Unusual Volume Up Day
Volume 3x normal on a 2%+ up day.
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=u2volume/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 Up Day screen works
The Unusual Volume Up Day screen is a unusual volume setup: volume 3x normal on a 2%+ up day. 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 1,813 times on 445 different stocks. 52.1% of signals were higher five sessions later, ranking #16 of 25 screens on SetupHits by hit rate. The average 5-day move was +0.66% (median +0.24%), ahead of SPY's +0.37% over the same days, and the equal-weight trade curve's worst drawdown was -49.6%.
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 Up Day stock screener?
Volume 3x normal on a 2%+ up day. It is a unusual volume screen evaluated on daily closes for S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks.
What is the Unusual Volume Up Day backtest hit rate?
52.1% of 1,813 signals between 2021-10-13 and 2026-10-12 closed higher 5 trading days later, with an average 5-day move of +0.66% and a max drawdown of -49.6%.
How do I set up the Unusual Volume Up Day 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 Up Day 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.