Types of Price Alerts
Price alerts are your personal market watchers. Understanding the different alert types helps you set up notifications that actually match your trading and investing goals.Overview of Alert Types
Rallies offers two core alert types:| Alert Type | Triggers When | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Price Above | Stock rises to or above your target | Breakouts, sell targets, momentum |
| Price Below | Stock falls to or below your target | Buy opportunities, stop-loss reminders |
Price Above Alerts
How It Works
A “Price Above” alert triggers when a stock’s price rises to meet or exceed your target price. Example: You set a Price Above alert for AAPL at 200 or higher during market hours, you receive a notification.When to Use Price Above Alerts
Breakout Monitoring You’ve identified a stock trading in a range, and you want to know when it breaks out.NVDA has been stuck between 450 for weeks. Set an alert above $455 to catch the breakout.Sell Target Reminders You own a stock and have a profit target in mind.
You bought MSFT at 400. Set an alert at $400 so you don’t miss your exit.Momentum Confirmation You want to buy when a stock shows strength by reaching new highs.
AMD making new highs would confirm the uptrend. Set an alert above the 52-week high.Earnings Reaction Watch You want to know if a stock gaps up after earnings.
GOOGL reports tonight. Set an alert 5% above current price to catch a positive reaction.
Price Above Examples
| Stock | Current Price | Alert Price | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | $185 | $200 | Round number breakout |
| TSLA | $180 | $195 | Resistance level break |
| NVDA | $450 | $475 | All-time high watch |
| META | $500 | $520 | Sell target reached |
Tips for Price Above Alerts
Consider resistance levels: Set alerts slightly above key resistance, not exactly at round numbers where the price might stall. Use for confirmation: Wait for breakouts before buying momentum stocks, rather than guessing. Layer your alerts: Set multiple price points to track progressive strength.Price Below Alerts
How It Works
A “Price Below” alert triggers when a stock’s price falls to or below your target price. Example: You set a Price Below alert for TSLA at 150 or lower during market hours, you receive a notification.When to Use Price Below Alerts
Buy Opportunity Alerts You want to own a stock but think it’s currently too expensive.You love AAPL but not at 170 to catch a pullback.Support Level Monitoring You want to know if a stock breaks below key support.
MSFT has held 295 to catch a breakdown.Stop-Loss Reminders You own a stock and want a warning if it drops to your mental stop level.
You bought NVDA at 350. Set an alert at $355 for early warning.Dip Buying Opportunities You’re looking for oversold conditions to add to positions.
Set alerts at -10%, -15%, and -20% from a stock’s peak to catch different dip levels.Portfolio Protection Monitor your holdings for concerning drops.
Set alerts 15% below your cost basis on each position as a warning system.
Price Below Examples
| Stock | Current Price | Alert Price | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | $185 | $170 | Buy on pullback |
| GOOGL | $140 | $125 | Support level test |
| AMZN | $180 | $155 | Aggressive accumulation |
| JPM | $200 | $180 | Value entry point |
Tips for Price Below Alerts
Set realistic targets: A 50% drop alert might never trigger. Be reasonable about what pullbacks you expect. Consider support levels: Set alerts slightly below support to confirm a breakdown, not just a test. Use for averaging down: Layer alerts at different levels if you want to build a position over time.Combining Alert Types
Smart alert strategies often use both types together.The Range Breakout Setup
When a stock is trading in a defined range, set alerts on both sides. Example: TSLA trading between 190| Alert Type | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Price Above | $195 | Breakout confirmed |
| Price Below | $155 | Breakdown confirmed |
The Buy Zone Strategy
You want to buy a stock at good prices, with multiple entry points. Example: Building a position in AAPL| Alert Type | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Price Below | $175 | Start small position |
| Price Below | $165 | Add to position |
| Price Below | $155 | Add more aggressively |
The Profit Target Ladder
You own a stock and want to scale out at progressively higher prices. Example: Managing NVDA position| Alert Type | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Price Above | $500 | Sell 25% |
| Price Above | $550 | Sell another 25% |
| Price Above | $600 | Sell another 25% |
The Stop-Loss and Target Pair
Set both downside protection and upside target for any position. Example: Bought MSFT at $380| Alert Type | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Price Below | $350 | Stop-loss warning |
| Price Above | $420 | Take profit target |
Calculating Alert Prices
Percentage-Based Targets
While Rallies uses price-based alerts, you can calculate percentage targets: Formula: Target Price = Current Price x (1 + Percentage) Examples:| Current Price | Percentage | Calculation | Alert Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | +10% | $100 x 1.10 | $110 |
| $100 | -15% | $100 x 0.85 | $85 |
| $50 | +20% | $50 x 1.20 | $60 |
| $200 | -5% | $200 x 0.95 | $190 |
Using Technical Levels
Ask the AI for key technical levels to set meaningful alerts:“What are the key support and resistance levels for AAPL?”The AI might identify:
- Support at 165
- Resistance at 210
Round Number Psychology
Many traders watch round numbers (100, $200), creating natural support and resistance. Consider:- Alerts slightly above round numbers for breakout confirmation
- Alerts slightly below round numbers for breakdown confirmation
Alert Behavior Details
When Alerts Trigger
Alerts monitor during regular market hours only:- 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time
- Monday through Friday
- Excluding market holidays
Price Matching
- Price Above: Triggers when price is greater than or equal to your target
- Price Below: Triggers when price is less than or equal to your target
One-Time Alerts
After an alert triggers, it becomes inactive. It won’t trigger again if the price crosses your level multiple times. To keep monitoring:- Create a new alert at the same or different level
- Set up a ladder of alerts at different prices
Stock Splits and Alerts
If a stock splits, your alert price automatically adjusts. Example: You have an alert for AAPL at 100 to maintain the equivalent level.Alert Limits
| Plan | Total Alerts |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 5 active alerts |
| Pro | Unlimited alerts |