How to find stocks to swing trade: a simple screening checklist
There is no secret list of the best stocks to swing trade. What works is a repeatable screen that finds liquid stocks already moving in a clear direction. Here is the checklist.
Last updated October 12, 2026
See the Beginners Kit: $37The screening criteria that matter
Liquidity
Choose stocks that trade enough shares each day to enter and exit without moving the price. Thinly traded stocks have wide spreads and hard exits.
A clear trend
Look for higher highs and higher lows on the daily chart. Trading with the trend is usually easier than against it.
Relative strength
Compare the stock's performance with the broader market. Stocks that hold up in weak markets and lead in strong ones are often better candidates.
Volume behavior
Rising volume on up days and quiet volume on pullbacks suggests buyers are in control.
Build a watchlist
- Run your screen once a week.
- Keep a short list, around ten to twenty names.
- Set alerts at the price levels where you would act.
- Review the list each evening.
Check earnings dates first
A company's earnings report can move a stock sharply overnight, and a stop cannot protect you from a gap. Decide in your plan whether you hold through earnings. Many beginners prefer not to.
A checklist before you add a stock
- Enough daily volume?
- Clear trend on the daily chart?
- Identified support and resistance?
- Earnings date known?
- Stop and size calculated?
A sample screen you can adapt
These criteria are examples of the kind of filter swing traders use. Adjust them to your own plan.
| Filter | Example setting | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily volume | Above a few hundred thousand shares | Easier entries and exits |
| Price | Above a minimum you are comfortable with | Avoids very low-priced, volatile stocks |
| Trend | Price above its 50-day average | Trades with the trend |
| Relative strength | Outperforming the index over recent months | Favors leaders |
| Earnings | Not within your holding window | Avoids overnight gaps |
How to read the chart once a stock passes the screen
Mark the levels
Draw the recent highs, lows and any areas where the price paused before.
Look at how it has pulled back
Orderly pullbacks on lower volume are healthier than sharp drops on heavy volume.
Decide what would make you act
Write the exact trigger and stop before the stock gets there.
Using a trading journal to improve your screens
After a few weeks, review which screen criteria produced your better trades and which produced your worst. Drop the filters that did not help. A journal turns a screen from a guess into something you can improve.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find stocks to swing trade?
Use the free screeners in your broker or charting platform, filtered for volume, price trend and relative strength.
Should I swing trade penny stocks?
Most beginners avoid them because they are thinly traded, volatile and easy to get stuck in.
Related guides and comparisons
Want a plan you can follow at your own pace?
The Momentum & Growth Trading System is a one-time, self-paced swing trading course. Start with the $37 Beginners Kit, or get all three kits for $97.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Trading involves risk of loss, and no course can promise results.
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