How scoring works
Automated research framing only: impersonal model outputs, not personalized advice. Last updated: August 27, 2026
When you search a ticker, or open a name from the Daily snapshot, MarketRunner builds an action label from the same rule set. Below is what each metric means and how combinations map to labels like Strong Buy, Buy, and Possible Buy Here. These labels are the model’s classification of available data, not instructions tailored to any individual investor.
Potential outcomes
These are the main action labels you may see. Each one is an automated research framing, not personalized advice.
- Strong Buy Improving and positive projected EPS, with a deeply oversold chart.
- Buy Bullish case with positive projected EPS, while the stock is still early and not in a confirmed uptrend.
- Possible Buy Here Oversold bounce when fundamentals are weak, or any bullish path where projected EPS is still ≤ 0 (never a straight Buy).
- Hold For Now Constructive uptrend already underway, better suited to holding than chasing.
- Possible Sell Here Still constructive on earnings, but the move looks extended or overbought. The model interprets this condition as an extended setup and assigns greater caution under the scoring methodology.
- Too Risky / Not A Buy / Strong Sell Bearish earnings and/or weak technical structure, more downside risk than opportunity in our model.
The metrics we use
Projected EPS vs last quarter
We compare the next-period earnings estimate to the prior period. If the projected figure is higher, the earnings case is treated as bullish. If it is lower, the earnings case is treated as bearish. If estimates are missing, we fall back to price/technical structure alone.
Positive projected EPS means the projected number itself is greater than zero (for example $1.10). A stock can be “improving” (less negative than last quarter) while projected EPS is still negative. That blocks Strong Buy and Buy; those names route to Possible Buy Here until projected EPS is positive.
Trend (90-day average)
If price is above the 90-day simple moving average, we treat the stock as in an uptrend. Below it, we treat it as not in an uptrend (often a pullback or downtrend context).
RSI (14)
Relative Strength Index on a 0 to 100 scale. Roughly:
- ≤ 30: oversold zone (used for reversal-style labels)
- ≥ 70: overbought zone (used for extended / caution labels)
- Mid-range: neither extreme
MACD
We use MACD as a complementary indicator alongside RSI and moving averages to help define momentum. It is especially helpful for spotting a bullish or bearish move when it is paired with an overbought or oversold reading.
How we decide the action label
First we decide if the earnings case is bullish or bearish. Then RSI, MACD, and trend pick the label inside that branch. Open any label below for the full rules.
Strong Buy
Internal name: Bullish Reversal
- Earnings case is bullish (projected EPS higher than last period)
- Projected EPS > 0
- Technicals are oversold: RSI ≤ 30, MACD/signal below zero in the oversold pattern, price not above the 90-day average
Plain English: earnings look better and already positive, while the chart looks washed out. In our model that is a high-conviction bounce setup.
Buy
Internal name: Bullish Bounce
- Earnings case is bullish
- Projected EPS > 0
- Stock is not in a confirmed uptrend (price below the 90-day average)
- It is not a Strong Buy (for example RSI is not deep oversold)
Plain English: the earnings story is constructive and already positive, and the stock still looks early. That is more of an emerging bounce than a deep washout Strong Buy. Improving but still-negative projected EPS does not qualify as Buy.
Possible Buy Here
Internal name: Limited Downside
You can get here in more than one way:
- Classic path: earnings case is bearish (or neutral with very weak RSI), but technicals are oversold. That is speculative bounce risk, not a strong earnings case.
- Added path: earnings case is bullish and the chart is oversold, but projected EPS is ≤ 0 (improving yet still not profitable on the estimate). Same label as classic Possible Buy Here; Strong Buy is blocked until projected EPS is positive.
- Also: earnings case is bullish and the stock is not in an uptrend (would otherwise be Buy), but projected EPS is ≤ 0. Negative estimates never get a straight Buy, only Possible Buy Here until projected EPS turns positive.
Plain English: the stock looks beaten up. Either fundamentals aren’t supportive yet, or estimates are still negative. Either way, risk is higher than Buy / Strong Buy.
Hold For Now
Internal name: Stable Upside
- Earnings case is bullish (or neutral in an uptrend)
- Price is in an uptrend
- Not in the overbought caution zone
Plain English: the scoring framework classifies this as a constructive setup already underway, typically framed as hold-oriented rather than a fresh chase.
Possible Sell Here
Internal name: Limited Upside
- Earnings case can still be bullish (or neutral)
- Price is in an uptrend and looks extended / overbought (RSI ≥ 70 with the MACD overbought pattern)
Plain English: fundamentals may still look constructive, but the move looks stretched. The model interprets this as an extended / overbought condition and assigns greater caution rather than a fresh buy-side classification.
Too Risky / Not A Buy / Strong Sell
Internal names: Downside Warning, More Downside, Sell-Off Risk
- Usually a bearish earnings case (projected EPS below last period)
- Combined with weak or overbought technical structure depending on the exact label
Plain English: our model sees more downside risk than opportunity. Daily snapshot focuses on buy-side labels; the full dashboard can still show these caution framings.
Daily snapshot vs searching a ticker
Both use this same scoring tree. The Daily snapshot scans a large shared universe once per weekday morning, then shows up to 25 names ranked Strong Buy → Buy → Possible Buy Here → Possible Sell Here, and within each tier by market cap and dollar volume (major-exchange liquidity). Share price is not used as a ranking filter. Searching a symbol loads the full dashboard for that name with the same action logic.
Important limits
- Labels are automated opinions from available data, not personalized advice.
- Estimates and prices can be delayed, revised, or wrong.
- An oversold or overbought reading does not mean a reversal will occur.
- Past patterns are not a promise of future results.
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