Learn how to quickly scan for the 20-30 strongest stocks in the market, how to add them to a charting watchlist so you can quickly flip through them for trading opportunities, and learn a strategy that’s highly visual so you can trade the same stocks for a couple weeks scanning through them in 5 minutes every day or two (or when you have time).

Whether you have loads of time, or only a bit of time each day (or every few days) to look for swing trades, this is a great process and trading method.

Here are the steps and resources for the swing trading watchlist and the strategy. The video shows all the steps below in detail.

1. The process starts with checking to make sure market conditions are good for either long or short trades. If conditions are good, we focus on long trades. If market conditions are bad we focus more on short trades or stay out of the market altogether. Market conditions are updated each weekend here: Weekly Swing Trading Stock Market Outlook.

2. We need a list of stocks to trade. Every couple of weeks I create a list of the strongest (and weakest) stocks. I keep the list to about 20-30 stocks so that it is easy and quick to scan through, even if I only have a few minutes. You can find my list, which is updated every couple of weeks, here: Best Swing Trading Stocks Watchlist

3. We load that list in TradingView, or whatever platform you use. On the Best Swing Trading Stocks Watchlist I include TXT and CVS files you can download and upload to your preferred platform for a ready-made watchlist.

4. Add the “Average True Range Stops” indicator on (or something similar on other charting platforms). This allows us to quickly flip through our watchlist and see if we have any entries or exits based on the indicator which is part of the TATR strategy…

5. The TATR strategy, and the indicator, are discussed here: Trend Trading Strategy for High Momentum Stocks (TATR)

Read the article to understand the strategy, but in basic terms, there is a potential entry opportunity if a stock on the list was below the ATR Stops line and then has a daily close above it. Exit on a daily close below the ATR line. Adjust as you desire.

Once the indicator is added to the watchlist, it only takes a couple of minutes to go through the 20-30 stocks (sometimes less, sometimes a bit more) and see if you need to take action. Ideally, this is done near the end of the day since the strategy is based on closing prices. Enter/exit near the close if it looks like the price will close above/below the ATR Stops. If entering, and an entry is missed, place an order at the closing price of the day that generated the trade signal (don’t chase the price). If an exit is missed, get out as soon as possible.

Watch the video above to see me go through a watchlist and explain everything as I go.

When you have positions, you will need to monitor those trades for the exit. If you can’t watch for your exit, then you may want to set a stop loss or make some other adjustment to how you exit trades.

I like having a tab on my computer with with little charts of all my current trades (and the indicator applied to them) so at a glance I can see if I need to close any trades (or likely will have to soon). Also, add stocks that may have a trigger soon. That way you are less likely to miss anything.

Remember to update your list every couple of weeks. There is no need to update it more often than that. Don’t make more work for yourself than required.

Refine as Needed

This is a great swing trading process and takes very little time to find and manage trades. But it may not work for everyone, for example, if you can’t enter to exit trades near the close of the day.

Refine the method to suit your needs.

Take what you like and leave the rest.

Final Word on Swing Trading with Limited Time

Time is in short supply for many of us, so we want to be efficient with it. There is no reason to endlessly scan through hundreds of charts with this TATR swing trading strategy. Find 20-30 of the strongest stocks and then go through those when you can to spot trading opportunities.

Monitor and review your trades. See what works and make refinements to your method over time.

By 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. This article has affiliate links.