Trading Tickers

Fact: There are roughly 3,600 publicly traded stocks in the U.S. That might not sound like a lot, but imagine this ... 

 

You’re ready to settle in for a great day of trading. The sun is shining through your window and the steam is rising from your latte. You’re ready for action.

 

But before you can make any moves, you have to answer one critical question: “What are my trading opportunities today?”

 

StockFetcher aims to help you answer that question ... but is it a screening and charting tool extraordinaire? Only if you don’t mind revisiting the ‘90s, learning to code, and dealing with a data delay.

Link: StockFetcher

What We Like and … Not So Much

What We Like

• Filter and screen stocks for free

• Affordable subscription options

• Countless combinations of filters and parameters

• Easy-to-read charts

• “Find Similar” option can help you find related stocks

• Chat with other traders on forums

• Overnight results can shape a better tomorrow

Not So Much

• Massive learning curve

• Outdated design

• Not for newbies

• Data isn’t in real time

Our Full Review

A day of trading means lots of research, scouring the markets for great opportunities. Now, if you were to look at every publicly traded stock, how long would that take?

 

Let’s say you give each of the more than 3,600 companies just one second of your time. That’s over an hour of research — and not very thorough research at that. Who the heck has time for that, right?

 

If you’re a day trader, access to a reliable stock screener is essential. It can seriously cut down your screening time and help you filter choices into a more manageable list.

 

StockFetcher aims to make that process easy through text-based filtering. Yes, it’s coding, but it’s also in plain English with plenty of examples. The site is a leader in simplicity. But while StockFetcher’s concept is simple, using it isn’t necessarily easy. And the interface isn’t exactly attractive.

 

Sure, a site doesn’t have to be pretty to provide value. It just needs to provide comprehensive, accessible information. So should you filter StockFetcher in or out? Let’s dig into the deets.

The Good

Lots of freebies: If you're looking for an affordable stock screener, StockFetcher’s a strong candidate. You can even use the basic tools for free — though results are limited.

 

The free version of StockFetcher can give you a feel for the filters before you commit. You can test out the filters and view five results, although results are from “one day ago,” according to the site. But it’s a chance to test out the goods before you throw down cash for a subscription.

 

Won’t break the bank: When it comes to paid subscriptions, StockFetcher’s prices can feel like you’re stepping back in time. The standard level is only $8.95 a month ($24.95 if paid quarterly), and the advanced option comes in at just $16.95 per month ($44.95 quarterly).

 

You probably pay more per month for Netflix or Hulu. And your favorite streaming service probably won’t help you become a more informed trader.

 

Subscribing also gives you access to more features. For example, you can save filters, receive daily filter emails, create watchlists, view all matches from the current date, and more. If you go for the advanced level, you get advanced filter support, ensuring you can run more complex filters.

 

Easy-to-read charts: This is one area where StockFetcher’s simplicity pays off: the charts. They’re uncluttered and simple to understand, with minimal color use to help viewing the information more intuitive.

 

Find more: Imagine that you find a stock with an attractive price pattern. You want to find more just like that, right? Enter StockFetcher’s “Find Similar” feature.

 

And if you want to mitigate risk, the “Find Similar” tool can focus on more than one industry. You can actually identify cross-sector stocks that seem to move together — now that’s compelling information.

 

You’re not alone: Whether you need help creating filters or simply want to chat about trading, the StockFetcher forums are a worthy stop. The community is pretty generous when it comes to sharing custom scans and screen filters, helping you reap more value from the site.

 

In fact, some regulars are highly skilled programmers. If you struggle with the text-based approach for filters, someone will likely happily step up and lend a hand.

 

Nightly scans: With a paid membership, you can create nightly scans and automatically send the results to your inbox. This feature can take a huge load off your morning research and alone can make paid subscriptions worthwhile.

The Bad

Be prepared to flub: One of StockFetcher’s biggest drawbacks is the learning curve. In the beginning — unless you’re already a coder — you’ll likely make mistakes when creating your stock screens. It’s practically guaranteed.

 

Working off a single indicator can be fairly easy, but more complex screens can be tricky. It’s a multistep process and can feel unwieldy. Practice definitely helps, but don’t be surprised if you want to bang your head on the desk at least once while you get the knack.

 

Flashback to the ‘90s: There’s absolutely nothing exciting about StockFetcher’s design. In fact, it’s so outdated you might think you’ve traveled back to the internet of the ‘90s or early aughts.

 

The site’s layout doesn’t do its functions justice. It’s like the site hasn’t seen hide nor hair of a developer for over a decade. True, looks aren’t everything, but StockFetcher is seriously lacking in that department. And design flaws come with drawbacks. 

 

Ultimately, site navigation feels clunky. Don’t expect to easily skim or categorize information: There are no headers, dropdowns, or other features to help you do that. Instead, it’s a lot of clicking links and scrolling. Many of the details look the same, so you have to pause to read more often than you would on nearly any other site.

 

You better know the lingo: While StockFetcher provides some terminology definitions, a beginner could easily become overwhelmed on the site. StockFetcher is probably better for more knowledgeable investors and traders.

The Ugly

Time lag: StockFetcher’s serious drawback is its lack of real-time quotes. Even if you pay, everything is subject to a delay.

 

According to the site, delay times are 15-20 minutes, depending on the market. For intraday traders, that may as well be a lifetime. 

 

Yes, this statement is posted on the site but not in the most obvious place. It’s not included in the disclaimer but instead is listed below the copyright information. It’s also below the results line in small print.

 

And on the subscription page, this caveat is at the bottom and as an asterisked note for the “View matches from current date” feature. At the end of the breakdown, under the pricing section, it’s noted: “Market data delayed at least 15-20 minutes during market hours.”

 

StockFetcher isn’t being dishonest — they’re disclosing important information. However, it’s incredibly subtle, and in trading, timing can be everything.

The Lowdown

Ultimately, StockFetcher is a great informational resource. The filtering options are truly useful, and with practice you can make them work for you. The pricing is reasonable, the community is helpful, and the nightly email option is worth its weight in gold.

 

Be prepared for the site’s dated design. It seems as though developers are ambivalent and the result is cumbersome, clunky navigation. But it’s possible to get past that given time.

 

There are free options, so if you have doubts, try before you buy. You can also sign up for a standard account for a month. And at less than $9 a month, it’s not a heavy burden on most pocketbooks.

 

 

https://daytradereview.com/stockfetcher-review/

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-have-all-the-public-companies-gone-1510869125