I totally agree that charts give a visual picture in telling "you what's happened in the past". However, they can play a role in the evaluation of a company's stock and one's timing of a stocks sale or purchase. Although a purely technical trade may be entered by some chartists, I personally agree that it is only one tool that should be utilized. Although they are certainly not full proof, many equities tend to keep repeating their historical chart patterns. Additionally, security analysts and market making firms, unless they are strictly trading houses, maintain charts of those issues they follow. Thus, like it or not, charts do play a role in the investment process and should definitely be considered in the timing of any security transaction.