Finding #1 Stocks: Screening, Backtesting, And Time-Proven Strategies

Practical trading tools and techniques developed by Zacks Investment Research

While there are many stock trading systems on the market today, that use a variety of different approaches and indicators, the approach used by Zacks Investment Research is built around the number one driver of stock prices: company earnings.

Based on Zacks Research Wizard product, this book provides you with market beating stock selection techniques and advice on how to build your own stock selection system. This practical guide discloses several trading methods that have outperformed the market for a long period of time and shows you how to screen stocks and develop selection criteria to build various types of stock portfolios, such as aggressive growth; growth and income; momentum; and value.

• Highlights several of Zacks trading methods that have outperformed the market for extended periods of time
• Discusses how to create customized systems incorporating elements of the Zacks approach with other types of fundamental and technical data
• Includes a 30-day free subscription to Zacks Research Wizard software

Written with the serious investor in mind, Stock Trading Methods and Systems Design will put you in a better position to excel in today's dynamic markets.

Kevin Matras is a vice president at Zacks Investment Research, where he is the fundamental stock screening and technical chart patterns expert. He heads the Research Wizard Division at Zacks, which focuses on stock screening and backtesting. Matras also runs the Chart Patterns Trader service, dedicated to chart pattern analysis, and the Options Trader service, which applies his stock-picking techniques through the use of options. He has been on television and quoted in magazines, and his stock-picking articles can be found on various financial sites. Matras can also be seen weekly on Zacks Roundtable Review videos along with his popular weekly video segments Screen of the Week and Know Your Options.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Chapter 1: The Importance of Screening and Backtesting.

Why Should I Use a Stock Screener?

Backtesting!

Chapter 2: Identifying What Kind of Trader You Are.

Question #1: What Kinds of Stocks Do You Want to Invest In?

Question #2: What Characteristics Do You Want Your Stocks to Have?

Question #3: What Do You Want Your Stocks to Do For You?

Chapter 3: Defining the Basic Trading Styles.

Momentum Style.

Aggressive Growth Style.

Value Style.

Growth and Income Style.

“All Style” Style.

Technical Analysis.

Winning in Style.

Chapter 4: Trading the Zacks Rank.

The Zacks Rank vs. the Market.

About Len Zacks.

Calculating the Zacks Rank.

What the Rankings Mean.

Four Factors of the Zacks Rank.

Chapter 5: Beyond the Zacks Rank.

Filtering the Zacks Rank.

How Many Stocks Are Right for You?

Chapter 6: How to Trade the Strategies.

Once a Month.

Once a Week.

Combining Holding Periods.

Chapter 7: Winning Momentum Strategies.

Big Money.

Earnings Acceleration.

Increasing Earnings.

New Highs.

Using New Highs for Sector and Industry Analysis.

Summary.

Chapter 8: Winning Aggressive Growth Strategies.

Small-Cap Growth.

All-Cap Growth.

Sizing Up the Markets.

Zacks Rank 5 or 4 to 1.

First Profit.

Summary.

Chapter 9: Winning Value Strategies.

Value and Spark.

R-Squared Growth.

ROE for Your ROI.

Cash Is King.

Price to Cash Flow.

Statistical Analysis of P/CF, P/E, P/S, P/B and PEG.

Combined Valuation Screen.

Summary.

Chapter 10: Winning Growth and Income Strategies.

Growth and Income Winners.

Growth and Income Method1.

Modifying Your Strategies.

Dividend Attraction.

Summary.

Chapter 11: Winning “All Style” Strategies (And Other Stuff That Works).

Finding Growth and Value Stocks the Right Way.

Sales and Margins.

Relative Price Strength.

Broker Rating Upgrades.

New Analyst Coverage.

Top Stocks, Top Industries.

Combining Two Great Ways for Identifying the Best Sectors and Industries.

Earnings Yield.

Calculating Price Targets.

Summary.

Chapter 12: Applying Technical Analysis.

Increasing Price and Volume.

TA and FA Winners.

3 Days Up, Price and Volume.

Moving Averages.

Summary.

Chapter 13: Identifying Chart Patterns.

Symmetrical Triangles.

Ascending Triangles.

Descending Triangles.

Flags and Pennants.

Rectangles.

Wedges.

Head and Shoulders.

Inverted Head and Shoulders.

Screening for Chart Patterns and Consolidation Areas.

The Pattern That Called the Market Top and Bottom in 2007 and 2009.

Summary.

Chapter 14: The Right Tools for the Job.

A Good Ranking System.

Screeners and Backtesters.

Research Wizard: A Complete Research Tool.

Chapter 15: Getting Started Screening and Backtesting.

Screening for Stocks.

Backtesting Your Screens.

Advanced Screening and Backtesting.

Summary.

Chapter 16: Short Selling Strategies for Bear Markets.

Toxic Stocks.

Decreasing Earnings Two Years Out.

Summary.

Chapter 17: Managing Risk and Cutting Losses.

Using Stop Losses.

Diversification and Portfolio Weighting.

Summary.

Chapter 18: Know Your Options.

The Option Is Yours.

Buying Calls and Puts.

Straddles and Strangles.

Spreads.

Covered Call Writing.

Uncovered Call Writing.

Put Option Writing.

Stock Screening for Options.

Summary.

Chapter 19: Investing in ETFs.

ETFs for Any Market and Any Direction.

Screening for the Right Sector and Industry ETFs.

Chapter 20: Putting It All Together.

Disclaimer.

Free Trials and Other Resources.

Index.