Unusual Volume Selloff
Volume 3x normal on a 2%+ down day — capitulation candidates.
Exact criteria (as backtested)
| Universe | S&P 500 + Nasdaq 100 (current members) |
| Price | > $5 |
| 20d avg $ volume | > $5M |
| Relative volume | ≥ 3.0 |
| Daily change | ≤ −2% |
Backtest · 2021-10-13 → 2026-10-12
How we testEqual-weight trade curve (weekly, 1.0× = start). Each signal held 5 sessions; daily return = mean of open positions. No fees, slippage or taxes. Survivorship-biased universe. Not indicative of future results.
Copyable platform settings
Relative Volume ≥ 3, Change % ≤ -2sh_relvol_o3,ta_change=d2volume/Average(volume,20)[1]>=3 and close/close[1]-1<=-0.02Finviz strings are URL filter codes (append to finviz.com/screener.ashx?v=111&f=). ThinkorSwim strings are thinkScript scan conditions. Platform equivalents may differ slightly from the backtested definition; verify before use.
Most recent signals in backtest
How the Unusual Volume Selloff screen works
The Unusual Volume Selloff screen is a unusual volume setup: volume 3x normal on a 2%+ down day — capitulation candidates. A stock qualifies on a given day when every condition is true at the close: relative volume ≥ 3.0; daily change ≤ −2%. To keep results tradable, only S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 members above $5 with more than $5M of average daily dollar volume are included.
Across 518 tickers from 2021-10-13 to 2026-10-12, the screen fired 2,445 times on 493 different stocks. 52.8% of signals were higher five sessions later, ranking #11 of 25 screens on SetupHits by hit rate. The average 5-day move was +0.50% (median +0.29%), behind SPY's +0.56% over the same days, and the equal-weight trade curve's worst drawdown was -33.6%.
Setup is copy-paste: TradingView, Finviz, ThinkorSwim versions are listed above. In TradingView use the string in the Stock Screener filter or a Pine condition; in Finviz append the filter codes to the screener URL; in ThinkorSwim paste the thinkScript into a Stock Hacker custom study filter. Platforms compute indicators slightly differently, so expect small differences in the hit list.
Treat these numbers as context, not a forecast. The backtest uses daily bars, ignores commissions and slippage, overlaps signals on the same stock, and tests today's index members back in time, which adds survivorship bias. A mostly rising 2021–2026 market also lifted most long setups.
Full test rules: methodology. Compare every setup in our ranked list of stock screeners.
FAQ
What is the Unusual Volume Selloff stock screener?
Volume 3x normal on a 2%+ down day — capitulation candidates. It is a unusual volume screen evaluated on daily closes for S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks.
What is the Unusual Volume Selloff backtest hit rate?
52.8% of 2,445 signals between 2021-10-13 and 2026-10-12 closed higher 5 trading days later, with an average 5-day move of +0.50% and a max drawdown of -33.6%.
How do I set up the Unusual Volume Selloff screen in TradingView, Finviz or ThinkorSwim?
Copy the platform string on this page: TradingView, Finviz, ThinkorSwim settings are provided. Results can differ slightly because each platform calculates indicators its own way.
Is the Unusual Volume Selloff screen good for day trading?
It is an end-of-day screen measured over a 5-day hold, so it suits swing trading or building a next-day watchlist more than intraday entries. Past, simulated results do not predict future returns.