# Vcp Screener

Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP) and...

- Repository: https://github.com/tradermonty/claude-trading-skills (3536 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add tradermonty/claude-trading-skills --skill vcp-screener -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add tradermonty/claude-trading-skills --skill vcp-screener -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add tradermonty/claude-trading-skills --skill vcp-screener -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add tradermonty/claude-trading-skills --skill vcp-screener -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP) and detect historical VCPs in a single ticker's price path. Identifies Stage 2 uptrend stocks forming tight bases with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points; in historical single-ticker mode walks a multi-year history and emits every VCP that formed with forward-outcome stats (breakout / stop-hit / timeout). Use when user requests VCP screening, Minervini-style setups, tight base patterns, volatility contraction breakout candidates, Stage 2 momentum stock scanning, or historical VCP pattern study on a specific ticker (e.g. FIX, TSLA).

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# VCP Screener - Minervini Volatility Contraction Pattern

Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP), identifying Stage 2 uptrend stocks with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points.

## When to Use

- User asks for VCP screening or Minervini-style setups
- User wants to find tight base / volatility contraction patterns
- User requests Stage 2 momentum stock scanning
- User asks for breakout candidates with defined risk
- User asks "find every historical VCP in <TICKER>" or wants to study one ticker's
  past VCP setups with forward outcomes (`--history --ticker SYM`)

## Prerequisites

- FMP API key (set `FMP_API_KEY` environment variable or pass `--api-key`)
- Free tier (250 calls/day) is sufficient for default screening (top 100 candidates)
- Paid tier recommended for full S&P 500 screening (`--full-sp500`)

## Workflow

### Step 1: Prepare and Execute Screening

Run the VCP screener script:

```bash
# Default: S&P 500, top 100 candidates
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts

# Custom universe
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --universe AAPL NVDA MSFT AMZN META --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts

# Full S&P 500 (paid API tier)
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --full-sp500 --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts
```

### Strict Mode (Minervini pure setup)

Only return stocks with `valid_vcp=True` AND `execution_state` in `(Pre-breakout, Breakout)`:

```bash
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --strict --output-dir reports/
```

### Historical single-ticker mode

Walk one ticker's multi-year history, detect every VCP that ever formed, and
attach forward-outcome stats (breakout / stop-hit / timeout, days-to-outcome,
max gain, max loss) per detection. Useful for pattern study and backtesting
context, not a real-time screener.

The rest: https://github.com/tradermonty/claude-trading-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/vcp-screener/SKILL.md