I like to buy stocks at the bottom, when the narrative has broken down and masses have left. This is when it gets interesting. Stock_price = company_value + public_perception so how can you buy on the cheap unless the sky is filled with doom and gloom.
I first bought ECIA around $0.30 and wrote up the stock a couple years ago at $0.39. It had dropped to support, near the all time low. With an exciting medical business and tons of potential I bought with dollar signs in my eyes.
What I do is buy tiny, low, sleepy stocks with potential then wait and watch. Potential comes from both business and stock. I like a business with room to grow. The stock should be low with capital structure tight, and bonus points for a theme that can be meme'd to the moon.
After the buy starts a years long process of optimistically following along. I can see the rise in my mind. If things don't go my way I wait longer and as the situation warrants I buy more. This is the story of puzzle pieces falling into place.