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PrintIs your bracket busted after all the upsets in the first two rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament?
Let's pick stocks instead.
In honor of the most exciting three weeks in sports, Real Money presents its own "Sweet 16." Four great stock picks and trades each day this week from our columnists leading up to Thursday's games.
We tipped it off Monday with the "East Region."
Now we are unveiling the "South Region," with several underdog selections primed for more upsets.
James "Rev Shark" DePorre: HTG Molecular Diagnostics (HTGM)
My pick for the Real Money Sweet 16 is HTG Molecular Diagnostics, a small biotechnology company that focuses on molecular profiling and delivery mechanisms rather than in-house drug development. HTGM works with major companies like Merck (MRK) , Illumina (ILMN) and Qiagen (QGEN) .
On Jan. 4, 2018, the company issued upside guidance for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $6.9 million to $7.2 million versus guidance from two analysts of $3.45 million. It increased guidance for the entire year of 2018 to $20 million-$25 million versus analyst estimates of $13.93 million.
Technically, the chart of HTGM is developing well and I'm looking for a breakout over the $5.50 level to propel it higher.
HTGM is undersized but it should make up for its small stature with speed and flexibility. Watch for HTGM to upset some big-cap names.
Bruce Kamich: Rudolph Technologies (RTEC)
I am cheering for the men from Villanova and the women from UConn and the long side of RTEC.
RTEC recently broke out on the upside from a lengthy consolidation pattern. I like the way the indicators are lined up now and the stock appears to have plenty of upside according to our Point and Figure chart.
Traders could go long RTEC at current levels and on strength, risking below $28 and looking for gains in the upper $40s.
Read my full analysis here on Real Money.
Carolyn Boroden: Deckers Outdoor Corp. (DECK)
There is a simple concept I'm following in my Real Money Sweet 16 stock pick. It is called symmetry. I started with a weekly chart of DECK, below, and found that at least five other swings on this chart were very similar to the most recent decline in DECK.
For that reason, I'm looking at taking my buy triggers in this name with the maximum risk below the $85 area. My potential initial upside target if this setup plays out is the $102. My secondary target comes in at $105.91.
Remember the most important parameter for me is the risk definition, so I would consider myself wrong if the $85 handle is violated.
Mark Sebastian: Square, Inc. (SQ)
As the better of the "Dorsey Twins" (along with Twitter (TWTR) ), Square is innovating the payments game. Every time I walk into a small business or an individual proprietor when I go to pay I see that little square pop out. My doctor's office, fund-raising organizations, door-to-door salespeople, you name it.
Add in the crypto play in SQ and I think we have a stock that is going to move to $60 or $70 a share before all is said and done.
I also think SQ is an interesting acquisition target for a name like PayPal PYPL as there is symmetry there.
