Is a stock scanner the same as a stock screener?

The terms are used interchangeably. Some traders use 'scanner' for intraday or frequently refreshed screens, but both apply rules to a list of stocks.

Are screener results live?

It depends on the tool. TradingLead's screener reads stored candles and returns a snapshot, not a live feed.

Does a screener tell me what to buy?

No. A screener only shows which stocks met your rules on the data it read. Further analysis and risk management are separate.

Glossary

What Is a Stock Screener?

A stock screener filters a list of stocks down to those that meet rules you set, such as closing above a moving average or RSI above 60. It works on historical or snapshot data for a chosen timeframe, and it produces a shortlist for research, not a trading signal or recommendation.

What it does

A stock screener applies rules to a list of stocks and keeps the ones that pass. Instead of opening hundreds of charts, you describe what you are looking for and get a shortlist to study. "Up more than 2% today", "volume twice its 20-day average" and "RSI above 60 and price above the 20-day moving average" are all screener rules.

How it works

A screener needs three inputs:

A universe: the stocks to check, such as a watchlist or an index's constituents.
Rules: conditions on fields like close, volume, returns or indicator values, combined with AND or OR.
A timeframe and date: which candles to read, for example daily bars as of the latest completed session. See timeframes.

The screener calculates each field for every stock, tests the rules and returns the matches, often with the values that made them match. Good screeners also report stocks they could not evaluate, so missing data is not mistaken for a "no".

Key capabilities

Common screen types include:

Movers: top gainers or losers against the previous close
Volume: unusual volume against a recent average
Range: new 52-week highs or lows
Indicator: RSI thresholds, price vs EMA or SMA
Combined: several conditions in AND/OR groups

How to use

In TradingLead, the stock screener sits in the Scan sidebar of the chart workspace. Pick a watchlist, choose a preset or custom conditions, select a timeframe and press Scan. The screener guide walks through an example.

Limitations

A screen is only as good as its data. Unadjusted splits and bonuses can distort returns and 52-week values.
Snapshot screens can miss intraday moves that happened after the data was stored.
Matching a rule is not evidence that the rule is profitable. Test ideas with backtesting first.

FAQ

Is a screener a backtest? No. A screener filters stocks at one point in time; a backtest simulates rules over history.

Frequently asked questions

Is a stock scanner the same as a stock screener?: The terms are used interchangeably. Some traders use 'scanner' for intraday or frequently refreshed screens, but both apply rules to a list of stocks.
Are screener results live?: It depends on the tool. TradingLead's screener reads stored candles and returns a snapshot, not a live feed.
Does a screener tell me what to buy?: No. A screener only shows which stocks met your rules on the data it read. Further analysis and risk management are separate.

Last updated: 5 November 2026