Filtering Opportunities Without Chasing Noise
Purpose of This Page
This page explains what stock screeners are, how Indian investors should use them, and how to apply them practically without falling into data overload or false precision.
Stock screeners help you narrow down the market —
they do not tell you what to buy blindly.
What Is a Stock Screener?
A stock screener is a tool that filters stocks based on predefined criteria, such as:
- Market capitalization
- Revenue or profit growth
- Valuation ratios (P/E, P/B)
- Financial health (debt, ROE, ROCE)
- Price and volume behaviour
Instead of analysing 2,000+ stocks, a screener helps you focus on a manageable shortlist.
👉 Screeners are a starting point, not the final decision.
Who Should Use Stock Screeners
Useful for:
- Long-term investors looking for quality businesses
- Investors tracking sectors or themes
- DIY investors building watchlists
- Investors reviewing portfolios periodically
You may not need advanced screeners if:
- You invest passively via index funds only
- You follow pre-defined portfolios
- You are very early and still learning basics
👉 Even beginners can benefit from simple screens.
What Stock Screeners Are Good At
Screeners help you:
- Filter stocks objectively
- Avoid emotional stock selection
- Compare companies within a sector
- Identify financially weak businesses early
- Save time during analysis
They cannot:
- Predict future returns
- Replace business understanding
- Capture qualitative factors (management quality, governance)
Types of Stock Screeners
1️⃣ Fundamental Screeners
Used to filter stocks based on business and financial strength.
Common parameters:
- Revenue growth
- Profit growth
- ROE / ROCE
- Debt-to-equity
- Cash flows
👉 Best for long-term investors.
2️⃣ Technical Screeners
Used to filter stocks based on price behaviour.
Common parameters:
- Price above moving averages
- Volume breakouts
- RSI ranges
- Trend strength
👉 Best for timing and trend awareness.
3️⃣ Hybrid Screeners
Combine fundamentals + price behaviour.
Example:
- Profitable companies
- Low debt
- Trading above 200-day moving average
👉 Useful for disciplined investing.
Popular Stock Screener Platforms (India-Focused)
Below are commonly used platforms by Indian investors.
🔹 Screener.in
Best for:
- Fundamental analysis
What it does well:
- Clean financial data
- Custom fundamental filters
- India-focused metrics
Limitations:
- No price-based screening
- Requires interpretation
👉 Excellent for business quality filtering.
🔹 Tickertape
Best for:
- Beginner-friendly screening
What it does well:
- Simple filters
- Visual indicators
- Portfolio insights
Limitations:
- Advanced filters are paid
- Less customizable
👉 Good for first-time screener users.
🔹 TradingView Screeners
🔗 https://in.tradingview.com/screener/
Best for:
- Technical & hybrid screening
What it does well:
- Price-based filters
- Real-time screeners
- Custom strategies
Limitations:
- Fundamentals are limited
- Advanced features require paid plans
👉 Strong for trend and momentum screening.
🔹 NSE Website
Best for:
- Raw market data
What it does well:
- Sectoral and stock statistics
- Reliable official data
Limitations:
- No customizable screening
👉 Reference data source only.
Practical Screener Examples (Simple & Useful)
Example 1: Basic Quality Filter (Long-Term)
- Market cap > ₹5,000 Cr
- ROCE > 15%
- Debt-to-equity < 0.5
- Positive profit growth (5 years)
👉 Result: Shortlist of financially stable companies.
Example 2: Sector-Specific Screen
- Sector = Banking
- Net NPA < 2%
- ROE > 12%
👉 Helps compare banks objectively.
Example 3: Hybrid Discipline Screen
- Profitable company
- Debt-free
- Price above 200-DMA
👉 Helps avoid structurally weak stocks.
How to Use Screeners Correctly
A simple workflow:
1️⃣ Run a basic screener
2️⃣ Create a shortlist (10–20 stocks)
3️⃣ Study business model and numbers
4️⃣ Check valuation and risk
5️⃣ Add to watchlist, not portfolio immediately
👉 Screening ≠ investing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using too many filters
- Copying “popular” screens blindly
- Treating screener results as buy signals
- Ignoring business understanding
- Chasing recent performance
👉 A good screener reduces mistakes — it doesn’t remove thinking.
How Screeners Fit Into Your Investing Journey
Screeners work best when combined with:
- Fundamental analysis
- Basic chart awareness
- Risk management rules
- Patience and discipline
They are tools for process, not shortcuts.
Disclaimer
Samnidhi Insights does not recommend stocks or strategies.
All examples are for educational understanding only.
Next Steps
Explore related topics:
- Best Free Stock Screeners in India (Detailed Comparison)
- Financial Ratios Explained (ROE, ROCE, Debt)
- Sector Analysis Tools for Indian Markets