[isatrader]

So… my question is… was my initial stop too loose @ $3.30 (I’m thinking yes)? and if so, where would have been a better place for it based on the attached chart and when trading ranges are not entirely flat.

No your stop loss wasn't too loose for the investor method. It was in the correct place imo, as the rule is to not move it higher from the previous weekly swing low until price moves back near the high again. So in this case that didn't happen and it's bad earnings caused a sharp drop and triggered your stop loss, as EGLE failed on it's second significant pullback.

A possible exception in this case to break the rules and tighten your stop loss came last week when it sold down sharply to the 30 week MA on heavier volume, which you don't want to see in a Stage 2 advance as volume should decrease on the pullback. So, that could have given you reason to make an exception to the rules in this case imo.

Stop losses in the investor method start off quite loose and gradually tighten up as a stock advances in Stage 2 making continuation moves, but if a stock doesn't behave as it's supposed to then you should cut it early before it can damage your account. As it's better to take a smaller loss and be wrong, and then get back in if the Stage 2 advance reasserts itself. But you should always practice proper risk management from when you get into a stock in the first place, so that it doesn't damage your account. So if the stock loss is too far from your entry point in terms of risk, then you should position size at the outset to make it manageable or not trade the stock at all imo.