Broadcom (AVGO) shares surged in extended trading Thursday after the chipmaker reported better-than-expected earnings and issued a rosy outlook amid robust AI-driven sales growth.

The company said its fiscal 2024 AI revenue more than tripled, driven by its AI XPUs and Ethernet networking portfolio. After-hours gains accelerated after CEO Hock Tan told analysts on the company’s earnings call that he anticipates significant AI opportunities over the next three years, adding that he sees accelerators and networking sales in fiscal 2027 ranging between $60 billion and $90 billion.

Through Thursday’s close, Broadcom shares had gained 64% since the start of the year. The stock rose 14% to around $206 in extended trading.

Below, we break down the technicals on Broadcom’s weekly chart and identify key price levels worth watching out for.

Ascending Triangle Breakout

Broadcom shares have consolidated within an ascending triangle since mid June, a chart pattern that signals a continuation of the stock’s longer-term uptrend.

Indeed, the price sits poised to break out above the formation’s top trendline on Friday, setting the stage for further upside.

Moreover, the relative strength index (RSI) gives a reading just above 50, confirming bullish momentum and indicating the shares have ample room to test higher prices as they move into price discovery.

Let’s apply technical analysis to forecast a potential upside price target and also identify two key support levels that would likely attract buying interest during retracements.

Bars Pattern Upside Price Target

To forecast an upside target in the stock, investors can use the bars pattern tool, which analyzes prior trends to help predict future directional moves.

When applying the tool to Broadcom’s chart, we extract the stock’s trend higher from December 2023 to June this year and reposition it from the ascending triangle’s top trendline. This projects a longer-term upside target of around $315. 

We selected this prior move as it commenced following a decisive earnings-driven jump above a continuation pattern on the chart in December last year, similar price action to what looks likely after the company’s latest quarterly report. 

Key Support Levels to Watch During Pullbacks

During pullbacks, investors should initially watch how the price reacts to the $185 level. This location on the chart would likely attract buying interest near the ascending triangle’s top trendline, which may flip from an area of prior resistance into future support.

Selling below this level could see Broadcom shares revisit lower support around $140, an area where investors may seek buying opportunities near a horizontal line that connects a series of comparable trading activity on the chart between February and September.

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As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.