver as digital dentistry adoption continues to expand globally.
2. KeyCorp (KEY) – 14 technical buy signals
Price: $23.31 (+1.39% on the day) | Bull signals: 14 | Bear signals: 2
View the full technical analysis of KeyCorp
KeyCorp stands out in today’s scan not only for matching Align Technology’s tally of 14 bullish signals, but for doing so with a notably low bear-signal count of just 2 — the tightest bull-bear spread among all five names on today’s list. The regional bank reported second-quarter 2026 results that met overall expectations, with revenue up approximately 6.7% year on year to $1.96 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.44, which came in modestly ahead of the analyst consensus.
Management used the Q2 earnings call to raise elements of its full-year guidance, pointing to stronger-than-expected commercial loan growth, expanding net interest income, and continued business momentum. These are meaningful signals for a regional lender navigating an evolving interest-rate environment, and the upgraded outlook appeared to reinforce investor confidence.
KeyCorp also declared its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.205 per share on common stock, payable in September — a reminder of its commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Commentary from analysts has begun to focus on whether the stock can close a perceived valuation gap relative to peers, a debate that may keep investor attention focused on KEY in the weeks ahead. The technical picture, with 14 buy signals and minimal bearish pressure, supports that constructive view.
3. SanDisk (SNDK) – 14 technical buy signals
Price: $1,641.11 (+7.39% on the day) | Bull signals: 14 | Bear signals: 3
View the full technical analysis of SanDisk
SanDisk is unquestionably the headline name in today’s scan. The stock gained more than 7% on 17 August alone and had already delivered a weekly advance of roughly 34% entering the session — a striking run even by the standards of the memory-chip sector. The catalyst appears to be a combination of strong quarterly results and an enthusiastically received Investor Day presentation. The company reported a quarterly profit of approximately $6.9 billion, with pricing dynamics in the memory market contributing meaningfully to the outcome.
Chief Executive David Goeckeler used the Investor Day event to lay out a long-term financial framework that analysts described as potentially redefining how the market values memory businesses. The prevailing bull thesis — reflected in recent Wall Street commentary — is that the traditional boom-and-bust cycle in memory pricing may be structurally dampened by sustained artificial-intelligence-driven demand for high-capacity storage. Whether that thesis holds over a full market cycle remains to be seen, but it is clearly influencing sentiment right now.
The technical picture is equally striking. Premarket strength, a sustained uptrend, and 14 bullish indicators against only 3 bearish ones all point to powerful near-term momentum. Investors should, however, be mindful that sharply parabolic moves can also generate short-term pullbacks as traders lock in gains, as was briefly observed earlier in August.
4. Targa Resources (TRGP) – 13 technical buy signals
Price: $275.79 (+3.34% on the day) | Bull signals: 13 | Bear signals: 3
View the full technical analysis of Targa Resources
Targa Resources, one of the leading midstream energy infrastructure companies in the United States, continues to generate solid technical readings backed by improving fundamentals. The company reported record operating volumes and adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2026, driven in large part by continued growth in its Permian Basin operations. While commodity-related revenue came in below some estimates, the higher-margin midstream fee and gathering businesses delivered results that exceeded expectations on the earnings line.
The Permian Basin remains the most prolific oil and gas-producing region in North America, and Targa’s infrastructure footprint there positions it well to benefit from sustained production growth irrespective of short-term commodity price movements. Analysts tracking the stock had flagged it as a momentum name in mid-July, a characterisation that the subsequent price action has broadly validated.
From a technical perspective, 13 bullish signals against 3 bearish ones represents a healthy and consistent profile. Midstream companies are sometimes overlooked in favour of higher-beta energy plays, but Targa’s combination of volume-driven revenue, infrastructure scarcity value in the Permian, and clear technical momentum makes it a name worth monitoring closely. The stock’s 3.34% daily gain on strong volume adds further weight to the bullish technical case.
5. Albemarle Corporation (ALB) – 12 technical buy signals
Price: $136.15 (+4.35% on the day) | Bull signals: 12 | Bear signals: 3
View the full technical analysis of Albemarle Corporation
Albemarle, the world’s largest producer of lithium, rounds out today’s list with 12 bullish signals and a notable 4.35% daily gain. The stock has endured a difficult period as lithium spot prices retreated from prior-cycle peaks, and the shares have reflected that pressure. However, analyst commentary published on 17 August points to a more constructive medium-term view: rising demand for battery-grade lithium, the progressive ramp-up of new production capacity, and the company’s position within the electric-vehicle supply chain are cited as factors that could support a recovery in the stock’s fortunes.
Albemarle operates across lithium, bromine, and catalyst solutions, giving it a degree of diversification that pure-play lithium miners lack. Its scale and long-term offtake agreements with major battery and automotive manufacturers provide a degree of revenue visibility. Earlier in 2026, Truist analysts highlighted the potential for improving lithium demand to act as a meaningful growth driver, and that thesis appears to be regaining traction with a broader investor audience.
The technical improvement — 12 buy signals against just 3 sell signals — suggests that after a prolonged period of underperformance, price momentum may be beginning to shift. Investors interested in the energy-transition materials space may find the current combination of technical strength and depressed-but-recovering fundamentals worth examining in more detail.
Disclaimer: This blog post is produced for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Technical analysis identifies patterns in historical price and volume data; it does not guarantee future results. All investments carry risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decision. The Wall Street Stock Investors Club and its contributors may or may not hold positions in the securities mentioned above.