Interpretation

Traders often look to enter a position on the break of the neckline, interpreting the neckline as a support level. Upon a break of the neckline, traders will frequently set a target profit equal to the distance between the neckline and the head of the chart. A stop loss order is frequently set at where the right shoulder is. As a result, the head and shoulders pattern can be used by traders not only to identify entry points, but also to manage the risk of the trade as well.
The image below illustrates how a head and shoulders pattern can help traders identify entry points, stop-loss levels, and target profit levels.