Advanced Filtering

Why Filtering Matters

On any given trading day, the VB Platform might show 30-50 active signals across all models and symbols. That’s too many to analyze effectively. Without filtering, you’re overwhelmed by choices and prone to analysis paralysis.

The Scanner’s filtering system helps you narrow the field to 3-8 high-quality setups that match your trading style, timeframe, and risk tolerance. Think of filters as your trading blueprint – they enforce discipline and keep you focused on your edge.

This guide covers every filter, how to use them strategically, and provides ready-to-use filter combinations for different trading styles. This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style.

The Complete Filter Set

Direction Filter

Options: LONG, SHORT, Both This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it:

• LONG only: If you trade only bullish setups, or if the broader market is in an uptrend and you want to align with the bias
• SHORT only: If you specialize in bearish plays, or if the market is selling off and you want downside setups
• Both: If you’re comfortable trading in either direction and want to see all opportunities

Pro tip: Check the Dashboard’s Market Bias before setting this filter. If 75% of signals are LONG, filtering for SHORT might leave you with only 2-3 weak setups. Go with the flow unless you have strong reasons to counter-trade.

Model Filter

Options: Hourly Aggressive (VBH Aggressive), Hourly Conservative (VBH Conservative), Daily Aggressive (VBD Aggressive), Daily Conservative (VBD Conservative) This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it:

Hourly Aggressive: For scalping and day trading (30 min – 4 hours hold time). Tighter stops, more frequent signals, designed for quick in-and-out trades. Best for active traders who can monitor positions in real-time.

Hourly Conservative: For day trading with more room to breathe (1-6 hours hold time). Wider stops, stronger confirmation, fewer false starts. Good for part-time day traders who check every 30-60 minutes.

Daily Aggressive: For swing trades lasting 1-3 days. Based on daily volatility ranges. Ideal for traders who can handle overnight risk but want faster swings.

Daily Conservative: For swing trades lasting 3-5+ days. Widest bands, highest conviction, multi-day holds. Best for position traders who check once or twice per day.

Strategy: Select the model(s) that match your availability. If you work full-time and can only check the market twice a day, filter to Daily Conservative. If you day trade full-time, focus on Hourly Aggressive or Hourly Conservative.

Price Range Filter

Options: Minimum and maximum stock price (e.g., $50 – $200)

When to use it:

• If you have a small account and can’t afford high-priced stocks, set max to $100
• If you want to avoid penny stocks or low-liquidity names, set min to $20
• If you prefer blue-chip stocks, set min to $100+

Example: With a $5,000 account and 1% risk per trade ($50 risk), you might struggle to size positions correctly on a $600 stock like TSLA. Filter for $20-$150 to keep position sizing manageable.

Conviction Score Filter

Options: Slider from 60-100 This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it: Always. This is your most important filter.

• 80+: High-quality setups with strong multi-factor confirmation (conservative approach, 3-8 signals per day)
• 75+: Good quality with minor weaknesses (balanced approach, 8-12 signals per day)
• 70+: Acceptable quality, more opportunities (aggressive approach, 15-20 signals per day)
• 65+: Minimum tradeable, high volume strategy (very aggressive, 20-30 signals per day)

Recommendation: Start at 75+ for the first month. Once you understand what makes high-quality setups work, you can lower to 70+ if you want more opportunities.

Win Rate Filter

Options: Minimum win rate percentage (e.g., 50%, 55%, 60%)

When to use it:

• Set to 50%+ as a baseline to avoid strategies with poor hit rates
• Increase to 55%+ if you prefer higher-probability setups
• Use 60%+ sparingly – you’ll filter out many good setups with strong expectancy but moderate win rates

Important: Don’t obsess over win rate. A 48% win rate with +$0.60 expectancy is better than a 65% win rate with +$0.10 expectancy. Always check expectancy alongside win rate.

Expectancy Filter

Options: Minimum expectancy value (e.g., +$0.10, +$0.20, +$0.30) These metrics are calculated from actual historical data and provide reliable indicators of potential future performance.

When to use it:

• Set to +$0.10 minimum to filter out break-even or losing strategies
• Increase to +$0.20+ for strong profitability
• Use +$0.30+ for highly selective, profit-focused scans

Pro tip: Expectancy is more reliable than win rate for long-term profitability. A setup with 52% win rate and +$0.45 expectancy will outperform a 68% win rate with +$0.12 expectancy over 100 trades.

Market Pulse Color Filter

Options: Green, Yellow, Orange, Red This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. These color codes provide instant visual feedback without requiring detailed analysis of numbers.

When to use it:

Green: Strong established trends. Highest win rates, best momentum. Filter for Green if you want to trade only the strongest setups.

Yellow: Moderate trends with some consolidation. Still good, but less powerful than Green. Include Yellow if you want more opportunities without sacrificing too much quality.

Orange: Weak or fading trends. Riskier, prone to reversals. Only use if you’re trading reversals intentionally.

Red: Choppy, no clear trend. Avoid unless you’re specifically looking for range-bound scalping opportunities.

Best practice: Filter for Green OR Yellow to focus on trending markets. Skip Orange and Red unless you’re an advanced trader with specific counter-trend strategies.

Signal Type Filter

Options: FP (First Pullback), TC (Trend Continuation), SP (Support Play), ME (Mean Extension), TR (Trend Reversal) Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it:

FP (First Pullback): The highest-probability signal type. First retracement in an established trend. Use this if you want to trade with momentum. Win rates typically 55-70%.

TC (Trend Continuation): Ongoing momentum in the trend direction. Solid setups, slightly less explosive than FP. Win rates typically 50-65%.

SP (Support Play): Bounces from key levels. Good for support/resistance traders. Win rates typically 50-60%.

ME (Mean Extension): Overextended moves with potential mean reversion. Counter-trend, lower win rates (45-55%) but can have strong expectancy if winners are large.

TR (Trend Reversal): Counter-trend setups attempting to catch reversals. Lowest win rates (40-50%), highest risk. Require 80+ conviction and tight risk management.

Recommendation: Filter for FP and TC if you’re a trend follower. Add SP if you trade support/resistance. Avoid ME and TR unless you’re experienced with counter-trend trading.

Trend Alignment Filter

Options: WITH trend, AGAINST trend Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it:

WITH: Signal direction matches the established trend (e.g., LONG signal in an uptrend). Higher win rates, trading with momentum. Filter for WITH if you want the odds in your favor.

AGAINST: Signal direction opposes the trend (e.g., LONG signal in a downtrend). Counter-trend setups. Only use if you’re specifically hunting reversals and have strong conviction (80+).

Pro tip: 80% of successful traders filter for WITH alignment only. Trading against the trend is hard, even with good signals.

Status Filter

Options: Open, Target Hit, Stopped, EOD This action takes just a few seconds and provides immediate access to the information you need. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it:

Open: Active signals that are still tradeable. Use this 90% of the time when scanning for new trades.

Target Hit: Signals that reached profit targets. Use this to study successful setups and identify patterns that work.

Stopped: Signals that hit stop loss. Use this to review failures and learn what to avoid.

EOD: Signals that closed at end of day without resolution. Use this to see which setups stalled out.

Workflow: Filter for “Open” when scanning for trades. At end of day, filter for “Target Hit” and “Stopped” to review performance and improve your pattern recognition.

Volume Filter

Options: Minimum average daily volume (e.g., 500K, 1M, 2M shares)

When to use it:

• Set to 1M+ shares for scalping to ensure tight spreads and fast fills
• Set to 500K+ for day trading
• No minimum needed for swing trading on well-known stocks

Why it matters: Low-volume stocks have wide bid-ask spreads and slippage. If you’re scalping for $0.30 gains, a $0.05 spread eats into your edge. High volume = tighter spreads = better execution.

S&P 100 Only Filter

Options: Checkbox (on/off) This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it: If you prefer trading only blue-chip, highly liquid stocks with lower volatility and less gap risk. S&P 100 stocks are household names like AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL, JPM, etc.

Trade-off: Fewer opportunities (maybe 8-12 signals instead of 30+), but higher quality and lower risk. Good for conservative accounts or IRA trading.

Watchlist Filter

Options: Select one or more of your custom watchlists This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

When to use it: If you’ve built expertise on a specific group of 10-20 stocks and want to see only signals on those symbols. For example:

• Tech stocks watchlist (AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, AMZN)
• High momentum watchlist (TSLA, COIN, MSTR, GME, AMC)
• ETF watchlist (SPY, QQQ, IWM, DIA)

Benefit: Deep familiarity with price behavior, better entry timing, faster decision-making. This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively.

Filter Combinations for Different Trading Styles

Configuration 1: Conservative Day Trading

Goal: High-quality day trades with strong confirmation This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Direction: LONG (or both if comfortable with shorts)
Model: Hourly Conservative
Conviction: 80+
Win Rate: 55%+
Market Pulse Color: Green or Yellow
Signal Type: FP or TC
Trend Alignment: WITH
Status: Open
Volume: 1M+ shares

Expected results: 3-6 signals per day, win rates 55-65%, hold times 1-4 hours, wider stops ($1-3 per share on mid-cap stocks). These metrics are calculated from actual historical data and provide reliable indicators of potential future performance.

Configuration 2: Aggressive Scalping

Goal: High-frequency scalping with quick entries/exits This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Direction: Both
Model: Hourly Aggressive
Conviction: 70+
Win Rate: 50%+
Market Pulse Color: Green or Yellow
Signal Type: FP, TC, or SP
Trend Alignment: WITH
Status: Open
Volume: 2M+ shares
Price Range: $50-$200

Expected results: 10-15 signals per day, win rates 50-60%, hold times 10-90 minutes, tight stops ($0.50-$1.50 per share).

Configuration 3: Swing Trading (3-5 Days)

Goal: Multi-day position trades with strong trends Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Direction: LONG
Model: Daily Conservative
Conviction: 80+
Win Rate: 55%+
Expectancy: +$0.30+
Market Pulse Color: Green
Signal Type: FP or TC
Trend Alignment: WITH
Status: Open

Expected results: 2-5 signals per day, win rates 55-70%, hold times 3-7 days, wider stops ($3-8 per share on mid-cap stocks). These metrics are calculated from actual historical data and provide reliable indicators of potential future performance.

Configuration 4: Reversal Trading (Advanced)

Goal: Counter-trend reversals at key levels Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Direction: Both
Model: Hourly Conservative or Daily Aggressive
Conviction: 85+
Win Rate: 50%+
Expectancy: +$0.40+
Market Pulse Color: Orange or Red
Signal Type: TR
Trend Alignment: AGAINST
Status: Open

Expected results: 1-3 signals per day, win rates 45-55%, high reward-to-risk (2:1+), requires tight stops and quick exits if wrong. These metrics are calculated from actual historical data and provide reliable indicators of potential future performance.

Warning: This is advanced. Only attempt after 100+ successful WITH-trend trades.

Configuration 5: S&P 100 Blue Chips Only

Goal: Lower-risk day trading on household names This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. Lower values here indicate reduced risk exposure and more favorable trade characteristics.

Direction: LONG
Model: Hourly Aggressive or Hourly Conservative
Conviction: 75+
Win Rate: 55%+
Market Pulse Color: Green or Yellow
Signal Type: FP or TC
Trend Alignment: WITH
Status: Open
S&P 100 Only: Yes

Expected results: 4-8 signals per day, win rates 55-65%, lower volatility, easier to manage. These metrics are calculated from actual historical data and provide reliable indicators of potential future performance.

Configuration 6: Watchlist-Focused Specialist

Goal: Trade only the 10-15 stocks you know best This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Direction: Both
Model: All (Hourly and Daily)
Conviction: 70+
Win Rate: 50%+
Market Pulse Color: Green or Yellow
Trend Alignment: WITH
Status: Open
Watchlist: [Your custom list]

Expected results: 3-8 signals per day on familiar symbols, faster decision-making, better intuition on entries/exits. This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively.

Saving and Loading Filter Presets

Once you find filter combinations that work for your style, save them as presets: This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. Saving this data allows you to maintain records and track your performance over time.

1. Apply your filters in the Scanner sidebar
2. Click “Save Preset” button
3. Name it (e.g., “Conservative Day Trade,” “Scalp Setup,” “Weekly Swings”)
4. Load the preset anytime with one click

Create 3-5 presets for different market conditions and trading sessions: This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Morning Momentum: Hourly Aggressive, 75+ conviction, Green MP, FP/TC signals
• Midday Range: Hourly Conservative, 80+ conviction, Yellow/Orange MP, SP signals
• Power Hour: Hourly Aggressive, 70+ conviction, Green MP, TC signals
• Weekly Swings: Daily Conservative, 80+ conviction, Green MP, FP signals

Advanced Filtering Strategies

Time-Based Filtering

Combine filters with time of day awareness: This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

9:30-10:00 AM (Opening Bell): This action takes just a few seconds and provides immediate access to the information you need. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Hourly Aggressive, 75+ conviction, Green MP, FP signals, volume 2M+
• Look for momentum continuation from pre-market gaps

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Midday): This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Hourly Conservative, 80+ conviction, Yellow/Green MP, TC signals
• Focus on established trends with pullback entries

3:00-4:00 PM (Power Hour): This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Hourly Aggressive, 70+ conviction, Green MP, TC signals
• Fresh signals only (triggered after 2:45 PM)
• Higher volume confirmation (2x+ average)

Market Condition Adaptations

Bull Market (SPY in strong uptrend): Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Direction: LONG heavily favored
• Conviction: Can lower to 70+ (more opportunities in trending market)
• Signal Type: FP and TC primarily
• Alignment: WITH only

Bear Market (SPY in downtrend): Trend and momentum alignment are critical factors that significantly increase win rates. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Direction: SHORT heavily favored (or stay in cash)
• Conviction: Increase to 80+ (tighter risk management)
• Signal Type: FP and TC on the short side
• Stops: Trail tighter, take profits faster

Choppy Market (SPY range-bound): This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

• Conviction: 80+ only (quality over quantity)
• Market Pulse: Green only (wait for mini-trends within chop)
• Win Rate: 55%+ (need higher probability in tough conditions)
• Position Size: Reduce by 50%

Correlation Filtering

Avoid taking 5 signals on correlated stocks (e.g., AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL, NVDA all LONG). If they’re all moving together, you’re not diversified – you’re 5x leveraged on tech.

After filtering, manually check that your selected signals span different sectors or have low correlation. This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style.

Common Filtering Mistakes

Mistake 1: Over-filtering This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Setting Conviction 90+, Win Rate 65%+, Expectancy +$0.50+, Green MP only = zero signals most days. You’ve filtered out all opportunities. Balance quality with opportunity.

Mistake 2: Under-filtering This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

No filters applied = 40 signals to evaluate = analysis paralysis = bad decisions. Always use at least conviction, status, and model filters.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Market Pulse This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Taking AGAINST trend signals with Red MP and 68 conviction because “it looks oversold.” That’s not trading, that’s gambling. Respect the filters.

Mistake 4: Constantly changing filters This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Using different filters every day because yesterday’s setup didn’t work. Stick with a filter configuration for at least 20-30 trades to evaluate if it’s profitable. Don’t optimize based on 2-3 trades.

Mistake 5: Not saving presets This is an important aspect of using the platform effectively. This information is valuable for understanding how to use the platform more effectively.

Manually re-applying 8 filters every morning. Save presets and load them in 2 seconds.

Key Takeaways

1. The Scanner offers 12+ filters to narrow 30-50 signals down to 3-8 high-quality setups
2. Conviction Score (75-80+) is your most important filter for quality control
3. Model Type determines your hold time: Hourly for day trades, Daily for swing trades
4. Market Pulse Color (Green/Yellow) and Trend Alignment (WITH) stack the odds in your favor
5. Signal Type (FP/TC) identifies the highest-probability setups
6. Create 3-5 filter presets for different trading styles and market conditions
7. Review “Target Hit” and “Stopped” signals at end of day to refine your filters over time
8. Don’t over-filter (0 signals) or under-filter (40 signals) – find your balance

Master filtering, and you’ll spend less time scanning and more time executing profitable trades. This selection helps you focus on the most relevant opportunities for your trading style.