Finviz Stock Screener: Find Stock Prices Today (And So Much More)

Finding the right stocks to invest in can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With thousands of publicly traded companies, where do you even begin? That's where the Finviz stock screener comes in. This powerful, free tool allows you to filter stocks based on a huge range of criteria, helping you quickly identify potential investment opportunities that align with your specific strategies.

Finviz isn't just about finding stock prices today; it's about understanding the market, identifying trends, and making informed decisions. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just starting out, Finviz offers a wealth of information and tools to help you succeed.

This post will guide you through the basics of using the Finviz stock screener, highlighting its key features and demonstrating how you can leverage it to find the stock prices and investment opportunities you're looking for.

Understanding the Power of a Stock Screener

Before diving into Finviz specifically, let's quickly cover why stock screeners are so valuable. Imagine manually sifting through financial reports for every company listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ. It's simply not feasible. Stock screeners automate this process, allowing you to input specific criteria and instantly generate a list of companies that meet those requirements.

This saves you countless hours of research and allows you to focus on analyzing the companies that are most likely to fit your investment strategy. Whether you're looking for value stocks, growth stocks, dividend stocks, or something else entirely, a stock screener is an indispensable tool.

Getting Started with Finviz: A User-Friendly Interface

One of the best things about Finviz is its user-friendly interface. You don't need to be a tech whiz to navigate the site and start using the screener. Here's how to get started:

  1. Navigate to Finviz.com: Simply type "finviz.com" into your web browser.

  2. Find the Screener: Look for the "Screener" tab at the top of the page and click on it. This will take you to the main stock screener interface.

  3. Familiarize Yourself with the Tabs: The screener is organized into three main tabs:

    • Descriptive: This tab allows you to filter stocks based on basic information like market capitalization, sector, industry, and country.
    • Fundamental: This tab focuses on fundamental analysis, allowing you to filter stocks based on metrics like price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), earnings per share (EPS), dividend yield, and debt-to-equity ratio.
    • Technical: This tab is for technical analysis, allowing you to filter stocks based on indicators like moving averages, relative strength index (RSI), and volatility.

Using the Descriptive Tab: Basic Stock Filtering

The Descriptive tab is a great place to start when you're looking for stocks that meet basic criteria. Here are some examples of how you can use it:

  • Market Cap: If you're looking for large-cap stocks, you can set the market cap filter to "Large (Over $10 billion)." Conversely, if you prefer small-cap stocks, you can choose "Small (Under $2 billion)."
  • Sector and Industry: If you have a specific sector or industry in mind (e.g., technology, healthcare, energy), you can use these filters to narrow your search.
  • Country: If you're only interested in stocks listed on US exchanges, you can set the country filter to "USA."

Example: Let's say you want to find large-cap technology stocks listed in the USA. You would set the following filters:

  • Market Cap: Large (Over $10 billion)
  • Sector: Technology
  • Country: USA

Finviz will then display a list of companies that meet these criteria, along with their current stock prices and other relevant information.

Diving into Fundamentals: The Fundamental Tab

The Fundamental tab is where you can really start to refine your search based on financial metrics. Here are some key filters to consider:

  • P/E Ratio: The price-to-earnings ratio is a measure of a company's stock price relative to its earnings per share. A low P/E ratio may indicate that a stock is undervalued.
  • EPS Growth: Earnings per share (EPS) growth is a measure of how quickly a company's earnings are growing. High EPS growth can be a sign of a healthy and growing company.
  • Dividend Yield: The dividend yield is the percentage of a company's stock price that it pays out in dividends each year. If you're looking for income-generating stocks, you'll want to focus on companies with high dividend yields.
  • Debt/Equity Ratio: The debt-to-equity ratio measures a company's leverage. A high debt-to-equity ratio can indicate that a company is highly leveraged and may be at risk of financial distress.

Example: Let's say you're looking for value stocks with a low P/E ratio and a healthy dividend yield. You might set the following filters:

  • P/E Ratio: Under 15
  • Dividend Yield: Over 2%

This will narrow your search to companies that are potentially undervalued and offer a decent income stream.

Technical Analysis with Finviz: The Technical Tab

The Technical tab allows you to filter stocks based on technical indicators, which are mathematical calculations based on a stock's price and volume. Here are some common technical indicators you can use:

  • Moving Averages: Moving averages smooth out price data over a specific period of time. Common moving averages include the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI is a momentum indicator that measures the magnitude of recent price changes to evaluate overbought or oversold conditions in the price of a stock.
  • Volatility: Volatility measures how much a stock's price fluctuates over time. High volatility can indicate a higher risk but also a higher potential for reward.

Example: Let's say you're looking for stocks that are currently oversold, as indicated by the RSI. You might set the following filter:

  • RSI (14): Under 30

This will identify stocks that may be poised for a rebound.

Beyond the Screener: Other Useful Finviz Features

Finviz offers more than just the stock screener. Here are some other valuable features:

  • News: Finviz aggregates news articles from various sources, allowing you to stay up-to-date on the latest developments affecting the companies you're interested in.
  • Charts: Finviz provides interactive charts that allow you to visualize a stock's price history and technical indicators.
  • Maps: Finviz offers heatmaps that visually represent the performance of different sectors and industries.
  • Portfolio: You can create a virtual portfolio on Finviz to track the performance of your favorite stocks.

Tips for Effective Stock Screening

  • Start with a Clear Strategy: Before you start using the screener, define your investment goals and strategy. Are you looking for value stocks, growth stocks, or income stocks? Knowing your objectives will help you choose the right filters.
  • Don't Over-Filter: Be careful not to over-filter your search, as you may miss out on potential opportunities. Start with a few key filters and then gradually add more as needed.
  • Do Your Due Diligence: The stock screener is just a starting point. Once you've identified a list of potential candidates, it's important to do your own research and analysis before investing.
  • Experiment and Learn: Don't be afraid to experiment with different filters and see what results you get. The more you use the screener, the better you'll become at finding the stocks that are right for you.

Conclusion: Empowering Your Investment Decisions

The Finviz stock screener is a powerful and versatile tool that can help you find stock prices today and identify potential investment opportunities. By understanding its key features and learning how to use it effectively, you can save time, improve your research, and make more informed investment decisions. Remember to always do your own due diligence and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Happy screening!