If you’re a short-term trader, one thing should be crystal clear by now: Float matters a lot.
In fact, low-float stocks are often behind the biggest intraday movers.
And right now, with the media still throwing curveballs and the market reacting accordingly, day trading is the perfect strategy for fast gains.
Day trades let you stay nimble and avoid getting caught in the broader market noise.
Want to dodge that market drama and go after quick wins?
Kick off every week with my Monday Setup.
These are trades that only show up on that day, and they can move fast!
We’re talking about the kind of move that can deliver more in one morning than most people see in a month.
In celebration of Memorial Day this Monday, we’re offering this new setup for just $7! That’s an 85% discount off the regular price.
But this special price is only available for a limited time…
So, check out the Monday setup ASAP in my tutorial below.
Float is often the difference between a trade that quickly rips and one that grinds up gradually.
That being said,
Table of Contents
What Is Float?
This might be a refresher for many of you, but it’s worth a quick review…
Float is the number of freely tradable shares available to the public. It’s the supply side of the equation.
Now, pair a low supply with rising demand, whether it’s breaking news, a juicy press release, or a social media buzz, and you’ve got the formula for explosive moves.
My rule of thumb for low float is anything under 10 million shares. I’ll go to 20 million if the setup looks right and the volume is there.
A Recent Low-Float Spiker
Edible Garden AG Inc (NASDAQ: EDBL), with a float of only 1.4 million shares, returned 51%* on Tuesday, and all within 30 minutes!
That’s typical of low-floaters running on momentum from a news catalyst.
EDBL Intraday, 5-Minute Candles; SteadyTrade
Not surprisingly, our Oracle algorithm caught it before the spike.
Wanna see Oracle in action? Once you do, you’ll wonder why you never used it before…
Register for one of our free live webinars to see this amazing tool for yourself.
What About High Floats?
Big-name stocks like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) or Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) have billions of shares in their float.
Those stocks can move, but it takes a lot more effort.
Even with strong catalysts, high-float stocks tend to grind, not rip.
A Recent High-Float Grinder
Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) caught some momentum on May 12th after Trump’s tariff rollbacks with China were announced.
This was good news for the stock as NVDA benefits from the easing of trade tensions with the country.
So did the stock immediately take off on the news?
Nope. It was more like this…
From May 12th until NVDA reached a high of $137.40 per share on Wednesday, the stock has gained about 14%*.
This behavior is normal for high-float stocks that start moving on news or a catalyst.
By the way, if you’re looking for quantum computing stocks like NVDA, check out what I’m currently watching.
Should You Trade High Float Stocks?
Absolutely…
If you’re patient and aren’t looking for quick intraday momentum. And they’re great for part-time traders.
Ever heard of swing trading?
There are also high floaters that grind up faster than NVDA. Sometimes, they only take a day or two to deliver decent wins.
The key is to temper your expectations. These stocks move more slowly, and you’ll probably not see the 100%+ gains you can get from day trading.
Just understand the rhythm.
My Final Thoughts…
If you’re wondering why one stock is breaking out while another is going nowhere, start by checking the float.
It’s one of the simplest, most powerful indicators of how fast and how far a stock can move.
Remember this:
Low float = faster, more volatile potential.
High float = slower, more methodical moves.
It’s your choice what to trade. And why not trade both? I do!
Whatever you do, trade smart and stay focused.
When Trump said, “Go out and buy stocks now… this country will be like a rocket ship,” most people shrugged it off.
And sure enough, look what’s happened already:
Inflation just hit its lowest level since 2021…
The U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day tariff pause…
And the stock market is officially back in bull territory, recovering nearly all of 2025’s losses…
With capital rotating back into domestic growth, I’m monitoring a specific corner of the market.
These stocks are in a prime position to lead the charge this summer.
If you’re looking for volatility, potential, and asymmetric upside, welcome to U.S. Small Cap Stocks!!
I’ve perfected a unique small-cap trading approach to catch these explosive moves…
Here’s just some of what I’ve already seen:
+128% on PLRZ…
+128% on NVVE…
Even +390% on NXTT…
And all of these in less than 24 hours!
On May 30th and 31st, I’m hosting a FREE Made in the USA Trades Virtual Bootcamp where I’ll share my strategy with you.
But register now!
Limited free spots are available! Sign up now for Made in the USA Trades!
Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead of the Summer Small Cap Revolution!
Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everyone. See you back here next week!
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade
P.S.
- Learn one of my favorite trade patterns. You’ll thank me.
- Do you know how to handle ugly market days?
- Check out this blog post for a way to focus on only the good setups.