What is a Stock Screener

A stock screener is a digital tool used by investors and traders to filter and identify stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that meet specific criteria. It helps users narrow down thousands of securities to a manageable list based on financial, technical, or fundamental parameters. Key Features Customizable Filters Investors can set criteria such as: Market capitalization Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio Dividend yield Revenue growth Technical indicators like moving averages Types of Screeners Fundamental Stock Screeners: Focus on financial metrics and company performance Technical Stock Screeners: Focus on price patterns, trends, and trading signals Availability Often provided for free on brokerage or financial websites Advanced features may require paid subscriptions Purpose and Benefits Helps investors identify potential investment opportunities efficiently Saves time by filtering out unsuitable stocks Supports both long-term investment strategies and short-term trading decisions Enables data-driven investment analysis Example Use An investor looking for dividend-paying large-cap stocks with a P/E ratio below 20 can use a stock screener to quickly generate a list of candidates, rather than manually checking hundreds of stocks