Argus - Real-Time Stock Momentum Scanner

What is Momentum Trading?

Momentum trading is a strategy where traders observe stocks that are experiencing significant price movement in one direction. The concept involves monitoring trends in the market, though outcomes are never guaranteed and all trading carries risk. This educational overview is for informational purposes only.

How Momentum Trading Generally Works

Momentum traders typically observe stocks moving significantly on high volume. The strategy involves monitoring price movements and market trends. Common components that traders may consider include:

• Trend Observation: Monitoring stocks moving in one direction.
• Price Action Monitoring: Observing actual price movements.
• Market Timing Attempts: Traders make their own decisions on position timing.

Commonly Cited Characteristics of Momentum Trading

• Volatility: High volatility with potential for both gains and losses.
• Short Term Focus: Often involves shorter holding periods.
• Technical Analysis: Frequently uses technical indicators and trading scanners.

Risks of Momentum Trading

• Substantial Loss Risk: Rapid reversals can lead to significant losses.
• High Complexity: Requires extensive market knowledge and experience.
• No Guaranteed Outcomes: Past momentum does not predict future performance.

What is a Stock Scanner for Momentum Trading?

A stock scanner is a data aggregation tool that displays information about momentum stocks experiencing price movements in the market. These tools compile market data and present it according to specified parameters, providing information only without recommendations or advice.

Functions of a Trading Scanner

• Data Aggregation: Collects price and volume information from markets.
• Parameter Filtering: Displays data based on user selected criteria.
• Information Display: Presents market data in organized formats.
• Multi Session Data: Shows information from premarket, regular, and after hours trading.
• Alert Systems: Notifies when certain parameters are met (informational only).

What Stock Scanners Do and Don't Do

Stock scanners display market data about top momentum stocks today and price movements. They DO NOT:

• Predict future price movements
• Recommend specific trades
• Guarantee profitable outcomes
• Provide investment advice

Argus Stock Scanner: Find Stocks Moving Now

Argus is StockTitan’s stock momentum scanner for finding momentum stocks, rapid price moves and unusual trading volume across US-listed stocks. You can follow premarket, regular and after-hours activity and read recent company news or eligible SEC filings beside an alert when available. Delivery speed depends on your membership.

Argus exists because of an attention problem. Thousands of US-listed stocks trade at once, something is always moving, and no person can watch it all. Argus does the watching and reduces each session to a short feed of alerts on significant movements, each shown with the stock's recent news when there is any, so users can see what is moving, and the possible context, without monitoring the entire market themselves.

Follow Price Moves and Unusual Volume

We built Argus to bring price and volume alerts into one feed, with a strategy label on each row so you can see which condition produced the alert.

New High / New Low tracks moves of at least 4% from the displayed reference close and further moves beyond prices already alerted in that direction. Rapid Move and Volume Spike run independently, so a stock can appear in the feed without meeting the 4% rule.

The three strategies use different price, volume and history checks. The next section explains their conditions and the numbers you see beside them.

If you are trying to find which stocks are moving today, you can read the alert feed as events arrive or use the ranked gainers and losers lists to compare percentage moves.

Key Features of Argus Stock Scanner

• Real Time Market Monitoring: Scans for extending price moves, rapid moves and unusual volume; delivery delay depends on membership.
• Directional Tracking: New High / New Low alerts track moves beyond earlier alerted prices in the same direction.
• News Integration: Correlates price movements with relevant news articles.
• Complete Session Coverage: Monitors top premarket gainers, regular hours, and after hour market movers.
• Custom Parameters: Users can set their own display preferences.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor daily top gainers and losers across markets.
• Alert Details: Read the strategy, price change and volume beside each stock.

What Argus Provides

• Market Information: Raw data about price movements and top momentum stocks today.
• Time Efficiency: Automated scanning saves time versus manual monitoring.
• News Context: Links to publicly available news for informational context.
• Data Organization: Structured display of market information.

The Three Argus Strategies

Every alert in the feed carries a Strategy badge naming the rule that produced it. New High / New Low uses the displayed reference close, Rapid Move uses a short price window, and Volume Spike compares trading activity with the stock’s own history. Each strategy applies liquidity and repeat-alert checks as well as its main condition. The same stock can appear under more than one strategy on the same day.

All three are shown by default. In the Filters panel, under Strategy, you can switch any of them off so the feed shows only the kind of movement you want to follow.

New High / New Low

This rule measures a stock’s move from the displayed reference close: the previous trading day’s close in premarket and regular hours, and today’s regular-session close in after-hours.

• What sets it off: a move of at least 4% above or below the reference close, subject to liquidity checks. Further alerts require progress beyond the price already alerted in that direction and must pass the repeat-alert checks.
• What it describes: an extending move measured against earlier alerted prices. The label does not certify the highest or lowest trade of the entire day.
• Where the number is: the Change column, measured from the reference close for the active session.
• How the badge reads: New High with an up arrow, or New Low with a down arrow.

Rapid Move

This rule ignores how big the day's move is and looks only at how quickly the price is travelling right now, over a window of about the last five minutes.

• What sets it off: the price moved at least 5% within roughly five minutes and passed the strategy’s liquidity and repeat-alert checks. A window measured between observed prices needs at least $5,000 of estimated traded value. When a window starts from an eligible close reference, the liquidity check instead requires at least 50,000 shares traded that day.
• What it describes: speed rather than size. A stock can trigger Rapid Move while its move for the day is still small, because the five minutes are measured on their own; equally, a stock can be up 30% on the day and never trigger it, because it climbed gradually.
• Where the number is: the 5-minute change column, which shows the move over that window.
• How the badge reads: Rapid Move with an up or down arrow, since the burst can go either way.

Volume Spike

This rule watches trading activity instead of price. Volume alone says nothing about direction, so it is the one strategy whose badge carries no arrow.

• What sets it off: the stock is trading far more shares than it usually does. Argus compares the last few minutes of trading against how much this same stock normally trades at that same time of day, so a busy market open does not count as unusual by itself. When a stock has too little history for that comparison, Argus falls back to a simpler test and looks for a day's volume above roughly three times its 20-day average.
• What it describes: an increase in shares traded. Volume does not reveal how many different people traded, and it can rise while the price moves up, down or barely changes.
• Where the number is: the volume columns provide context. The usual Volume Spike test uses a statistical comparison with historical five-minute windows at the same time of day; it is a separate calculation from the displayed relative-volume ratios below.
• How the badge reads: Volume Spike, with no direction arrow.

The Three Strategies at a Glance

Seeing More Than One Strategy on the Same Stock

The three rules are evaluated independently, so the same stock can produce different badges within minutes. A stock that gaps overnight on an earnings release often triggers New High and Rapid Move together, because the same jump is both a fresh high and a fast move. A stock that trades heavily while going nowhere may produce Volume Spike alone. None of these combinations is scored, ranked, or rated by Argus, and no combination is presented as better or more reliable than another; the badge exists so you can tell which rule put the row in front of you.

What a Strategy Label Does Not Mean

A strategy badge is a description of a condition that was met at a specific moment, nothing more. In particular:

• It provides market information only. It does not recommend buying, selling or holding a security, or provide investment advice.
• It does not predict what the stock will do next. A New High alert says a new high happened, not that another one is coming.
• It does not confirm that a news story caused the move. Any news or filings shown beside a row are supplied as context and are matched automatically.
• It does not measure quality, strength, or opportunity. A larger move or a heavier volume spike is not evidence of a better outcome.
• Fast moves and unusual volume are commonly associated with higher volatility, and volatility carries the risk of significant loss.

Verify anything that matters through the linked original sources, and read this section together with the risk disclosure at the bottom of this page.

Unusual Volume and Relative Volume Scanner Alerts

The Volume Spike strategy finds unusual trading activity. The displayed volume ratios help you compare stocks, but a ratio alone does not determine whether that strategy fires.

• Volume: shares traded so far today, including the extended sessions. The dollar display values those shares at the current price.
• RVol (M): today’s cumulative shares divided by the median cumulative volume at the same Eastern Time minute over the 20-session profile. When that baseline is unavailable, Argus uses the 20-day average full-day volume.
• RVol (W): the same comparison using the 5-session profile, with the 5-day average full-day volume as its fallback.
• 5m RVol: normally, shares traded in the measured five-minute window divided by the 20-day average daily volume divided by 78. The denominator represents an average five minutes of a 390-minute regular session and has no time-of-day adjustment. On a Volume Spike row produced by the time-of-day test, this cell instead shows the alert window’s volume divided by its historical same-time median; the cell’s tooltip also gives the z-score used by that test.
• 5m Traded $: the window’s shares valued at the current price. This is an estimate of traded value, rather than the sum of each individual trade’s value.

Argus vs. Traditional Trading Scanners

Premarket, Regular and After-Hours Stock Scanner

Argus covers eligible US-listed stocks across market-cap sizes, including small-cap and low-float stocks. The scanner follows each trading session at the times below.

Premarket Trading (4:00 AM - 9:30 AM ET)

The scanner begins displaying top premarket gainers and decliners at 4:00 AM ET. Information shown includes:

• Early price movements before regular market open
• Stocks reacting to overnight news and earnings
• Gap information from previous close
• Volume data when available in premarket

Regular Trading Hours (9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET)

During regular hours, Argus displays top momentum stocks today with full market data:

• Real time or delayed price data (based on membership)
• New High / New Low alerts as qualifying moves extend
• Rapid Move and Volume Spike alerts under their own rules
• Volume information and related news

After Hours Trading (4:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET)

The scanner tracks after hour market movers including:

• Post market price movements
• Stocks reacting to after hours earnings releases
• Continuation of regular session trends
• Extended trading volume when available

Who Uses Stock Scanners?

Various market participants use trading scanners to stay informed about market movements. Here are common user categories and how they utilize scanner data:

Active Market Participants

Those actively engaged in markets use scanners to:

• Monitor momentum stocks throughout the day
• Track multiple securities simultaneously
• Identify top gainers premarket and during regular hours
• Access correlated news information

Market Researchers & Analysts

Researchers utilize scanner data for:

• Analyzing price movement patterns
• Studying news impact on stock prices
• Tracking after hour market movers for next day analysis
• Understanding market session dynamics

Educational Users

Those learning about markets use scanners to:

• Understand how stocks move during different sessions
• Learn to identify top momentum stocks today
• Study the relationship between news and price
• Observe market mechanics in real time

Part Time Market Watchers

Busy individuals who can't monitor markets continuously use scanners to:

• Quickly review daily market movements
• Stay informed about significant price changes
• Catch up on market activity efficiently

Membership Options

Argus offers different data access levels to suit various needs. Data speed and features do not predict trading outcomes.

Free Access

Start with basic market monitoring capabilities:

• 15 minute delayed market data
• Track momentum stocks with delayed updates
• Basic tracking of top premarket gainers
• Standard news correlation
• Daily summary of top momentum stocks today
• Limited alert frequency

Silver Membership

Mid-tier access for regular market watchers:

• 1 minute delayed market data
• Faster updates than free tier
• Track momentum stocks with minimal delay
• Enhanced tracking of top premarket gainers
• Standard news correlation
• Improved alert frequency

Gold & Platinum Membership

Premium data access for active traders:

• Real time data feed across all sessions (no delay)
• Instant alerts for after hour market movers
• Maximum update frequency
• Advanced filter and sort options
• Recent news and eligible SEC filing context
• Ad free interface
• Premium support

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does Argus track?

Argus scans eligible US-listed stocks for three independent conditions: New High / New Low, Rapid Move and Volume Spike. The 4% threshold applies to New High / New Low only. Rapid Move looks for a move of at least 5% within roughly five minutes, and Volume Spike looks for unusual trading activity against the stock’s own history. Each strategy also applies liquidity and repeat-alert checks.

How does Argus calculate the percentage change?

The Change column uses the previous trading day’s close during premarket and regular hours. In after-hours it uses today’s regular-session close, so the percentage can change at 4:00 PM ET even if the price does not. New High / New Low uses this reference for its 4% threshold. The five-minute change uses its own short-window reference.

What are momentum stocks?

In market terminology, momentum stocks refers to securities experiencing significant price movement with above average volume. These are stocks showing strong directional movement, either up or down.

When can I see premarket gainers?

Argus begins displaying top premarket gainers data at 4:00 AM ET when premarket trading opens. This data continues updating until regular market hours begin at 9:30 AM ET.

Does Argus cover after hours trading?

Yes, Argus tracks after hour market movers from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, displaying stocks that continue moving after regular market close.

How are "new highs" and "new lows" determined?

New High / New Low requires a move of at least 4% from the active reference close and progress beyond the price already alerted in that direction, subject to liquidity and repeat-alert checks. Those alerted prices carry across session boundaries until the new trading day, while the session alert count resets. They are earlier alerted prices; the label does not certify the highest or lowest trade of the entire day.

Why did a stock's first alert appear later than the move I saw on the chart?

Check the Strategy badge and your membership’s data delay first. New High / New Low requires progress beyond an earlier alerted price, while Rapid Move and Volume Spike have their own window, history and liquidity checks. A move visible on a chart can fail those checks, and repeat-alert controls can prevent another row while the same burst continues.

How are stocks ordered in Argus?

The Top Gainers and Top Losers lists are ordered purely by the size of the percentage move. The live alert feed is ordered by time, with the newest alert at the top. Filters change which stocks qualify to appear, but they do not re-rank the list.

What's the difference between membership tiers?

Gold/Platinum members receive real-time data updates with no delay. Silver members see data with 1 minute delay. Free members see data with 15 minute delay. Higher tiers also offer more frequent alerts, additional filtering options, and ad-free experience.

Can Argus predict which stocks will move?

No. Argus displays current and historical data only. It does not predict future movements or provide trading recommendations.

How the Argus Scanner Functions

The Scanning Process

Argus operates through automated data collection and display:

• Continuous Monitoring: System receives price data from market sources
• Strategy Evaluation: Checks New High / New Low, Rapid Move and Volume Spike independently
• Alert Checks: Applies each strategy’s reference, liquidity and repeat-alert conditions
• News Matching: Automated correlation with publicly available news
• Data Display: Information presented in organized interface

Understanding the Alert System

When viewing top momentum stocks today, the alert system works as follows:

• The Strategy badge identifies the condition behind each alert
• The 4% threshold belongs to New High / New Low
• Rapid Move and Volume Spike can fire independently of that threshold
• Repeat-alert checks limit repeated reports of the same move or volume burst
• News links provide context when available

Data Sources and Timing

• Premarket Data: Begins at 4:00 AM ET for top gainers premarket
• Regular Hours: Full market data from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET
• After Hours: Extended session data until 8:00 PM ET
• News Sources: Aggregated from publicly available financial news

Understanding the Information Display

Argus presents market data in an organized format. Each entry includes:

• Ticker Symbol: Stock identification code
• Alert Count: Number of alerts recorded in the current session and today
• Price Information: Current price and percentage change, measured from the previous day's close during premarket and regular hours, and from today's close in after-hours
• Volume Data: Number of shares traded
• News Links: Related articles when available

Interpreting Alert Patterns

Understanding what different alert patterns may indicate:

• Single Alert: A stock met the conditions of the named strategy
• Multiple Alerts (Gainer): Check the badges to distinguish extending highs from rapid upward moves
• Multiple Alerts (Loser): Check the badges to distinguish extending lows from rapid downward moves
• High Alert Frequency: Several qualifying events; frequency alone does not predict the next move
• News Present: Potential catalyst for movement

Data Accuracy and Limitations

Understanding data limitations helps set appropriate expectations:

Data Timing by Membership

• Free Access: 15 minute delay
• Silver Access: 1 minute delay
• Gold/Platinum Access: Real time data feed (no delay, minimal system latency)

Important Data Considerations

• All market data may contain errors or omissions
• Automated news matching can miss relevant disclosures
• Extended hours data may have limited accuracy due to lower liquidity
• System outages or delays can affect data delivery
• Historical data shown is not predictive of future movements

Best Practices for Data Use

• Verify important information through multiple sources
• Understand that displayed data is for informational purposes only
• Be aware that real time claims refer to delivery speed, not guaranteed accuracy
• Consider extended hours data as potentially less reliable