FinViz Screener

Translate natural language stock screening requests into FinViz screener filter URLs and open them in Chrome. Supports both Japanese and English input.

Download Skill Package (.skill) View Source on GitHub

Table of Contents

1. Overview

FinViz Screener bridges the gap between what you want to find and how FinViz expects filter codes. Instead of memorizing codes like fa_epsqoq_o25 or ta_sma200_pa, describe your criteria in plain English (or Japanese) and Claude builds the URL for you.

What it solves:

  • Eliminates the need to learn 500+ FinViz filter codes
  • Handles bilingual input (Japanese and English)
  • Auto-detects FINVIZ Elite from environment variables
  • Validates all filter tokens to prevent URL injection
  • Opens results directly in Chrome with OS-appropriate fallbacks

Key capabilities:

  • 500+ filter codes across fundamentals (P/E, dividends, growth, margins), technicals (RSI, SMA, chart patterns), and descriptives (sector, market cap, country)
  • Theme & Sub-theme cross-screening – Combine 30+ investment themes and 268 sub-themes with any filter to screen for cross-sector narratives (e.g., “AI x Logistics”, “Data Centers x Power Infrastructure”, “Cybersecurity x Cloud”)
  • View type selection: Overview, Valuation, Financial, Technical, Ownership, Performance, Custom
  • Sort order control (ascending or descending by any column)
  • Range filter syntax for precise criteria (e.g., fa_div_3to8 for dividend yield 3-8%)
  • 14+ pre-built screening recipes in the reference knowledge base

2. Prerequisites

  • API Key: None required for the public FinViz screener
  • FINVIZ Elite (Optional): Auto-detected from $FINVIZ_API_KEY for real-time data and enhanced features
  • Python 3.9+: Required to run the URL builder script
  • No additional Python dependencies – uses only the standard library

FinViz Screener works entirely without API keys. FINVIZ Elite is only needed if you want real-time data and advanced screener features.

3. Quick Start

Tell Claude:

Find oversold large caps near 52-week lows with insider buying

Claude maps this to filter codes, shows you a confirmation table, and opens the FinViz results page in Chrome. That is all you need to get started.

4. How It Works

  1. Load filter reference – Claude reads the internal filter knowledge base mapping natural language concepts to FinViz codes.
  2. Interpret your request – Your description is mapped to specific filter codes using a concept mapping table (e.g., “high dividend” maps to fa_div_o3, “large cap” maps to cap_large).
  3. Present filter selection – Before executing, Claude shows a table of selected filters for your confirmation.
  4. Execute script – The open_finviz_screener.py script validates filters, builds the URL, and opens Chrome.
  5. Report results – Claude reports the constructed URL, the mode used (Public or Elite), and suggests next steps.

Elite auto-detection: If the $FINVIZ_API_KEY environment variable is set, the skill automatically uses elite.finviz.com instead of the public screener. You can also force Elite mode with --elite.

5. Usage Examples

Example 1: Growth Momentum

Prompt:

Find stocks with quarterly EPS growth > 25%, price above SMA50 and SMA200, and positive performance over the last quarter

Filter codes: fa_epsqoq_o25,ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa,ta_perf_13wup

Why useful: Identifies stocks with strong earnings momentum confirmed by multiple moving average support and sustained quarterly outperformance – a classic growth momentum setup.

Example 2: CANSLIM + Minervini + VCP Integrated Filter

Prompt:

Screen for stocks with EPS growth over 25%, revenue growth over 15%, above all major moving averages,
near 52-week high, and with relative volume above 1.5x -- combining CANSLIM fundamentals with
Minervini trend template criteria in a single FinViz screen

Filter codes: fa_epsqoq_o25,fa_salesqoq_o15,ta_sma20_pa,ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa,ta_highlow52w_b0to10h,sh_relvol_o1.5

Why useful: Combines O’Neil-style fundamental growth criteria with Minervini’s trend template and VCP-like volume characteristics in one URL, enabling a rapid first-pass filter before running dedicated CANSLIM or VCP screeners.

Example 3: High Dividend Value

Prompt:

Screen for dividend yield > 4% with P/E under 15

Filter codes: fa_div_o4,fa_pe_u15

Why useful: Quick income-oriented screen that targets high-yield stocks with reasonable valuations. A solid starting point for dividend portfolio construction.

Example 4: Oversold Bounce

Prompt:

Find oversold large caps near 52-week lows with insider buying

Filter codes: cap_large,ta_rsi_os30,ta_highlow52w_a0to5l,sh_insidertrans_verypos

Why useful: Identifies large-cap stocks at technical extremes where insiders are buying – a contrarian signal that can mark reversal points.

Example 5: AI Theme Stocks

Prompt:

Show me AI and semiconductor stocks with strong momentum

Filter codes: theme_artificialintelligence,ta_perf_13wup,ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa

Why useful: Uses FinViz’s theme filter to target the AI/semiconductor space, overlaid with momentum confirmation. Quickly surfaces the strongest players in a trending theme.

Example 6: Small Cap Breakout

Prompt:

Find small cap stocks making new 52-week highs on high relative volume

Filter codes: cap_small,ta_highlow52w_b0to5h,sh_relvol_o1.5

Why useful: Targets small-cap breakout candidates where high relative volume confirms genuine buying interest – a classic momentum entry setup.

Example 7: Japanese Input

Prompt:

配当利回り5%以上でROE15%以上の大型株を探して

Filter codes: fa_div_o5,fa_roe_o15,cap_large

Why useful: Demonstrates full Japanese language support. Claude parses Japanese financial terms and maps them to the same FinViz filter codes, making the skill accessible to bilingual users.

Example 8: Programmatic Use (URL Only)

Command:

python3 skills/finviz-screener/scripts/open_finviz_screener.py \
  --filters "fa_div_o3,fa_pe_u20,cap_large" \
  --view valuation \
  --order dividendyield \
  --url-only

Output:

[Public] https://finviz.com/screener.ashx?v=121&f=cap_large,fa_div_o3,fa_pe_u20&o=dividendyield

Why useful: The --url-only flag prints the URL without opening a browser, making it suitable for scripting, logging, or embedding in other workflows.

Example 9: Theme Cross-Screening (AI x Logistics, Data Centers x Power)

Traditional sector/industry filters limit you to a single dimension. FinViz’s theme and sub-theme filters let you screen along narrative axes that cut across sectors.

Prompt A: AI x Logistics

Find mid-cap and above stocks in both AI and logistics themes with strong quarterly performance

Command:

python3 skills/finviz-screener/scripts/open_finviz_screener.py \
  --themes "artificialintelligence" \
  --subthemes "ecommercelogistics" \
  --filters "cap_midover,ta_perf_13wup" \
  --url-only

Prompt B: Data Centers x Power Infrastructure

Show me data center and power infrastructure stocks

Command:

python3 skills/finviz-screener/scripts/open_finviz_screener.py \
  --subthemes "aboringdatacenters,energypower" \
  --url-only

Prompt C: Cybersecurity x Cloud

Cybersecurity and cloud stocks with high ROE

Command:

python3 skills/finviz-screener/scripts/open_finviz_screener.py \
  --themes "cybersecurity" \
  --subthemes "aicloud" \
  --filters "fa_roe_o15" \
  --url-only

Why useful: Sector filters group companies by what they are (Technology, Utilities, Real Estate). Theme filters group companies by what trend they ride. Combining themes and sub-themes uncovers stocks at the intersection of secular growth narratives – e.g., logistics companies investing in AI automation, or utilities exposed to data center power demand – that traditional sector filters would miss entirely.

Screening Recipes

Ready-to-use filter combinations for common investment strategies. Each recipe includes iterative refinement tips.

Recipe 1: High-Dividend Growth Stocks (Kanchi-Style)

Goal: High yield + dividend growth + earnings growth, excluding yield traps.

Filters: fa_div_3to8,fa_sales5years_pos,fa_eps5years_pos,fa_divgrowth_5ypos,fa_payoutratio_u60,geo_usa View: Financial

Filter Purpose
fa_div_3to8 Yield 3-8% (caps high-yield traps)
fa_sales5years_pos Positive 5Y revenue growth
fa_eps5years_pos Positive 5Y EPS growth
fa_divgrowth_5ypos Positive 5Y dividend growth
fa_payoutratio_u60 Payout ratio < 60% (sustainability)
geo_usa US-listed stocks

Refinement: Start with fa_div_o3 → add fa_div_3to8 to cap yield → add fa_payoutratio_u60 to exclude traps.

Recipe 2: Minervini Trend Template + VCP

Goal: Stage 2 uptrend stocks with volatility contraction.

Filters: ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa,ta_sma200_sb50,ta_highlow52w_0to25-bhx,ta_perf_26wup,sh_avgvol_o300,cap_midover View: Technical

Filter Purpose
ta_sma50_pa Price above 50-day SMA
ta_sma200_pa Price above 200-day SMA
ta_sma200_sb50 200 SMA below 50 SMA (uptrend)
ta_highlow52w_0to25-bhx Within 25% of 52W high
ta_perf_26wup Positive 26-week performance
sh_avgvol_o300 Avg volume > 300K
cap_midover Mid cap and above

VCP tightening: Add ta_volatility_wo3,ta_highlow20d_b0to5h,sh_relvol_u1 for low volatility + near 20-day high + below-average volume.

Recipe 3: Unfairly Sold-Off Growth Stocks

Goal: Fundamentally strong companies with recent sharp declines.

Filters: fa_sales5years_o5,fa_eps5years_o10,fa_roe_o15,fa_salesqoq_pos,fa_epsqoq_pos,ta_perf_13wdown,ta_highlow52w_10to30-bhx,cap_large,sh_avgvol_o200 View: Overview → switch to Valuation after reviewing candidates

Filter Purpose
fa_sales5years_o5 5Y sales growth > 5%
fa_eps5years_o10 5Y EPS growth > 10%
fa_roe_o15 ROE > 15%
fa_salesqoq_pos Positive QoQ sales growth
fa_epsqoq_pos Positive QoQ EPS growth
ta_perf_13wdown Negative 13-week performance
ta_highlow52w_10to30-bhx 10-30% below 52W high
cap_large Large cap
sh_avgvol_o200 Avg volume > 200K

Recipe 4: Turnaround Stocks

Goal: Companies with previously declining earnings now showing recovery.

Filters: fa_eps5years_neg,fa_epsqoq_pos,fa_salesqoq_pos,ta_highlow52w_b30h,ta_perf_13wup,cap_smallover,sh_avgvol_o200 View: Performance

Filter Purpose
fa_eps5years_neg Negative 5Y EPS growth (prior decline)
fa_epsqoq_pos Positive QoQ EPS growth (recovery)
fa_salesqoq_pos Positive QoQ sales growth (recovery)
ta_highlow52w_b30h Within 30% of 52W high
ta_perf_13wup Positive 13-week performance
cap_smallover Small cap and above
sh_avgvol_o200 Avg volume > 200K

Recipe 5: Momentum Trade Candidates

Goal: Short-term momentum leaders near 52W highs with increasing volume.

Filters: ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa,ta_highlow52w_b0to3h,ta_perf_4wup,sh_relvol_o1.5,sh_avgvol_o1000,cap_midover View: Technical

Filter Purpose
ta_sma50_pa Price above 50-day SMA
ta_sma200_pa Price above 200-day SMA
ta_highlow52w_b0to3h Within 3% of 52W high
ta_perf_4wup Positive 4-week performance
sh_relvol_o1.5 Relative volume > 1.5x
sh_avgvol_o1000 Avg volume > 1M
cap_midover Mid cap and above

Tips: Iterative Refinement

Screening works best as a dialogue:

  1. Start broad — 3-4 core filters for an initial set
  2. Check count — >100 results? add filters. <5 results? relax constraints
  3. Switch views — overview first, then financial or valuation for depth
  4. Layer technicals — after confirming fundamentals, add ta_ filters to time entries

6. Understanding the Output

After execution, Claude reports:

  1. Constructed URL – The full FinViz screener URL with all applied filters.
  2. Mode – Whether Public or Elite mode was used.
  3. Filter summary – A table listing each applied filter code and its meaning.
  4. Suggested next steps – Recommendations like “Sort by dividend yield” or “Switch to Financial view for detailed ratios.”

The FinViz results page itself shows stocks in a sortable table. Use the view selector (Overview, Valuation, Financial, Technical, Ownership, Performance) to examine different data points.

7. Tips & Best Practices

  • Use range filters for precision. Instead of combining separate “greater than” and “less than” filters, use range syntax: fa_div_3to8 for dividend yield between 3% and 8%. This eliminates dividend yield traps at extreme levels.
  • Combine fundamental and technical filters. Growth momentum setups that pair earnings growth (fa_epsqoq_o25) with trend confirmation (ta_sma50_pa,ta_sma200_pa) are more reliable than either alone.
  • Start broad, then narrow. Begin with 2-3 filters and add more only if the result set is too large. Over-filtering can eliminate good candidates.
  • Use --view strategically. The valuation view is best for dividend/value screens; technical view works best for momentum and breakout screens.
  • Check the --order option. Sorting by the metric most relevant to your strategy (e.g., dividendyield, -marketcap, change) surfaces the best candidates first.
  • Japanese users: The skill handles full-width characters and Japanese financial terminology natively. No translation step needed.

8. Combining with Other Skills

Workflow How to Combine
Growth stock deep dive Use FinViz Screener to build an initial universe, then feed top results into CANSLIM Screener for rigorous 7-component scoring
Dividend portfolio building Screen with FinViz (fa_div_o3,fa_pe_u20), then run Value Dividend Screener for sustainability analysis
Theme-based investing Use Theme Detector to identify hot themes, then use FinViz Screener with theme filters (theme_artificialintelligence) to find individual stocks
Technical confirmation After FinViz surfaces candidates, use Technical Analyst for detailed chart reading on the top picks
Position sizing Once you identify entry candidates, pass them to Position Sizer for risk-based share count calculation

9. Troubleshooting

Chrome does not open

Cause: Chrome is not installed, or the path is not detected.

Fix: The script falls back through: Chrome > default browser > webbrowser.open(). On macOS, ensure Google Chrome is installed in /Applications/. On Linux, ensure google-chrome or chromium-browser is in your PATH.

“Invalid filter token” error

Cause: A filter code contains invalid characters (spaces, &, =).

Fix: Filter tokens must only contain lowercase letters, digits, underscores, and dots. Check for typos in manually entered filter codes.

“Unknown filter prefix” warning

Cause: A filter uses a prefix not in the known set.

Fix: This is a warning, not an error. The URL is still built. The warning alerts you that the filter prefix is unrecognized, which may indicate a typo or a new FinViz filter not yet cataloged.

Elite mode not activating

Cause: $FINVIZ_API_KEY environment variable is not set.

Fix: Run export FINVIZ_API_KEY=your_key_here in your shell, or pass --elite explicitly to force Elite mode.

10. Reference

CLI Arguments

Argument Required Default Description
--filters No* – Comma-separated FinViz filter codes
--themes No* – Comma-separated theme slugs (e.g., artificialintelligence,cybersecurity)
--subthemes No* – Comma-separated sub-theme slugs (e.g., aicloud,energypower)
--elite No Auto-detected Force Elite mode (elite.finviz.com)
--view No overview View type: overview, valuation, financial, technical, ownership, performance, custom
--order No None Sort order code (e.g., -marketcap, dividendyield). Prefix - for descending
--url-only No false Print URL without opening a browser

* At least one of --filters, --themes, or --subthemes is required.

View Type Codes

Name Code Best For
Overview 111 General screening, first look
Valuation 121 P/E, P/B, PEG, dividend analysis
Ownership 131 Institutional holdings, insider activity
Performance 141 Returns across timeframes
Custom 152 User-defined columns
Financial 161 Revenue, margins, ROE, debt ratios
Technical 171 RSI, SMA, beta, volatility

Common Filter Codes Quick Reference

Concept Filter Code
High dividend (>3%) fa_div_o3
Low P/E (<20) fa_pe_u20
EPS growth >25% QoQ fa_epsqoq_o25
Price above SMA200 ta_sma200_pa
RSI oversold (<30) ta_rsi_os30
Large cap cap_large
Insider buying sh_insidertrans_verypos
AI theme theme_artificialintelligence
Near 52W high ta_highlow52w_b0to5h
High relative volume sh_relvol_o1.5