One important metric to look for in a stock is an 80 or higher Relative Strength Rating. Chesapeake Energy cleared that benchmark Tuesday, with a jump from 80 to 86 Tuesday.

When looking for the best stocks to buy and watch, one factor to watch closely is relative price strength.

This proprietary rating identifies technical performance by using a 1 (worst) to 99 (best) score that identifies how a stock's price action over the last 52 weeks matches up against the rest of the market.

Decades of market research reveals that the best stocks often have an 80 or higher RS Rating as they launch their biggest climbs.

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Chesapeake Energy has climbed more than 5% past a 57.09 entry in a first-stage consolidation, meaning it's now out of a proper buy range. Look for the stock to create a new buying opportunity like a three-weeks tight or pullback to the 50-day or 10-week line.

Earnings growth decreased in the company's most recent report from 0% to -93%, but sales rose from -55% to 37%.

The company earns the No. 37 rank among its peers in the Oil&Gas-U.S. Exploration & Production industry group. Cimarex Energy and Diamondback Energy are also among the group's highest-rated stocks.