FinViz: Screener 1: General Top Gainers

This is a simple screener, which show top companies with highest daily Price Change, expressed in % value.

FinViz Top Gainers Screener – What It Shows and How to Use It

The Top Gainers table in FinViz displays a list of stocks that are experiencing the largest price increases during the current trading day. While it is not the most important screener on its own, it provides a quick, high-level view of which stocks are attracting the most attention at the moment.

This table allows traders to immediately see:

• which stocks are trading at the top of the market,

• their current trading volume,

• the percentage change for the day,

• and the current stock price.

In short, it answers the question: Where is the money flowing today?

Why the Top Gainers Table Matters

The Top Gainers screener is especially useful for identifying stocks with strong momentum and increased trader interest. These stocks often become candidates for intraday strategies such as momentum trading, breakouts, pullbacks, or VWAP-based setups.

However, it is important to understand that being on the Top Gainers list does not automatically make a stock tradable. It is a starting point, not a trading signal. Each stock still needs to be evaluated in context: liquidity, volatility, news, and overall market conditions.

Filter Settings Used in This Screener

To make the Top Gainers table more relevant and tradable, specific filters are applied.

Exchange: NASDAQ

The exchange is set to NASDAQ, mainly because Level 2 data has been purchased for this exchange. Having Level 2 access allows the trader to see order book dynamics, liquidity, and short-term supply and demand — all of which are crucial for intraday decision-making.

Focusing on a single exchange also helps reduce noise and keeps the watchlist consistent.

Price: $1 – $20

The price filter is set between $1 and $20, which reflects a predefined trading rule agreed upon with the broker. Stocks in this range typically offer:

• sufficient volatility for day trading,

• tighter risk control due to lower nominal prices,

• and better capital efficiency for smaller accounts.

This range excludes very cheap stocks with extreme risk and very expensive stocks that require larger position sizes.

Relative Volume: At Least 1.5

The Relative Volume (RVOL) filter is set to 1.5 or higher, which means the stock is trading at least 50% more volume than its average.

This is often sufficient in the pre-market session, where overall volume is naturally lower.

During regular market hours, this value can be increased to focus on only the most active stocks.

Relative volume is important because price movement without volume is unreliable. Volume confirms participation and interest.

Current Volume: Over 1 Million Shares

The Current Volume filter is set to over 1 million shares traded, which serves as a basic liquidity threshold. Many traders prefer higher limits — such as 5 million or even 10 million shares — but 1 million is a practical minimum that still allows for clean executions.

This parameter can and should be adjusted based on:

• personal trading style,

• position size,

• and tolerance for slippage.

How to Use the Top Gainers Screener in Practice

The Top Gainers screener should be treated as a scanning tool, not a decision tool. Its role is to narrow the universe of stocks down to a manageable list of names worth further analysis.

Once a stock appears on the list, the next steps typically include:

• checking the daily and intraday charts,

• identifying key levels and pre-market highs/lows,

• verifying the catalyst (news, earnings, sector strength),

• and aligning the stock with a predefined trading setup.

Final Thought

The FinViz Top Gainers table helps answer what is moving today, but it does not answer how to trade it. That responsibility lies with the trader’s plan, discipline, and risk management.

Used correctly, this screener becomes a powerful first filter — not for finding certainty, but for finding opportunity.