Best Finviz Stock Screeners For Day Traders [2025]

Finviz is a powerhouse for stock screening, offering a wealth of data and customizable filters. But for day traders, speed and precision are paramount. Sifting through the noise to find stocks with the right characteristics for quick, profitable trades is crucial. This article will break down the best Finviz stock screeners specifically tailored for day trading in 2025, helping you identify potential opportunities faster and more effectively.

Day trading demands a different approach than long-term investing. We're not looking for fundamentally sound companies to hold for years. Instead, we need stocks that are volatile, liquid, and exhibiting clear momentum. This means focusing on technical indicators, volume, and price action. The following screeners leverage Finviz's robust filtering capabilities to pinpoint these characteristics.

1. The Pre-Market Gapper Screener: Identifying Early Movers

Gaps – significant jumps in price between the previous day's close and the current day's open – often present excellent day trading opportunities. This screener helps you identify these gaps before the market even opens.

Finviz Filter Settings:

  • Exchange: Choose your preferred exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX).
  • Price: Set a minimum price (e.g., $5) to avoid penny stocks.
  • Volume: Minimum volume of 500,000 shares traded (or higher, depending on your risk tolerance) to ensure liquidity.
  • Gap Up: Set a minimum percentage gap (e.g., 2% or 3%). Experiment to find what works best for your strategy.
  • Pre-Market Volume: Filter for stocks with significant pre-market volume (e.g., over 100,000 shares) to confirm interest.

Why it works: This screener highlights stocks with unusual pre-market activity, signaling potential for a strong opening trend. Day traders can then analyze these stocks further to identify entry and exit points.

Tip: Combine this with news analysis. A gap up coupled with positive news can be a powerful indicator.

2. The Momentum Screener: Riding the Wave

Momentum stocks are those experiencing strong price increases or decreases. This screener focuses on identifying stocks with sustained momentum throughout the trading day.

Finviz Filter Settings:

  • Exchange: Choose your preferred exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX).
  • Price: Set a minimum price (e.g., $5).
  • Volume: Minimum volume of 500,000 shares traded (or higher).
  • Change: Filter for stocks with a significant percentage change (e.g., up or down 3% or more) on the day.
  • Relative Volume: Filter for stocks with a relative volume greater than 1.5 or 2. This indicates higher than average trading activity.
  • Technical – RSI (14): Look for stocks with an RSI (Relative Strength Index) above 70 (overbought) for upward momentum or below 30 (oversold) for downward momentum. Adjust the RSI levels based on market conditions.

Why it works: This screener identifies stocks already in motion, allowing day traders to capitalize on existing trends. The relative volume filter helps ensure that the momentum is supported by significant trading activity.

Tip: Use shorter timeframes (e.g., 5-minute or 15-minute charts) to confirm the momentum before entering a trade.

3. The Volatility Screener: Catching the Swings

Volatility is a day trader's best friend. This screener helps identify stocks with wide price swings, offering opportunities for quick profits.

Finviz Filter Settings:

  • Exchange: Choose your preferred exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX).
  • Price: Set a minimum price (e.g., $5).
  • Volume: Minimum volume of 500,000 shares traded (or higher).
  • ATR (Average True Range): Filter for stocks with a high ATR value (e.g., above $1 or $2). ATR measures the average range of a stock's price over a given period.
  • Volatility: Select "High" from the volatility dropdown.
  • Beta: Filter for stocks with a beta greater than 1. Beta measures a stock's volatility relative to the overall market.

Why it works: This screener focuses on stocks known for their price fluctuations. The ATR filter helps identify stocks with a history of wide price ranges, while the beta filter confirms their sensitivity to market movements.

Tip: Be cautious with highly volatile stocks. Use tight stop-loss orders to manage risk.

4. The News-Driven Screener: Trading on Catalysts

News events can trigger significant price movements. This screener helps you identify stocks reacting to recent news.

Finviz Filter Settings:

  • Exchange: Choose your preferred exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX).
  • Price: Set a minimum price (e.g., $5).
  • Volume: Minimum volume of 500,000 shares traded (or higher).
  • News: Filter for stocks with recent news headlines.
  • Change: Filter for stocks with a significant percentage change (e.g., up or down 2% or more) on the day.

Why it works: This screener combines news analysis with price action. It helps you identify stocks where news is driving significant price movements.

Tip: Quickly analyze the news to understand its potential impact on the stock. Positive news might lead to further gains, while negative news could trigger a sell-off.

5. The Float Screener: Targeting Supply and Demand Imbalances

The float refers to the number of shares available for public trading. Stocks with a low float can experience significant price swings due to supply and demand imbalances.

Finviz Filter Settings:

  • Exchange: Choose your preferred exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX).
  • Price: Set a minimum price (e.g., $5).
  • Volume: Minimum volume of 500,000 shares traded (or higher).
  • Float Short: Filter for stocks with a low float (e.g., under 20 million shares).
  • Short Ratio: Look for stocks with a high short ratio (e.g., above 10). This indicates a large number of shares being shorted, which can lead to a short squeeze if the price starts to rise.

Why it works: Low-float stocks are prone to volatile price movements. A high short ratio can amplify these movements, creating opportunities for quick profits.

Tip: Be aware of the risks associated with low-float stocks. They can be highly unpredictable.

Important Considerations for 2025 and Beyond

While these screeners provide a solid foundation, remember that market dynamics are constantly evolving. In 2025 and beyond, consider these factors:

  • AI and Algorithmic Trading: The increasing influence of AI and algorithmic trading may lead to faster and more erratic price movements. Adjust your strategies and risk management accordingly.
  • Increased Market Volatility: Geopolitical events, economic uncertainty, and other factors could lead to increased market volatility. Be prepared to adapt your screeners and trading strategies to these conditions.
  • Regulatory Changes: Keep abreast of any regulatory changes that could impact day trading.

Conclusion: Adapt and Thrive

Finviz offers a powerful suite of tools for day traders. By customizing these screeners to identify stocks with specific characteristics, you can significantly improve your chances of success. However, remember that no screener is foolproof. Always conduct thorough due diligence, manage your risk carefully, and adapt your strategies to the ever-changing market conditions. The key to thriving as a day trader in 2025 and beyond is continuous learning and adaptation. Use these Finviz screeners as a starting point, refine them based on your experience, and stay ahead of the curve. Good luck!