Read the legend, then look inside the groups. One color cannot tell the whole story.
Start with the legend and date
A heatmap uses color to summarize a measure across many items. Read the legend to identify the performance scale and check the session date. Avoid comparing colors across two views until you know they use the same period and scale.
Look for broad and mixed areas
Notice whether a sector is mostly moving together or contains a mix of positive and negative changes. A group can appear strong because of a few influential names. The map helps you locate an area to inspect, but the constituent detail is needed to explain it.
Open a sector
Use the sector detail to examine the covered companies. Review the actual values behind the colors and compare individual stocks with the group. Keep missing coverage in mind: a visual overview represents the data available to it, not necessarily the entire market.
Choose the next view
Open a chart to inspect one stock, sector analysis to compare groups, or the screener to define a shortlist. Write down the question that came from the map. This makes the next step more focused than browsing the strongest color without context.
Read our data and methodology notes for coverage and calculation context. This guide explains research tools and observations. It does not recommend a trade or investment.