This past Wednesday, I introduced you to the newest hot sector, quantum computing…
It should be on your radar.
It’s definitely on mine!
And I’m proud to say that I identified these stocks before they really took off on the Amazon quantum computing news that hit last Friday…
In fact, I alerted my Daily Income Trader members to it last Wednesday.
So, how did I know quantum computing would start running before everyone else?
No, I’m not an insider and no, I don’t have a crystal ball…
I simply did what I’ve done every single day since I started trading way back when.
As a trader, one of my top goals is to be ahead of the market.
The last thing I want is to be a part of the herd.
To do this, I run stock scans every single day…
And I’ve been doing this since the beginning of my trading career.
See, back then, I couldn’t trade every day, but I always, always ran my scans, no matter what.
When I ran my scans early last week, I saw the tiny, low-float quantum computing stocks popping, and I knew something was up.
This is exactly why I knew that the sector as a whole was poised for some big moves.
And I didn’t need a billion technical indicators to get ahead of the pack.
But let’s get to the point…
What kind of scans should you be using to find the biggest movers or the most explosive stocks of the day?
Table of Contents
Scan 1: Top Percent Gainers
This is the simplest, most foundational scan. It focuses on:
- Stocks priced between $0.25 and $20
- Trading at least 10,000 shares a day
- Up at least 5%
This is the first scan I look at when I start in the morning. If you’re serious about trading, this is where the action is, especially in premarket when the real opportunities begin to reveal themselves.
And speaking of starting, I don’t wait until 9:30 am. It’s 4:30 for me.
And no, you don’t have to get up that early but premarket is where the best setups emerge. Just be sure you’re prepared and aren’t brand new to trading.
This is also when I do my Premarket Prep every morning at 8:30 a.m. I do it to prepare you for the trading day ahead before the market opens.
Premarket Prep is part of my Daily Income Trader service. Learn more about it here.
Scan 2: Low Float News
This scan hones in on low-float stocks with a catalyst:
- Earnings, SEC filings, or news in the past 24 hours
- Float under 10 million (or adjust to your preference)
- Up more than 10%
Whether it’s earnings, an SEC filing, or a juicy catalyst, this scan delivers a solid list of potential plays driven by premarket momentum.
From there, I investigate further. What’s the news? Is it actionable, or just fluff?
Scan 3: Oracle
Oracle is our proprietary trading algorithm. It gives you a list of 15 to 20 stocks, along with an entry price, support and resistance levels, price targets, and whether the stock is bullish or bearish.
Oracle streamlines your process and saves you hours of legwork.
The bottom line is this: I use it every day and I couldn’t trade without it.
Scan 4: Breaking News
Breaking News Chat is a proprietary feature of our StocksToTrade platform and an absolute game-changer.
If you don’t feel like reading every piece of financial news on a daily basis, (and who does, really?), BNC does all the work for you.
It’s a financial news chatroom led by veteran Wall Street traders, each with over 20 years of experience. They filter out all the noise and give traders only the information they need.
So when a stock is running up, BNC tells us exactly why, and most of the time, before the rest of the market can catch it.
Get ahead of the curve with our StocksToTrade platform and Breaking News Chat!
Final Thoughts
Catching the big price action, like I did with the quantum computing sector, is about getting ahead of the broad market and the mainstream media before everyone else piles in.
Running scans like I described above increases your odds of uncovering and taking advantage of these early opportunities,
And having the right tools, like Oracle and Breaking News Chat, can help you streamline your process, focus on the best opportunities, and grow your account steadily.
If you’re looking for more trading mentorship and stock ideas, subscribe to my StocksToTrade Advisory service.
Every STT Advisory member gets a monthly newsletter with a list of my top picks, three weekly videos with my watchlists, bonus reports, and more.
Sign up for StocksToTrade Advisory right here!
Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday!
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade