These are the best swing trading stocks based on strong recent movement, either up or down, for buying or shorting respectively.
The Best Swing Trading Stocks List was updated on August 28, 2024. The list is updated near the beginning and middle of the month.
These are the best stocks for swing trading based on two different scanning methods.
- US and Canadian stocks showing high relative strength compared to the S&P 500.
- US and Canadian stocks that are WEAK and dropping, potentially better for shorting.
The stocks discussed often provide ample swing trading opportunities throughout the month.
These lists are focused on stocks that move a lot and have strong recent trends.
If you’re looking for a way to trade these types of stocks, consider the Trend Trading Strategy for High Momentum Stocks.
I only take long trades when conditions are good and Market Health Indicators are favorable. I take short trades when the Market Health Indicators are weak. Wait for overall conditions that complement the direction you are swing trading in.
Current Conditions: The Swing Trading Stock Market Outlook is updated each week with overall market health conditions.
Best Swing Trading Stocks List – High Relative Strength
Here is the current Best Swing Trading Stocks list based on a strong UPTREND in recent months. There are 25 stocks on the list.
GDS
UPST
YOU
CRDO
CNK
RUN
CLBT
AHR
VFC
LTH
ZETA
VNO
PLTR
FTAI
CAVA
Z
CVNA
RKT
IRM
LNTH
GFL
SHC
INFY
RBLX
So you can always see updated charts, I have uploaded the ticker symbols to a list on Finviz. You can save the list, sort it, and filter it further if you wish.
Here is the CSV file of the stocks, good for uploading into other programs. Here is the downloadable TXT (right click – Save Link As) document which you can upload to a watchlist on TradingView and quickly scan through them on there (with the ATR Stops indicator if you are using that strategy).
TXT and CSV files are sorted with the strongest stocks (3 month) at the top of the list.
Note: Finviz draws its own lines on the charts in some of the views. Those are not my lines or analysis. Always do your own analysis and don’t rely on their automated trendlines etc.
The stocks are selected based on strong recent relative performance to the S&P 500. If I’m going to buy something I want it to have some “oomph” behind it.
They also have:
- Daily average volume above 1 million shares
- A price above $5
- Trading above key moving averages
Even one good trade a week (when overall market conditions are good!) from the list is more than enough to make a great return over the course of a year assuming a solid reward:risk on the trade.
For stocks that tend to “run” quickly, an aggressive trailing stop loss can also be an effective exit method.
The Best Performing Stocks and Best Performing ETFs lists may also provide some additional trade candidates.
Best Swing Trading Stocks List – Stocks That Are WEAK
This list is focused on stocks that are very weak, for people that wish to take short trades. I don’t generally short stocks when the indices are moving up strongly. Yet it’s handy to have a list of potential short trades if things get ugly.
Only short if you know what you’re doing. Heavily shorted stocks can rise quickly if the short sellers get spooked.
Here is the current Best Swing Trading Stocks List based on a strong DOWNTREND in recent months. There are 19 stocks on the list.
WOLF
DJT
SYM
BZ
MBLY
WBA
ALAB
LSCC
AMCX
PLAY
BYON
INTC
FIVN
PATH
CSIQ
EYE
IART
RIOT
IRBT
Here is the list loaded into Finviz so you can sort it yourself and see the updated charts.
Here is the Weak Stocks CSV file, and here is the Weak Stocks TXT file (right-click – Save Link As).
The CSV and TXT files are sorted with the weakest stocks (3 month) at the top of the list.
The stocks are selected based on weak recent relative performance to the S&P 500. If I’m going to short something, I want it to be licking dirt already. I don’t like shorting high-flyers. The easier money tends to be in shorting stocks that are already weak, break lower, and drop hard for a few days. Most of these stocks are in longer-term downtrends.
They also have:
- Daily average volume above 1 million shares
- A price above $5
- Trading below key moving averages
How to Upload the Best Swing Trading Stocks List to TradingView
This video shows how to download the current Best Swing Trading Stocks Lists above, and then upload them to TradingView so you can do your own analysis on your own charts.
Here is a quick version of the steps:
1. Open your watchlists on TradingView in the upper right corner.
2. Click on the drop-down menu where it states the watchlist name.
3. Click Import List.
4. Select your .txt file.
5. If you add updated watchlists regularly, then delete the outdated ones when you add a new one. Click the X next to the title of a watchlist to remove it.
6. Click on the top stock in the list. Then, use your down arrow to quickly scan through all the stocks on the list looking for setups that match the strategy you’re using.
Some Guidelines on Swing Trading Stocks
As mentioned at the top, how you swing trade these is up to you.
If you are interested in swing trading and want guidance, check out the Complete Method Stock Swing Trading Course.
When the market indices (like S&P 500) are rising I prefer to focus on strong stocks. When the market indices are falling, sit out or consider shorting the weak stocks.
To control risk, manage the position size relative to the stop loss that’s being used. A stop loss is an order that gets us out of a trade if the price doesn’t move as expected.
Consider what order types you will use. I generally use a stop limit order to enter my positions. The Stop portion (not to be confused with a stop loss) gets me in as the price is moving in the direction I want, and the Limit portion of the order controls the price I pay.
I don’t hold swing trades through earnings announcements. I feel it’s too risky because we don’t know how the stock will react. There are ways to take advantage of the movement that comes after the earnings announcement…those methods are discussed in Earnings Drift Trading Strategy.
Hope this helps you out. And if you have ideas that would make for a good swing trading stock list, and you want to see it updated monthly on this page, leave your suggestion in the comments.
The Passive Stock Investing Using ETFs eBook shows how to invest using a buy-and-hold strategy to compound money in the background—in good market conditions and bad—with little effort.
You’re already swing trading or day trading, BUT DO THIS ALSO! Build that nest egg.
Cory Mitchell, CMT
Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is personal investment advice, or advice to buy or sell anything. Trading is risky and can result in substantial losses, even more than deposited if using leverage. Affiliate links are used on the site.
Historic Lists
Below are prior lists. These can be useful for backtesting as they show stocks on the lists at various times in history.
What these lists don’t show is the market conditions at the time. You see the market conditions that were in effect for the month by pulling up an S&P 500 chart and applying the Market Health Indicators.
August 2, 2024 – Strong & Weak
July 1, 2024 – Strong & Weak
June 16, 2024 – Strong & Weak
May 14, 2024 – Strong & Weak
April 30, 2024 – Strong & Weak
March 19, 2024 – Strong & Weak
Feb. 29, 2024 – Strong & Weak
Feb. 15, 2024 – Strong & Weak
Feb. 2, 2024 – Strong & Weak
January 16, 2024 – Strong & Weak
Dec. 31, 2023 – Strong & Weak
Dec. 17, 2023 – Strong & Weak
October 17, 2023 – Strong & Weak
Sept 27, 2023 – Strong & Weak
Sept. 12, 2023 – Strong & Weak
April 13, 2023 – Strong & Weak
March 21, 2023 – Strong & Weak
February 14, 2023 – Strong & Weak
January 31, 2023 – Strong & Weak
January 20, 2023 – Strong & Weak
December 29, 2022 – Strong & Weak
November 15, 2022 – Strong & Weak
November 1, 2022 – Strong & Weak
October 21, 2022 – Strong & Weak
October 3, 2022 – Strong & Weak
September 2022 – Strong & Weak
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