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Pre/Post Market

Post-Market Movers

Stocks that moved significantly after hours. Overnight gap detection with continuation vs reversal classification.

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What is this pattern?

After-hours moves are where overnight catalysts get priced in. A clean 2%+ gap from yesterday's close on a stock that closed flat is almost always a news event — earnings, guidance, M&A, or a regulatory decision dropped after the bell. The Post-Market Movers scanner detects these and classifies each as After-Hours Catalyst, Continuation (gap in the same direction as the prior session), or Reversal (gap against the prior session). Catalyst gaps are the most actionable.

Origin & History

After-hours and post-market trading became mainstream in the late 1990s when ECNs gave retail traders access to extended-hours sessions for the first time. Earnings traders and event-driven funds watch the post-market session carefully because it's where fundamental news first gets priced in. The classification of catalyst vs continuation vs reversal is a modern refinement that helps separate news-driven moves from technical noise.

Detection Criteria

Our scanner evaluates the following criteria when detecting Post-Market Movers setups across 5,000+ stocks daily.

Live snapshot for every US ticker after the close
Single real-time snapshot covers every tradeable US stock so no overnight catalyst gets missed.
Overnight gap from prior close
Gap is measured from yesterday's regular-hours close, capturing the full overnight reaction.
Prior session change for context
Knowing whether the prior session was up, down, or flat is what enables the catalyst/continuation/reversal classification.
Catalyst classification (catalyst / continuation / reversal)
Classification is the most important field — it tells you immediately whether something genuinely changed overnight.
Minimum $2 price and 50K prior-day volume
Liquidity floors ensure tradeable names only.

Grading Breakdown

For post-market movers setups, an A+ grade means a 5%+ overnight gap classified as a Catalyst (flat prior session followed by sharp gap) with pre-market volume confirmation. A requires 4%+ classified catalyst or continuation. B+ requires 3%+. B meets the 2% minimum. This is not a prediction of future price movement — it is a way to prioritize which charts deserve your attention first.

A+
Textbook setup — strong confluence across all criteria. Highest conviction.
A
High-quality setup worth watching closely. Minor criteria may be slightly off.
B+
Decent setup with some reservations. One or two criteria fall short of ideal.
B
Pattern detected but lower conviction. Use as a watchlist candidate, not a trade trigger.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trading post-market itself — extended hours are illiquid and spreads are wide. Wait for the next regular session
Treating all post-market gaps as equal — a Catalyst gap is fundamentally different from a Continuation gap
Ignoring the prior session's character — post-market moves only matter in context of how the stock traded during the day

How to Trade This Pattern

Entry

Use post-market movers as a next-day watchlist. Trade the regular-hours opening range, not the post-market price.

Stop Loss

Use the opening range opposite as your stop. Post-market levels are unreliable because of thin volume.

Price Target

First target is the next significant level on the daily chart. Trail with VWAP for trends.

This is educational content only. Not financial advice. Always do your own research and manage risk appropriately.

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AskLivermore scans 5,000+ NASDAQ and NYSE stocks daily · Not financial advice · Past performance does not guarantee future results