Investment ideas

32 stock lists built from fixed rules, from Graham and Greenblatt to insider buying. Each is rebuilt after every close and tested month by month since 2016, using only the numbers that were public at the time.

Lists as of the close on Oct 30, 2026Build your own screen

Return against risk since October 2016

Each dot is one list, held in equal weights and rebuilt every month. Above the dashed line a list beat all US stocks; left of it, the ride was calmer. 3 lists rely on recent-only data and aren't on the map.

An idea list
Warning list
All US stocks, equal weight
S&P 500, price only

Changes at the latest update

Every list

Backtest figures run from 2016 to the latest close.

List	Stocks	Per year	Past 12 months	Worst fall	Sharpe	Turnover
ValuePaying less than the business is worth.
Graham's defensive investorLarge, steady companies that pass Benjamin Graham's tests for the cautious investor.Leading: MMS, INGR, CMC and 3 more	6+1 new	Per year+4.2%−5.2 pts	12 months-4.5%−8.7 pts	-36%	Sharpe0.20	28%
Net-netsCompanies trading for less than their current assets minus every liability.Leading: LENZ, ENGN, TNXP and 30 more	33+1 new	Per year+13.1%+3.6 pts	12 months-6.8%−10.9 pts	-66%	Sharpe0.43	38%
Magic FormulaGood businesses at bargain prices: the 30 best combined ranks on earnings yield and return on capital.Leading: NUTX, TRN, CENX and 27 more	30+2 new	Per year+11.8%+2.3 pts	12 months+25.0%+20.8 pts	-42%	Sharpe0.48	15%
High F-Score valueCheap stocks on book value whose finances are improving on at least 8 of Piotroski's 9 tests.Leading: CTVA, MOS, CRTO and 21 more	24+1 new	Per year+10.8%+1.4 pts	12 months+15.0%+10.8 pts	-48%	Sharpe0.42	23%
More cash than they're worthCompanies whose net cash covers at least half of their market value.Leading: ENGN, LENZ, FBIO and 156 more	159+12 new	Per year+14.8%+5.4 pts	12 months+11.2%+7.0 pts	-64%	Sharpe0.49	24%
Undervalued and financially soundAt least 30% below our fair value estimate, with a healthy balance sheet.Leading: ARI, CRTO, TTD and 101 more	104+9 new	Per year+15.3%+5.9 pts	12 months+29.7%+25.5 pts	-34%	Sharpe0.65	27%
QualityHigh returns on capital, kept up for years.
Quality compoundersBusinesses that have earned 15%+ on invested capital for five years while growing and staying lightly indebted.Leading: MANH, SPGI, BKE and 62 more	65	Per year+17.9%+8.4 pts	12 months+9.2%+5.1 pts	-34%	Sharpe0.78	6%
Quality on saleQuality compounders trading at or below our fair value estimate.Leading: TTD, SNDK, LULU and 36 more	39+3 new	Per year+15.6%+6.2 pts	12 months+11.8%+7.7 pts	-39%	Sharpe0.66	22%
Rule #1 (the 4Ms)Phil Town's four Ms: meaning, moat, management and margin of safety, measured with the Big Five growth rates.Leading: FSLR, LULU, MU and 10 more	13+1 new	Per year+8.3%−1.1 pts	12 months+15.0%+10.8 pts	-45%	Sharpe0.33	25%
Top scoresCompanies that pass at least 22 of the 30 checks behind the StockData Score.Leading: NVDA, BMI, MU and 35 more	38+2 new	Per year+14.4%+5.0 pts	12 months+29.8%+25.6 pts	-34%	Sharpe0.63	30%
GrowthSales and earnings rising faster than the market.
CANSLIMWilliam O'Neil's growth leaders: accelerating earnings, new highs, and institutions buying.Leading: PAYS, ANF, HALO and 8 more	11	Per year+13.1%+3.6 pts	12 months+2.9%−1.3 pts	-44%	Sharpe0.51	52%
Breakout quarterJust reported: revenue up 20% and profit up 40% on the same quarter last year.Leading: MU, HGV, CDNA and 41 more	44+7 new	Per year+27.6%+18.1 pts	12 months+53.3%+49.2 pts	-33%	Sharpe0.86	90%
Small-cap growthCompanies worth $300M to $2B growing sales and profits 20%+ with healthy returns on equity.Leading: CRMD, PLBC, ZVRA and 19 more	22	Per year+24.7%+15.2 pts	12 months+29.1%+25.0 pts	-40%	Sharpe0.86	22%
Mega-cap growersCompanies worth over $50B that still grow revenue 10%+ a year with 15%+ return on equity.Leading: NVDA, RCL, MELI and 54 more	57	Per year+18.1%+8.6 pts	12 months+16.4%+12.3 pts	-30%	Sharpe0.83	10%
TurnaroundsFive flat or shrinking years, then a quarter with revenue up 25% and profit up 50%.Leading: AD, FORM, SBSI and 13 more	16	Per year+17.2%+7.7 pts	12 months+18.3%+14.2 pts	-38%	Sharpe0.64	37%
IncomeDividends and buybacks that cash flow can carry.
Dividend growersTen or more straight years of higher dividends, still paid comfortably out of earnings.Leading: ORCL, WMT, JKHY and 204 more	207+1 new	Per year+9.8%+0.4 pts	12 months+16.0%+11.8 pts	-21%	Sharpe0.52	5%
High yield, coveredYields of 4% or more that free cash flow covers, from companies outside the distress zone.Leading: PGR, WEYS, MO and 15 more	18+2 new	Per year+12.0%+2.6 pts	12 months+27.8%+23.6 pts	-39%	Sharpe0.51	28%
Yields that look too goodWarning listYields of 10% or more. Most are warnings, not opportunities.Leading: ELME, VISN, NLOP and 113 more	116+4 new	Per year+6.6%−2.8 pts	12 months-10.5%−14.6 pts	-48%	Sharpe0.29	17%
Buyback cannibalsCompanies that shrank their share count by 3% or more in a year while generating free cash.Leading: TWFG, RSI, IBTA and 298 more	301+4 new	Per year+15.1%+5.6 pts	12 months+19.9%+15.8 pts	-35%	Sharpe0.66	10%
Shareholder yieldDividends plus buybacks worth 6% or more of the market value each year, without heavy debt.Leading: VISN, AD, TASK and 142 more	145+1 new	Per year+13.6%+4.2 pts	12 months+24.4%+20.3 pts	-39%	Sharpe0.58	18%
Following the informed moneyWhat executives and big funds are doing with their own money.
Insider cluster buysThree or more executives or directors bought shares on the open market in the last 90 days.Leading: BRVE, KOD, ATTO and 57 more	60	Per year+10.1%+0.7 pts	12 months+4.9%+0.7 pts	-40%	Sharpe0.41	40%
Insiders buying the dipShares down 30% or more from the high, and insiders buying anyway.Leading: LEN, MAIR, GPI and 129 more	132+3 new	Per year+11.0%+1.6 pts	12 months+5.6%+1.5 pts	-53%	Sharpe0.41	45%
Strong quarter, insiders buyingA breakout quarter followed by net buying from insiders over six months.Leading: LIME, CURI, CSGP and 41 more	44	Per year+20.4%+11.0 pts	12 months+31.0%+26.8 pts	-33%	Sharpe0.82	36%
Institutions accumulating10% more 13F filers and 5% more shares held than the quarter before.Leading: TRLV, VGNT, CAQ and 285 more	288+7 new	Per year+14.2%+4.7 pts	12 months-14.3%−18.5 pts	-45%	Sharpe0.53	29%
Superinvestor favoritesStocks held by three or more of the well-known managers we follow.Leading: GOOGL, AMZN, META and 201 more	204+2 new	Not backtested: needs data we only have for recent periods
MomentumStocks the market is already re-rating.
New highs on volumeClosed at a 52-week high on at least 1.5 times normal volume.Leading: GDYN, ACCO, CVEO and 44 more	47+34 new	Not backtested: needs data we only have for recent periods
Fallen qualityDown 25% or more from the 52-week high, yet still scoring 18/30 with modest debt.Leading: CTVA, TTD, STRL and 87 more	90+10 new	Per year+6.8%−2.6 pts	12 months+20.8%+16.6 pts	-34%	Sharpe0.29	41%
Most shortedWarning list15% or more of all shares sold short, and at least five days of volume to buy them back.Leading: UUP, WOLF, SHOE and 182 more	185	Not backtested: needs data we only have for recent periods
Balance-sheet situationsChanges in the accounts that tend to show up in profits later.
Building new capacityConstruction in progress is 5%+ of assets and grew 20% in a quarter.Leading: AMTX, VATE, LCID and 7 more	10+1 new	Per year-0.3%−9.7 pts	12 months+2.2%−2.0 pts	-62%	Sharpe0.09	27%
Orders paid in advanceDeferred revenue jumped 30% in a quarter and is 5%+ of assets.Leading: FBYD, AGPU, KOPN and 39 more	42	Per year+23.3%+13.8 pts	12 months+5.2%+1.1 pts	-40%	Sharpe0.78	36%
Depreciation running outProperty and equipment 85%+ depreciated while depreciation still eats a large share of operating profit.Leading: TLYS, RGR, CVEO and 6 more	9	Per year+9.9%+0.4 pts	12 months-6.0%−10.1 pts	-67%	Sharpe0.38	23%
Stocking upInventory is 30%+ of assets and grew 10% or more in a quarter.Leading: KMT, COLM, ELMT and 19 more	22+1 new	Per year+13.5%+4.1 pts	12 months-20.3%−24.5 pts	-45%	Sharpe0.47	34%

Where the lists agree

64 stocks pass four or more sets of rules today. Agreement means more when it comes from different schools of thought, so each dot is one list, grouped by theme. Warning lists are left out.

Stocks on the most idea lists, by theme
Stock	Value	Quality	Growth	Income	Informed money	Momentum	Balance sheet	Lists
muMicron Technology10								105 themes
adbeAdobe9								96 themes
lululululemon athletica9								95 themes
intuIntuit8								86 themes
nvdaNvidia7								74 themes
msftMicrosoft6								65 themes
googlAlphabet6								64 themes
nflxNetflix6								64 themes
deckDeckers Outdoor6								64 themes
croxCrocs6								64 themes
ttdTrade Desk6								64 themes
mmsMaximus6								64 themes

Backtests rebalance monthly into equal weights, use dividend-adjusted prices and ignore trading costs and taxes. Our price history only covers companies still listed today, which flatters every list a little; the comparison with all US stocks shares the same bias. How the backtests work. Not investment advice.