Scan 5,000+ stocks daily against Minervini's 8-point Stage 2 trend template. Price above stacked MAs, near 52-week highs, strong RS. Each setup graded A+ to B.
Run this scan →Mark Minervini's Trend Template defines the eight specific criteria that a stock must meet to be in a confirmed Stage 2 uptrend — the phase of a stock's lifecycle where the most explosive gains occur. Minervini developed this template through decades of professional trading, including his 1997 U.S. Investing Championship victory with a 155% return, and refined it into a systematic, repeatable screening process.
The eight criteria work as a filter that ensures a stock has the right technical posture for a momentum trade. Price must be above the 50-day, 150-day, and 200-day moving averages. The 150-day must be above the 200-day. The 200-day must be trending up for at least one month. Price must be at least 25% above the 52-week low and within 25% of the 52-week high. And relative strength must rank in the upper tier compared to the market.
What makes the Trend Template powerful is not any single criterion — it is the combination of all eight. Each criterion alone would produce many false positives. But when all eight align simultaneously, they define a stock in a confirmed uptrend with institutional sponsorship, strong momentum, and the technical structure to support further advances. Stocks that meet all eight criteria are the launch candidates for Minervini's specific entry patterns like the VCP.
Developed by Mark Minervini and published in Trade Like a Stock Market Wizard (2013) and Think & Trade Like a Champion (2017). Minervini won the U.S. Investing Championship in 1997 with a 155% return and again in 2021. The Trend Template is a refinement of Stan Weinstein's Stage 2 criteria, made more specific and actionable through Minervini's eight-point checklist. Minervini developed the template through analysis of thousands of winning stocks over his 30+ year career.
Our scanner evaluates the following criteria when detecting Minervini Trend Template setups across 5,000+ stocks daily.
For trend template stocks, an A+ grade means all 8 Minervini criteria are strongly met with price well above stacked MAs, within 10% of the 52-week high, and relative strength in the top 20%. This is not a prediction of future price movement — it is a way to prioritize which charts deserve your attention first.
After confirming all 8 trend template criteria, enter on a specific setup pattern (VCP, high tight flag, or base breakout) with volume confirmation. Meeting the template alone is not a buy signal.
Place stop 7-8% below the buy point. Minervini is strict about cutting losses quickly — his average loss is less than half his average gain, maintaining a favorable risk/reward ratio.
Minervini targets 15-20% gains as the initial objective and trails stops to let winners run. He has stated that cutting losses short and letting winners run produces the majority of his returns.
This is educational content only. Not financial advice. Always do your own research and manage risk appropriately.