Gap Up and Go
Gap Up and Go lists the stocks we track that opened well above the previous close and have kept rising since the open; Gap Down and Go lists those that opened well below it and kept falling. Each row shows the opening gap, the move since the open, volume against the share float and whether there is news. Both lists are free.
What is gap up and go?
A stock gaps when it opens well above or below the previous day's close, often after earnings or other news released while the market was closed. Gap and go describes a gap that keeps going: a stock that gaps up and keeps rising after the open, or gaps down and keeps falling. Gap Up and Go and Gap Down and Go are two ready-made screens that list the stocks we track doing that today.
How we build the lists
- Two preset screens. Each list is a saved screen run on the Stock Screener's data. Gap Up and Go looks for stocks that had a significant gap up and have kept rising from the opening price; Gap Down and Go for stocks that gapped down and have kept falling from it. The minimum gap and move are settings of each saved screen, so this guide doesn't quote them.
- Opening Gap. Today's opening price against the previous trading day's close. Gap Up and Go lists the biggest gaps first; Gap Down and Go the biggest drops first.
- %Chg From Open. The move from today's open to the latest price, next to Price Chg, the change from the previous close.
- Volume and float. Volume counts today's regular session, including the opening and closing auctions. Shares Float is the number of shares available to trade - shares outstanding when we have no float figure - and Ratio Volume/Float divides one by the other.
- Has News. N marks a stock with a press release we have since 10:00 AM ET on the previous trading day; hover over it for the headlines.
- Which day. Until shortly after the 9:30 AM ET open, and on weekends and holidays, the lists show the last trading day. During the day they follow the Stock Screener's data, rebuilt about every 3 minutes.
A gap that keeps going in the morning can reverse later in the day. The lists show what is moving, not buy or sell signals.
What you can find out
Which stocks gapped up at the open and kept rising?
Gap Up and Go lists them, the biggest opening gap first, with %Chg From Open showing how far each has climbed since the open. See gap up and go stocks
Which stocks gapped down and kept falling?
Gap Down and Go lists them, the biggest drop at the open first, with how far each has fallen since. See gap down and go stocks
Is there news behind the gap?
Check Has News: N means we have a press release from the company since 10:00 AM ET the previous trading day, and the hover shows the headlines. Earnings reported before the open are another common cause. See today's earnings reports
How heavy is the volume behind the move?
Ratio Volume/Float puts today's volume against the shares available to trade: 0.10 means a tenth of the float has traded. For volume against the stock's own average, use Relative Volume in the Stock Screener. How the Stock Screener works
Which stocks are set to gap before the open?
Before 9:30 AM ET, the Premarket Trading report shows the biggest premarket gainers and decliners against the previous close, and its opening-gap study shows how recent gaps traded after the open. How the Premarket Trading report works
Where to find it
Menu: Stocks › Market Action Lists › Gap Up and Go or Gap Down and Go, or go straight to /stock-market-movers/Gap-Up-And-Go and /stock-market-movers/Gap-Down-And-Go. Each page shows its whole list in one scrolling table, with a search box.
Both lists are free, with no Premium-only parts. They show the current or last trading session only, not earlier days.
What each column means
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Company, Market Cap | The symbol and name, and the company's market value |
| Price, Price Chg | The latest price and its % change from the previous close |
| Opening Gap | Today's open against the previous close |
| %Chg From Open | The move from today's open to the latest price |
| Volume | Shares traded today in the regular session, including the auctions |
| Shares Float, Ratio Volume/Float | Shares available to trade, and today's volume divided by them |
| Has News | N when we have a press release since 10:00 AM ET the previous trading day |
FAQ
- What is a gap up?
- A stock opening well above the previous day's close, so its price chart shows a gap between the two. A gap down is the same below the close.
- What does gap and go mean?
- A gap that keeps going in the same direction after the open: a gap up followed by more gains, or a gap down followed by more losses. A stock moving back toward the previous close instead is often said to be filling the gap.
- Why do the lists show the previous day in the morning?
- Until shortly after the 9:30 AM ET open, and on weekends and holidays, they show the last trading day. For moves before the open, see the Premarket Trading report.
- What does the volume to float ratio mean?
- Today's volume divided by the shares available to trade. A ratio of 1.0 means as many shares have traded today as there are in the float.
- Are gap and go stocks a buy signal?
- No. The lists show stocks that have gapped and kept moving so far today, not where they go next; a gap can reverse later in the day.
Related
Market Movers Premarket Trading Report Opening and Closing Auctions Stock ScreenerTerms on this page
Opening gap Share float Previous close Press releaseMarket Chameleon provides data, not investment advice.