Scan 5,000+ stocks daily for Qullamaggie-style episodic pivots. Explosive momentum followed by tight, low-volume consolidation. Each setup graded A+ to B.
Run this scan →Kristjan Kullamagi, known in the trading community as Qullamaggie, turned a small account into over $100 million by mastering a specific type of momentum setup: the episodic pivot. His approach focuses on stocks that experience an explosive move driven by a clear catalyst — earnings surprise, FDA approval, contract win, or sector rotation — and then consolidate tightly near the highs before launching the next leg.
The theory behind episodic pivots is rooted in institutional behavior. When a catalyst creates a fundamental reassessment of a company's value, institutions cannot build their full position in a single day. They buy heavily on the gap day, then continue accumulating during the consolidation phase. This ongoing institutional demand creates a floor under the stock, preventing significant pullbacks and producing the characteristic tight, low-volume consolidation that Qullamaggie looks for.
The ideal Qullamaggie setup has a prior move of 30% or more on heavy volume, followed by a consolidation range of less than 10% with volume declining to at least 50% below the daily average. This volume contraction is the signal that the consolidation is healthy and nearly complete. The breakout from this tight range — when it comes on expanding volume — carries the combined force of the original catalyst and the pent-up demand from institutional accumulation during the quiet period.
Developed by Kristjan Kullamagi (known as Qullamaggie), a Swedish trader who publicly documented his journey from a small account to over $100 million in profits. Kullamagi's episodic pivot methodology was shared through his Twitch streams and social media beginning around 2020, where he demonstrated the approach in real time. His style builds on the momentum breakout methodologies of William O'Neil and Mark Minervini, with a particular emphasis on catalyst-driven gaps followed by tight consolidations.
Our scanner evaluates the following criteria when detecting Qullamaggie Breakout setups across 5,000+ stocks daily.
For Qullamaggie breakouts, an A+ grade means a prior momentum move of 30%+ driven by a clear catalyst, followed by a tight consolidation range under 10% with volume declining to at least 50% below average. This is not a prediction of future price movement — it is a way to prioritize which charts deserve your attention first.
Buy on breakout above the tight consolidation range following an episodic pivot, with volume expanding to at least the 50-day average. The consolidation should have shown significant volume contraction.
Place stop below the consolidation range low. Qullamaggie typically uses tight stops relative to the consolidation range — if the breakout fails immediately, the setup was wrong.
Target 10-20% moves as the initial objective. Qullamaggie advocates selling into strength and using partial profit-taking to lock in gains while letting a portion ride with a trailing stop.
This is educational content only. Not financial advice. Always do your own research and manage risk appropriately.