In a welcome move, John Bean Technologies saw its Relative Strength Rating improve from 69 to 72 on Thursday.

When you're researching the best stocks to buy and watch, keep a close on eye on relative price strength.

This unique rating tracks technical performance by using a 1 (worst) to 99 (best) score that identifies how a stock's price performance over the last 52 weeks stacks up against all the other stocks in our database.

Decades of market research reveals that the best-performing stocks often have an RS Rating of above 80 in the early stages of their moves. See if John Bean Technologies can continue to show renewed price strength and hit that benchmark.

Looking For Winning Stocks? Try This Simple Routine

John Bean Technologies broke out earlier, but has fallen back below the prior 151.74 entry from a consolidation. If a stock you're tracking clears a buy point then declines 7% or more below the original entry price, it's considered a failed base. Wait for the stock to set up and breakout from a new chart pattern and buy point. Also understand that the latest pattern is a later-stage base, and such bases are more prone to failure.

In terms of top and bottom line numbers, the company has posted rising EPS growth over the last three quarters. Sales gains have also increased during the same period.

John Bean Technologies earns the No. 17 rank among its peers in the Machinery-General Industrial industry group. Kornit Digital and Mettler Toledo International are also among the group's highest-rated stocks.