# Understanding the Evening Star Pattern: A Key Bearish Indicator

## What Is an Evening Star?

An evening star is a stock price chart pattern that's used by [technical analysts](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/technicalanalysis.asp) to detect when a trend is about to reverse. It's a bearish [candlestick pattern](https://www.investopedia.com/trading/candlestick-charting-what-is-it/) that consists of three candles: a large white candlestick, a small-bodied candle, and a red candle.

Evening star patterns appear at the peak of a price uptrend, signaling its end. In contrast, the [morning star](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/morningstar.asp) pattern is considered bullish.

### Key Takeaways

*   An evening star is a bearish candlestick pattern used by technical analysts to signal potential reversals in stock price trends.  
    
*   The pattern consists of three candles: a large white candlestick, a small-bodied candle, and a red candlestick indicating a downtrend.  
    
*   Evening star patterns are considered reliable indicators of future price declines but are rare and can be hard to identify.  
    
*   Traders often use additional technical indicators, like price oscillators and trendlines, to confirm the presence of an evening star pattern.  
    
*   The evening star pattern is a counterpart to the bullish morning star pattern, which signals potential upward reversals.

## Understanding the Evening Star Candlestick Pattern

A candlestick pattern is a way of presenting certain information about a stock. It represents the [open, high, low, and close price](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockquote.asp) for the stock over a period of time.

Each candlestick consists of a candle and two wicks. The length of the candle is a function of the [range](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/range.asp) between the highest and lowest price during that trading day. A long candle indicates a large change in price and a short candle indicates a small change in price.

> **Important**
>
> Long candlestick bodies are indicative of intense buying or selling pressure, depending on the direction of the trend. Short candlesticks are indicative of little price movement.

The evening star pattern is considered to be a very strong indicator of future price declines. Its pattern forms over three days:

1.  The first day consists of a large white candle signifying a continued rise in prices.
2.  The second day consists of a smaller candle that shows a more modest increase in price.
3.  The third day shows a large [red candle](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/red-candlestick.asp) that opens at a price below the previous day and then closes near the middle of the first day.

## Important Factors When Identifying the Evening Star Pattern

The evening star pattern is a reliable sign of a downward trend, but it can be hard to spot in noisy stock data. Traders use [price oscillators](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/ppo.asp) and [trendlines](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trendline.asp) to confirm its presence.

> **Important**
>
> It's best to use multiple technical indicators for predicting price movements instead of relying on just one.

The evening star pattern is popular, but not the only [bearish](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bear.asp) indicator. Other patterns include dark cloud cover and bearish engulfing. Traders choose patterns based on their preferences to detect trend changes.

## Real-World Example of the Evening Star Candlestick

Here's an example of an evening star pattern in a chart:

![Image](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ElGSD3eD-VwouJwBGbe3aq10Lb4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/dotdash_Final_Evening_Star_Dec_2020-01-2e934a9c033c47debb64279250a18ea2.jpg)

**

On the first day, a long white candle shows a price rise from strong buying pressure. The second day sees a smaller price increase. On the third day, a long red candle indicates selling pressure, bringing the price down to the midpoint of the first day.

These features indicate an evening star pattern. Technical analysts might sell or [short](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp) the security, expecting a decline.

## What Are the Open, High, Low, and Close Prices?

These prices monitor the value of a stock over a period of time. An open or opening price is the first price a stock trades at when the market opens in the morning. The closing price is the last price of the day. High and low prices track whether a stock has lost or gained value during the day.

## How Does the Evening Star Pattern Use These Prices?

The evening star pattern correlates these prices over three days. This can be a prime indicator of when a trend in price is about to reverse.

## What Is the Doji Candlestick Pattern?

The doji pattern occurs when the open price of a stock is the same or nearly the same as the close price. Upward movement indicates that the stock may begin sinking soon. Downward movement is a sign that the stock may go up. This information can be an indicator of what will happen the next day.

## The Bottom Line

The evening star pattern serves as a reliable indicator for predicting future price declines, signaling when an uptrend might reverse. While it can be challenging to identify amid market noise, this pattern is especially valuable when confirmed with additional tools such as price oscillators and trendlines. Traders should utilize various technical indicators and consider professional advice to better gauge market movements and make informed decisions.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  The Sovereign Investor. "[Evening Star Pattern: What Does It Mean and How to Trade It Properly?](https://thesovereigninvestor.net/evening-star-candlestick-pattern/)"
>     
> 2.  Elearnmarkets. "[5 Powerful Bearish Candlestick Patterns](https://blog.elearnmarkets.com/5-powerful-bearish-candlestick-patterns/)."
>     
> 3.  TheStreet. "[What Are the Opening & Closing Prices in the Stock Market?](https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/o/opening-and-closing-prices)"
>     
> 4.  Stock-Screener.org. "[Doji Candlestick Pattern](https://stock-screener.org/doji-candlestick-pattern.aspx)."