Good morning, traders…

Yesterday gave us a perfect reminder of why we don’t skip steps in our trading process. 

Two solid trade ideas showed up early — names that hit the scanner with unusual volume and cheap contracts. 

But the alerts were just the starting points. What matters is how the setups developed after that.

In this market, speed matters — but discipline matters more. You don’t get paid for being the first to see something. You get paid for having a process that tells you what to do when you see it. 

And yesterday, that process was the difference between chasing noise and catching clean entries with manageable risk.

These trades came from completely different sectors. Both offered real opportunity — but only if you had a plan before the charts broke out. 

My plan was simple, structured, and repeatable — the kind of session that proves why process beats prediction … every time.

Not because it sounds cool, but because it’s the only thing that keeps you grounded when the market’s doing backflips. 

So, let me walk you through exactly what I saw, where I set my levels, and how the trades played out — from initial trigger to final exit…

2 Solid Setups, Same Process

I made two solid trades yesterday on Dollar General (NYSE: DG) and Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: ET). 

Both came through using our proprietary scanners and tools. But more than simply seeing a trade on a scanner, these wins were about following the process. 

Let’s start with DG.

This name came up on the scanner early. Low open interest — just 191 contracts — and suddenly a spike in call volume hit. 

That kind of surge gets my attention, especially when it shows up on the ThinkorSwim scanner I built to highlight cheaper contracts with big same-day volume.

But a name showing up on a scanner isn’t enough. I went to the chart for confirmation.

I marked three key levels:

1. The high from the prior session
   
2. The candle body top
   
3. The intraday pullback level

I wasn’t chasing anything. I waited for DG to pull back into that third level — down near $89.50 — and that’s where I had my buy orders sitting. 

I bought the contracts at $0.18. Price bounced, and I scaled out at $0.25, then $0.30 — for an intraday gain of 66%.*

Meanwhile, ET popped up at the same time:

The April 4 $19 calls were trading at $0.10. Volume was coming in strong, so I took the trade right there. 

My plan was simple:

• First target: $0.13
  
• Stop: $0.07

I got a quick 30% gain* at $0.13 and protected the rest. 

Again, I planned before I entered — and most importantly, executed according to the plan.

What Tied It All Together

These weren’t lucky guesses. I didn’t “have a feeling.” 

I followed the same structure I walk you through every day:

1. Find the idea – I used scanners that surface unusual option activity and inexpensive contracts
   
2. Confirm the setup – I reviewed the charts for volume, technical support, and structure
   
3. Make the plan – Entry, stop, target. Pre-determined.
   
4. Wait for the trigger – Let the price come to me
   
5. Execute and manage – Take profits. Manage the risk. Rinse and repeat.

This is why I keep talking about the repetition of your process. Over and over. 

Eventually, the process stops being something you have to think about and starts becoming second nature. 

Why This Matters Now

You’ve probably noticed: there aren’t a lot of great sub-30-cent contracts showing up right now. 

That’s one reason I built an extra scanner, one that looks specifically for:

• Over 5,000 contracts of volume on the day
  
• Less than 2,000 open interest
  
• A bid price above $0.08

That’s how I found DG. It’s how I found ET. And that scanner is now part of what I’m sharing with the community. 

But just because something hits a scanner doesn’t mean we trade it. I still need confirmation. I still need a setup I trust.

Yesterday, DG pulled into my risk zone. ET gave me a clear level to work off. Both had technicals that lined up with the Smart Money flow.

If I’d just chased volume blindly, I’d be relying on bad habits. The goal isn’t just to make money. It’s to make repeatable trades. Trades that you can learn from, build on, and scale over time.

If you’re still feeling like you’re late to trades or unsure when to pull the trigger, don’t beat yourself up — go back to your process.

Happy trading,

Ben Sturgill

P.S. Most traders never see the biggest moves coming — until it’s too late. 

But back in 2022, while most traders were blindsided, one forecast led to a 503% win* on a single trade. 

Another spotted the banking crisis nine months early and turned it into 860%.* 

Now, Tim Bohen is sounding the alarm on what could be an even bigger move. But this time, it’s not about boring banks — it’s all about AI.

Join Bohen on THURSDAY, April 10 for a “FINAL AI WARNING” to walk you through his forecast — and break down the trading blueprint he believes could hand in-the-know traders an undeniable edge. 

It’s free to attend, but spots are filling fast — Click here to claim yours before it’s too late.

*Past performance does not indicate future results