CAN SLIM Growth Investing
IBD teaches CAN SLIM, a growth-stock process that pairs earnings and sales research with relative strength, chart bases, and a market-direction check before any buy. Here is the research stack its presenters use, and the tools that can do parts of the same jobs.
Investor's Business Daily is an organization channel (@investorsbusinessdaily, joined Oct 27, 2008). Methods on this page are credited to the presenters who taught them: Mike Webster, David Ryan, Alissa Coram, Dr. Thomas Carr, and Justin Nielsen. Channel https://www.youtube.com/@investorsbusinessdaily · official https://investors.com
William J. O'Neil (1933 to 2023), IBD founder. He does not present the current videos referenced on this page.
Subscribers
184K subscribers · 2026
Public statement, not verified
Investor's Business Daily was founded by William O'Neil in 1984; CAN SLIM is his growth-stock method (company history).
Entity
organization
Subscribers
184K
Channel views
37.3M
Videos
5,448
On YouTube since
2008
Avg views per video
about 6,800
Stack range
$0 to $168.95/mo
Did you know?
5,448 videos since 2008, one of the biggest libraries on this site.
Avg views per video is total channel views divided by public video count, the channel average. Stack range runs from the Free Start bundle to the priciest bundle. All figures 2026.
Market focus
Holding period
Preferred conditions
Prior advance and a constructive base; the 2024 checklist calls for at least seven weeks and 15% to 30% depth. Double bottom (2024 checklist): at least seven weeks, depth no more than 40%, buy ten cents above the middle peak.
The 5% buy zone is not permission to buy any chart without the market and earnings checks. More source: https://www.investors.com/how-to-invest/investors-corner/how-to-buy-stocks-lam-research-cup-with-handle-launched-75-percent-advance/
CAN SLIM growth position (official IBD education)
Cut a loss at 7% to 8% below your actual purchase price, not from the peak. Default partial profit zone 20% to 25%. Exception: a stock that gains at least 20% in the first one to three weeks after a breakout is held at least eight weeks, then reassessed.
SwingTrader (2025 guide)
Losses commonly cut at 2% to 3%; profit objectives commonly 5% to 10%; most holds five to ten days.
Two different services, two different rules. Do not mix them. Sources: https://www.investors.com/how-to-invest/investors-corner/when-to-take-profits-in-stocks-knowing-right-time-is-key-to-learning-how-to-invest/ · https://get.investors.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/How-To-Use-SwingTrader-2025.pdf
Technical damage can count even when fundamentals still look good. More source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcB0PbzBrRA&t=89s
Check the market stance, follow-through days, and distribution before adding exposure, then pick an exposure band.
A follow-through day does not guarantee the rally survives. More source: https://get.investors.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IBDD-How-to-buy-Stocks-infographic.pdf
STEP 01
Weekend · David Ryan, 2022
Inspect market and industry groups, daily and weekly charts; refresh and prune lists into a prioritized watchlist, not forced purchases.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 02
Previous evening · Stock Market Today
Review index and leader action and position status; update candidate levels.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 03
Before a new investment · Mike Webster, 2020; 2024 checklist
Check the market assessment and upcoming earnings; set the buy zone and loss point; hold, prepare a conditional plan, or pass.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 04
Market open
Act on a valid breakout alert or a position issue. No mandatory first-hour trading block found in the reviewed material.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM)
STEP 05
Midday
No fixed midday routine found in the reviewed material. Optional alert or position check.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM)
STEP 06
Market close · Stock Market Today; Alissa Coram
Assess daily index and stock charts; check heavy-volume breaks, exposure, and positions.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 07
Ongoing position · official IBD education
Monitor the loss rule from actual cost, the profit zone, 50-day and 10-week support, and earnings dates; hold, trim, exit, or consider a qualified add.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 08
SwingTrader members, each morning · 2025 guide
Check Market Action and Current Trades, then buy zone, objective, and stop; receive trade updates (guide pages 3 to 4).
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
STEP 09
Weekly portfolio review · David Ryan, 2022
Compare holdings with current market and leader strength; prune weak candidates; set next week's list. No fixed daily review time or portfolio size was published for the whole organization.
As taught by Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) · Source
The Full Stack
Their pick on the left. Same job, different tool on the right. Prices sit side by side so you can do the math.
Scanner recipe
Three blocks, kept separate: A is current published criteria (2024 checklist and 2026 lessons), B is one presenter's screen, C is historical thresholds. Never merge the 2026 and historical numbers.
IBD's RS Rating is proprietary. It is a percentile ranking against IBD's own stock universe, not RSI and not relative volume. A free screener's performance column is not the IBD RS Rating. IBD revised its ratings in 2026: more weight on the latest three quarters in the EPS Rating, a revised SMR and Composite approach, and an Accumulation/Distribution calculation using a 21-day ATR and closing range. Older formulas are not the current ratings. Industry group A and A/D A are proprietary ratings. Picking a sector name or a single high-volume day on a free screener does not reproduce them. In the tools below, proprietary IBD fields (RS, Composite, SMR, A/D, group rating) will show as unavailable. Mark them unknown rather than substituting a different metric.▶ 1:41
Load this recipe into
Their pick
$149.95/mo or $1,499/yr ($124.92/mo equivalent)
Intro offers run $24.95 for 30 days or $49.95 for 6 weeks, then it renews at $149.95/mo.
Why they use it. Dr. Thomas Carr builds his Smart Money screen inside it, filtering directly on IBD's proprietary ratings.
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
$38.95 to $44.95/mo depending on the offer, or $379/yr (intro deals from $10 to $20 for the first 2 months are not the recurring price)
Replaces. Access to IBD ratings and stock lists through a different IBD product tier
What you give up. Different advanced chart and pattern features than MarketSurge
Affiliate link
Why price varies: IBD's listed price differs by offer and checkout. Confirm at checkout.
Same job, different tool
$0
Replaces. EPS, sales, ROE, and price-volume candidate screening
What you give up. No IBD EPS, RS, SMR, Composite, or A/D ratings; stock quotes delayed one minute; figures need checking against filings
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
$39.50/mo or $299.50/yr ($24.96/mo equivalent)
Replaces. The same screen with real-time stock quotes, extended hours, exports, and push alerts
What you give up. No IBD proprietary ratings or IBD base recognition; fundamentals update hourly
Affiliate link
Keeping MarketSurge makes sense if you want IBD's current proprietary ratings, industry rankings, pattern recognition, and one research workspace. The alternatives rebuild parts of the screen. None of them reproduces IBD's ratings database.
Their pick
Included with MarketSurge or IBD Digital, depending on product
Why they use it. Compares business and stock quality against IBD's whole stock universe in one view.
Same job, different tool
$0
Replaces. Reported EPS, sales, and guidance from the primary source
What you give up. Manual normalization, long filings, no proprietary ratings, no instant all-stock ranking
Affiliate link
Research method: compare the reported quarter with the year-ago quarter, keep EPS and sales separate from guidance, and record the source and date. FullStack Alpha implementation of the published criteria, not an official IBD procedure.
Same job, different tool
$20/mo or $200/yr ($16.67/mo equivalent)
Replaces. Organizing a dated, source-linked earnings comparison
What you give up. Does not calculate IBD ratings; you still check every figure against the filing
What the AI actually does. Extracts earnings figures from filings you attach, with source citations, and flags missing data
Affiliate link
IBD's ratings are proprietary. No tool on this page recreates them. The alternatives give you the raw earnings and sales data to judge yourself.
Their pick
Same subscription, $0 extra
David Ryan toggling daily and weekly charts, 2022, MarketSmith. Pattern detection is an algorithmic feature, not a generative-AI coach, and a detected pattern is not a guaranteed breakout.
Why they use it. Daily and weekly charts with base and pivot marking, so buy points and loss points are planned before the order.
Their pick
$69/mo or $699/yr ($58.25/mo equivalent)
Intro offers run $39 to $50 for the first 5 to 6 weeks, then it renews at $69/mo.
Optional. A separate five-to-ten-day swing service, not required for CAN SLIM growth investing. SwingTrader's trade plans are IBD's own picks. No tool on this page replaces them.
Why they use it. Specific short-hold trade plans with a buy zone, stop, and objective, plus desktop and mobile alerts.
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
A full match for basic chart functions
$0 for eligible Schwab clients
Replaces. Daily and weekly charts, levels, and alerts
What you give up. No IBD ratings, curated lists, database, or IBD base recognition; you mark bases and pivots yourself
Affiliate link
Their pick
$38.95 to $44.95/mo depending on the offer, or $379/yr (intro deals from $10 to $20 for the first 2 months are not the recurring price)
Why they use it. Checks the market stance and exposure guidance before any new buy.
Affiliate link
Their pick
$0
The public video does not require a paid IBD Live subscription.
Why they use it. Justin Nielsen hosts and Mike Webster reviews index and leader action after the session.
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
$0
Replaces. Recording index price, volume, and leader behavior each day
What you give up. No official IBD market stance or exposure call; you judge distribution and follow-through yourself
Affiliate link
IBD's framework exposure bands (2024 checklist): 0% to 20%, 20% to 40%, 40% to 60%, 60% to 80%, 80% to 100%. These are framework bands, not the market's actual exposure recommendation today. No AI tool for market direction was established in our research. This layer stays manual.
Their pick
AIThe AI alternative
Let rules or an AI agent place the trades through a broker API. Automation executes your plan faster; it doesn't make a bad plan good.
Alpaca
Alpha Score 77/100
API-first brokerage built for developers to build and deploy algorithmic trading strategies in equities and options.
QuantConnect
Alpha Score 65/100
Cloud-based algorithmic trading platform with a backtesting engine, live trading across multiple brokerages, and a community strategy library.
StockHero
Alpha Score 64/100
Cloud-based trading bot platform with prebuilt bot templates, paper trading, and multi-exchange support for automated crypto and stock strategies.
IBD's research products do not place trades. Keep the broker that fits your account, and use your broker's quote for live order decisions.
Or the tools the other educators use for execution
Prices are subject to change fast, like AI technology.
Check before you switch
Their pick
Suggested fields: FullStack Alpha fields drawn from IBD's documented decisions, not an official IBD journal template.
Same job, different tool
$19.99/mo or $179/yr ($14.92/mo equivalent)
Replaces. Import, tagging, and holding-period comparison
What you give up. No CAN SLIM rating database or portfolio advice; check one imported day against your broker before migrating
What the AI actually does. AI Coach and grouped review of your imported trades by setup and holding period
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
$0
Replaces. Basic stock trade journal
What you give up. Stocks only, capped at 3,000 executions a month, no AI review
Affiliate link
Same job, different tool
$0
Replaces. The six fields above in a spreadsheet
What you give up. Everything is manual
Affiliate link
Their pick
Same job, different tool
$20/mo or $200/yr ($16.67/mo equivalent)
Replaces. Weekly research organization
What you give up. No live data; does not calculate IBD ratings or confirm a valid pivot without your inputs
What the AI actually does. Organizes your weekly watchlist notes and source-linked earnings summaries, and flags inconsistent records
Prices are subject to change fast, like AI technology.
iPad running the MarketSmith app, used by David Ryan for weekly screening
iPad paired with an external monitor in the same weekly routine
Exact iPad and monitor models not stated. Computers and desk setup were not found in the reviewed videos. A dated snapshot from their videos. You do not need this setup to use the strategy.
IBD's presenters did not publish a beginner hardware list in the reviewed material. These are FullStack Alpha slots for a daily and weekly chart routine.▶ 0:04
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M5, 16GB, 512GB
$1,000 to $2,000
Affiliate link
Acer SB242Y H1bi (x2)
Under $100
Affiliate link
VIVO STAND-V002 Dual Mount
Under $100
Affiliate link
Elgato Stream Deck Mini
Under $100
Affiliate link
Prices change daily on Amazon. Check each item's current price. Compare more in the Gear Lab
Ready-made stacks
The AI Full Stack
One-time. Swing Starter desk $200 to $300 + computer $1,000 to $2,000. Check current prices on Amazon. Gear Lab
Finviz EliteScreening and Ratings: screen and export; no AI itself, its export feeds Claude$39.50/mo
SEC EDGARResearch and Earnings: primary-source figures, read by Claude ProFree
thinkorswimCharts and Buy Points, for eligible Schwab clients; no AIFree
Stock Market Today (public video)Market Direction: public video + manual log; no AI tool establishedFree
TradesViz ProJournal and Review: AI Coach$19.99/mo
Claude ProAI extraction with citations, research and review organization; counted once$20/mo$79.49/mo month to month
$678.50/yr
Broker, market data, and commissions are separate. Keep your broker. No proprietary IBD ratings are included in this stack. This stack adds TradesViz Pro for AI journal review. The AI Research bundle below keeps a manual Calc journal, which is why their totals differ.
Built by FullStack Alpha from IBD's public CAN SLIM education. Not used or endorsed by Investor's Business Daily.
Known subtotal: $678.50/yr ($56.54/mo equivalent). TradesViz annual is the current advertised offer. Execution stays with your existing broker, not counted.
$0/mo
Finviz Free$0thinkorswim$0SEC EDGAR$0
LibreOffice Calc$0Stays manual. All fundamental research and source checks, market and index context, base and pivot marking
Requires an eligible Schwab account. No proprietary IBD ratings or official exposure service.
$59.50/mo
Or $499.50/yr ($41.63/mo equivalent) $499.50/yr ($41.63/mo equivalent)
Finviz Elite$39.50Claude Pro$20thinkorswim$0SEC EDGAR$0LibreOffice Calc$0Stays manual. Checking source figures, market stance, base quality, and actual broker prices
Still an approximation of IBD selection, not the IBD ratings.
$169.94/mo
Annual comparison $1,678/yr ($139.83/mo equivalent) $1,678/yr ($139.83/mo equivalent)
MarketSurge$149.95TradesViz Pro$19.99Stays manual. Order entry through your broker, trade tagging
Keeps IBD's proprietary ratings and pattern tools. Following the SwingTrader workflow? Add SwingTrader: $69/mo or $699/yr. With it: $238.94/mo, or $2,377/yr ($198.08/mo equivalent). SwingTrader is optional, not required for CAN SLIM growth investing.
Totals cover software and selected data only. Commissions, exchange fees, hardware, and taxes are not included. IBD Digital is left out of fixed totals because its listed price varies; confirm at checkout. TradesViz annual prices are current advertised offers. Prices checked 2026.
Investor's Business Daily's broker is not named in the public videos we reviewed, so we do not guess. Keep the broker you already have if it covers the market and the data your routine needs.
For scanning, Investor's Business Daily uses MarketSurge (IBD's growth research platform) (used in 2026; $149.95/mo or $1,499/yr ($124.92/mo equivalent)); MarketSmith iPad app (historical in 2022; Now MarketSurge).
Dr. Thomas Carr builds his Smart Money screen inside it, filtering directly on IBD's proprietary ratings. Same job, different tool: IBD Digital (MADE BY IBD) at $38.95 to $44.95/mo depending on the offer, or $379/yr (intro deals from $10 to $20 for the first 2 months are not the recurring price).
The software stacks on this page run $0 to $168.95/mo. The cheapest, Free Start, is Finviz Free (screening) + thinkorswim (daily and weekly charts, execution) + SEC EDGAR and company IR (earnings) + LibreOffice Calc (watchlist and journal).
Our pick, AI Research, is Finviz Elite $39.50 + Claude Pro $20 + the Free Start broker and journal. Commissions, exchange fees, and hardware are separate. Prices checked 2026.
No AI tool appears in Investor's Business Daily's public videos that we reviewed. The AI Full Stack on this page is FullStack Alpha's rebuild of the same routine, not Investor's Business Daily's own setup.
5:20 · 2026
Dr. Thomas Carr builds IBD's Smart Money screen inside MarketSurge, filtering directly on IBD's proprietary ratings. The screen depends on a MarketSurge subscription, and the $24.95 trial is not the recurring price.
Watch on YouTube9:49 · 2026
IBD walks through its ratings, which compare a company's business and stock quality against IBD's whole stock universe in one view. These are proprietary fields, so a free screener or a single high-volume day will not reproduce them.
Watch on YouTube64:50 · 2026
In this free Stock Market Today episode, Justin Nielsen hosts and Mike Webster reviews index and leader action after the session, with Datadog, Snowflake, and Dell in focus. Use it as an evening routine to check position status and update candidate levels.
Watch on YouTube19:01 · 2022
David Ryan walks through his 2022 weekly screen on an iPad running MarketSmith, working favorites, the MarketSmith 250 list, and industry groups across daily and weekly charts. The goal is a pruned, prioritized watchlist with buy and loss points planned ahead, not forced purchases.
Watch on YouTube15:01 · 2020
Mike Webster's 2020 beginner rules start with the market: check its stance, follow-through days, and distribution before adding exposure, then set a buy zone and loss point. A follow-through day does not guarantee the rally survives, so waiting or passing stays an option.
Watch on YouTube2:55 · 2019
Alissa Coram lays out IBD's technical sell rules: on a daily chart, a heavy-volume break of the 50-day line, and for longer-term holders, a weekly close below the 10-week line on strong volume. Technical damage counts even when fundamentals still look good.
Watch on YouTube4:13 · 2018
IBD explains why bases form: after a run of 30% or more, late buyers get trapped in the pullback, institutions start buying to build the right side, and those trapped holders sell near breakeven on the way back up. The buy point is the prior resistance level, taken only when the stock clears it in heavy volume; buying the bottom of the base only looks smarter in hindsight.
Watch on YouTube4:11 · 2018
IBD's four-minute 2018 video lays out a weekend routine for setting your action plan for the week ahead and updating your watch list. The video doesn't publish its steps in writing, so treat it as a nudge to finish your list before Monday, not a full method.
Watch on YouTubeOlder videos teach rules that IBD has since revised in places. Dates are shown so you know which version you are watching.
Watch the foundation lesson
Start with "Trader Education: IBD's Top Investing Rules For Beginners" before the advanced material. Open on YouTube
Write the setups down
Copy the 4 setup cards on this page into your own words: conditions, entry, exit, risk.
Build the Free Start stack
Finviz Free (screening) + thinkorswim (daily and weekly charts, execution) + SEC EDGAR and company IR (earnings) + LibreOffice Calc (watchlist and journal). Learn the process before you pay for speed. Load it in the Stack Builder
Log 20 trades or paper trades
Journal every one, including the bad ones. Your journal, not a video, decides what works for you.
Upgrade to AI Research
Finviz Elite $39.50 + Claude Pro $20 + the Free Start broker and journal. Add paid tools one layer at a time, starting with the job your journal says costs you most. Load it in the Stack Builder
A FullStack Alpha study order built from Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM)'s public lessons. Process beats prediction: master one layer before you pay for the next.
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