Methodology

We believe a markets tool should show its work. Here is exactly how TickerAtlas reads structure and ranks setups — and, just as importantly, what it does not claim.

1. Swings & market structure

On each timeframe we detect significant swing highs and lows (a ZigZag-style method on candle bodies, filtered for noise). From the sequence of swings we classify the trend as bullish (higher highs & higher lows), bearish (lower highs & lower lows), or neutral.

2. Top-down bias (weekly → daily → 4H)

We compute structure on the weekly, daily and 4-hour timeframes and combine them by majority rule: if at least two of three agree, that becomes the ticker’s directional bias. Entries are only sought in the direction of that higher-timeframe bias.

3. Areas of interest (zones)

Within the most recent impulse leg we cluster the price levels where the market has repeatedly reacted — bounced, rejected, or flipped support/resistance — into zones, using an ATR-based band so the tolerance adapts to each stock’s volatility. Zones are ranked by how many distinct reactions they hold; the strongest are the areas of interest.

4. The status ladder

Every candidate carries one status reflecting how developed the setup is:

• Watching — bias is set and an aligned zone exists; price is approaching it.
• At zone — price has entered a top-strength, bias-aligned zone.
• Confirming — a reversal candle has printed at the zone.
• Triggered — a fresh lower-timeframe structure shift confirms the entry.

A confluence score (zone strength + moving-average and Fibonacci confluence + candle quality) ranks candidates within a status.

5. The historical screener (point-in-time)

The screener evaluates fundamental and technical criteria as of a chosen date. To avoid look-ahead bias, fundamentals are filtered to only the statements that had actually been filed by that date. (See limitations below for the remaining caveats.)

Limitations — read this

• Delayed data. Prices are typically ~15 minutes delayed; the tool is built for swing/position analysis, not intraday execution.
• Restatement. Historical fundamentals reflect the latest figures a provider serves, which may include later restatements of the original filing.
• Universe & survivorship. Coverage is currently large-cap (S&P 500). Historical screens over a current member list can carry survivorship bias; broader point-in-time membership is in progress.
• Not advice. Everything here is probabilistic and informational, never a recommendation. See our Disclaimer.