How should I move from a screener row to a research decision?
A screener narrows a defined universe using a specific evidence contract. Read the universe, filters, rank definition, and source quality before opening a candidate's full price and options context.
A useful read order
- Choose one question
Use the screen designed for your question: positioning, historical seasonality, relative stretch, or option movement cost.
- Read the denominator
Check how many symbols were considered, excluded, or unavailable, and inspect the active filters.
- Open the evidence
Review the underlying path, selected expiration, and source timestamps before drawing a conclusion.
Different screens rank different things
Gamma, Seasonality, Sector Stretch, and Straddle screens answer distinct questions. Their scores are not interchangeable units of expected return. A leading row in one screen can conflict with another because the horizon, evidence, or ranking objective differs.
Options Bias shows saved prospective captures and later outcomes for its defined study universe. The next-session close, opening gap, and intraday return are separate outcomes. Research rankings should preserve frozen source inputs rather than using later information to improve a past signal.
Make exclusions visible
A missing quote or insufficient history is a source-quality issue, not a low-conviction directional result. Compare the rows that have eligible evidence, while keeping excluded cases and reasons visible.
Filters change the population. After narrowing a table, check the displayed count and clear filters when starting a different question. A compact shortlist is a starting point for review; a rank alone does not define a suitable instrument, entry, or invalidation.
What this cannot establish
- Screening policy is not proof of future profitability.
- Results depend on the selected universe, data coverage, and observation time.
- Historical study results and current candidate rankings should remain distinct.