FreeScans·ThinkorSwim
Stacked MAs
Find names with cleanly stacked moving averages, strong trend.
How to install in ThinkorSwim
- In ThinkorSwim, open a chart, then go to Studies → Edit Studies.
- Click Create, clear the editor, and paste the code.
- Name it, click Apply, then OK, and it draws on your chart.
How to Use — WeTradePro Stacked MAs Scan
Finds the strongest, cleanest trends. Educational, not advice.
What it finds (one line)
Symbols where the 8 / 21 / 50 / 200 SMAs are perfectly stacked (bull: 8>21>50>200, price on top; bear: the reverse) — every timeframe agreeing on direction.
Who it's for & best timeframe
| Trader type | How you use it | Best timeframe | Recommended setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day trader | Trade only *with* the stack's direction for higher-odds intraday entries | 5-min – 15-min | direction 1 |
| Swing trader | Best fit — buy pullbacks to the 8/21 inside a bullish daily stack | Daily | 8/21/50/200, direction 1 |
| Position trader | Best fit — own only names in a clean bullish stack; the 200 is your trend line | Daily / Weekly | 8/21/50/200 |
Best overall: the daily chart — a full daily stack is the gold standard for "this is a healthy trend."
How to read / act on results
- A hit = textbook trend alignment. Short, medium, and long-term moving averages all point the same way and price is leading them.
- Bull stack (`direction 1`): strongest uptrends. Don't chase the extension — wait for a pullback to the 8 or 21 SMA and buy the bounce.
- Bear stack (`direction -1`): strongest downtrends. Short rallies back into the 8/21, or simply avoid longs.
- Act: use this as a filter/universe builder, then time entries with a trigger scan (MACD Cross Zero, DMI Power Move, or Squeeze) *in the stack's direction*.
Settings (inputs)
len1–len4(8 / 21 / 50 / 200) — the four SMAs. 8/21 = short-term, 50 = intermediate, 200 = long-term trend.direction(1) — 1 = bullish stack, -1 = bearish stack. Save one scan each way.
Best market conditions
- Established, trending markets. A full stack only forms when a trend is mature and orderly — exactly the names you want to ride.
- In choppy/sideways markets the MAs tangle and almost nothing passes (which is the scan correctly keeping you out).
Common mistakes
- Buying the extension — a hit means it's *already* trending; chasing far above the 8 SMA invites a snap-back. Wait for the pullback.
- Using it as an entry trigger — it's a *condition/filter*, not a timing signal. Pair it with a trigger scan.
- Forgetting direction — a falling market needs
direction -1; the bull scan will return almost nothing and you'll think it's "broken."
Video script outline (for the WeTradePro tutorial)
- Hook: "This scan finds the cleanest trends in the market in one click."
- What "stacked MAs" means: 8>21>50>200 with price on top.
- Why a full stack = every timeframe agreeing.
- Paste into Stock Hacker, set "is true," choose direction.
- The play: don't chase — buy the pullback to the 8/21.
- Combine with a trigger scan (MACD/DMI/Squeeze) for entries.
- Recap + "import link in description."
Educational analysis, not financial advice.
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