Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) just provided a textbook example of how order flow analytics can spot a reversal in real time. On December 3rd, the stock triggered what's called a Power Inflow signal, and what happened next is exactly why traders pay attention to these indicators.

Here's the setup: At 10:09 AM EST, STX flashed a Power Inflow alert at $252.73. This wasn't happening during a rally—quite the opposite. The stock had dropped as much as 4% in the opening hour of trading. But the order flow data told a different story than the price action. Both retail and institutional traders were suddenly shifting to the buy side, and the signal caught that shift before it became obvious in the stock price.

The timing proved prescient. Following the alert, STX began climbing and eventually reached $258.14 by 2:45 PM EST—a 2.14% gain from the signal price. That's the kind of intraday move that makes order flow analytics worth watching.

What's Behind the Power Inflow Signal

The Power Inflow alert comes from TradePulse and operates on a specific framework. It only triggers within the first two hours of trading, and it's looking for one thing: a meaningful shift in order flow that tilts heavily toward buying activity. The idea is straightforward—when you see this pattern, there's a higher probability of bullish price movement for the remainder of the trading day.

Order flow analytics go deeper than just watching price and volume. They examine the timing, size, and nature of orders from both retail and institutional players. You're essentially watching who's buying and selling in real time, which gives you insight into market sentiment that traditional technical indicators might miss. For traders trying to identify opportune entry points, this kind of data offers a more granular view of what's actually driving price movement.

The Seagate Reversal Play

What makes today's STX signal particularly interesting is the context. The stock was down 4% in early trading—not exactly the scenario where most traders are looking to jump in. But that's precisely when order flow data becomes valuable. While the price was declining, the underlying buying interest was building, and the Power Inflow signal identified that divergence.

Anyone who bought shares shortly after the 10:09 AM alert at $252.73 could have captured that 2.14% intraday gain to $258.14. It's a practical demonstration of how monitoring order flow can reveal bullish momentum even when the immediate price action looks bearish. The early morning decline created the setup, and the order flow shift signaled the potential reversal.

This type of signal doesn't guarantee anything, of course. But it does highlight where institutional and retail interest is converging, which can be a valuable data point for active traders looking to position themselves ahead of price movements. The STX example shows the concept working as intended—catching a momentum shift early enough to matter.