Presets and rules
Each preset is the exact CleverScan rule this page runs on the latest published daily session. S&P 500 stocks: Stocks on the S&P 500 reference list captured with the published dataset.
| Preset | What it selects | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tight 20-session range | The highest high of the last 20 sessions is at most 8% above the lowest low of those sessions, and the close is above SMA 50. Values come from the latest published daily session (regular trading hours); the rule is evaluated once per published session, not tick by tick. Rows are ordered by atr % (lowest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and ((1 + hi20FromLowPct / 100) / (1 + hi20FromHighPct / 100) <= 1.08 + 0.000000000001 and close > sma50) |
| Sideways 50-session range | The highest high of the last 50 sessions is at most 15% above the lowest low of those sessions: a multi-week sideways range. Rows are ordered by atr % (lowest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and ((1 + hi50FromLowPct / 100) / (1 + hi50FromHighPct / 100) <= 1.15 + 0.000000000001) |
| Tight near highs, light volume | A 20-session range of at most 10%, a close within 10% of the 52-week high, and volume below 80% of the 20-session average. Rows are ordered by rel. volume (lowest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and ((1 + hi20FromLowPct / 100) / (1 + hi20FromHighPct / 100) <= 1.1 + 0.000000000001 and hi52wFromHighPct >= -10 and volumeRatio < 0.8) |
| Tight range, RS ≥ 80 | A 20-session range of at most 8% and an RS Rating of at least 80. Rows are ordered by rs rating (highest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and ((1 + hi20FromLowPct / 100) / (1 + hi20FromHighPct / 100) <= 1.08 + 0.000000000001 and rsRating >= 80) |
| Pullback in an uptrend | In a long-term uptrend (close above SMA 200, SMA 50 above SMA 200), the close is 5–15% below the highest high of the last 20 sessions. Rows are ordered by vs 20-day high (highest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and (close > sma200 and sma50 > sma200 and hi20FromHighPct <= -5 and hi20FromHighPct >= -15) |
| Pullback on light volume | The uptrend pullback above, on a session with volume below 80% of the 20-session average. Rows are ordered by rel. volume (lowest first). | securityType = "Stock" and indexMembership contains "SP500" and (close > sma200 and sma50 > sma200 and hi20FromHighPct <= -5 and hi20FromHighPct >= -15 and volumeRatio < 0.8) |
What this screen measures
Consolidation describes a narrow high-to-low window, while a pullback describes a retreat within a longer trend. The default tight-20-session-range rule requires high divided by low to be at most 1.08 and the close to be above SMA 50. It reconstructs the window’s high divided by low from their distances to the close.
Read the rule with a worked example
A hypothetical 20-session high of 105 and low of 100 gives high ÷ low = 1.05, a 5% range relative to the low. A close of 102 is inside that range and passes its width condition; it must also exceed SMA 50 to pass the whole default rule. Separately, a stock 4% below a recent high can be a pullback even when its whole 20-session range is wide.
Choose the variant that matches the question
Sideways-50-session and tight-range presets measure consolidation. Uptrend-pullback rules add longer-term trend conditions and a retreat from a recent high. Quiet-volume and relative-strength qualifiers add context rather than changing those definitions.
Review the chart behind a match
Inspect whether price oscillates sideways or has a directional retreat. Mark the range edges and the preceding swing high before studying a possible exit. A pullback can become a reversal if the larger structure breaks.
Keep the interpretation within the rule
A narrow range does not identify a flag, wedge or triangle. A current price near an average does not by itself prove a pullback. Keep consolidation width, proximity and trend context as separate measurements.
Continue with
- How to screen for consolidations and pullbacksBuild a reproducible screen for consolidations and pullbacks: choose a universe, define field units and thresholds, compare presets and inspect the matching daily charts.
A screen lists stocks whose published values meet a rule. It is a starting point for research, not a recommendation. Read the data and methodology notes for how sessions and calculations are defined.