Introduction

StocksUnderTheHood.com has evolved significantly in its first 18 months. What began as a personal tool has grown into a platform that helps both me and a growing number of others navigate the market more efficiently. As my web and coding skills have improved, I’ve focused on automating key market tasks—far exceeding my initial expectations. Here’s how I now use the site.

 

Before The Market Opens

Each day, I update the Macro and Detailed Macro pages to reflect key developments from the past 24 hours. This helps me (and others) stay ahead of:

• Global market moves

• Commodity trends

• Signals from Bitcoin and the VIX (Volatility Index)

• Notable overnight price action

While I’m primarily a bottom-up investor, macro signals still matter. For instance, if bond yields are rising when they shouldn’t, I might hold off on new positions.

I then check for significant company announcements in CommSec, especially for stocks I track. If needed, I’ll refer to their Fact Sheets on my site for a quick refresher.

Fact Sheets

I track around 500 tickers, aiming to present key data in a concise format with minimal manual effort. Thanks to ongoing improvements in my coding, this is becoming increasingly automated.

Here’s how I use the Fact Sheets:

1. Company Size
   Indicates potential index inclusion/exclusion, which can affect buying/selling pressure.
2. Free Float & Free Float Value
   Helps assess index relevance (based on float value, not market cap) and insider/institutional ownership.
3. Debt vs. Cash
   I prefer cash-rich companies, but will accept debt if it’s justifiable and manageable.
4. Rule of 40
   I prefer cash-rich companies, but will accept debt if it’s justifiable and manageable.
5. Short Positions
   I examine short positions in the company as a gauge of sentiment and risk.
6. 3EMA Status
   A quick trend snapshot. I avoid stocks with a Negative 3EMA.
7. Dividends
   Not a priority for me, but I still check ex-dividend status

Chart Analysis

I review each stock’s price relative to its 3 EMAs and note any unusual volume activity.

I also examine the 12-month short position chart and overlay it with the price chart to see if there’s a correlation. A rising short interest alongside falling prices can flag trend reversals—both in and out.

Premium Company Data

This section dives deeper into financials:
Are revenues and earnings growing? How does the current valuation compare historically? This data often drives investment decisions.

In The Evening

At around 7 PM, the site auto-generates a suite of reports. My routine includes:

1. Volume Spikes – Identify high-volume movers; potential trend starters or enders.
2. 52 Week Highs / Lows – I scan for new highs (especially those I don’t yet own) to fuel my trend-following approach.
3. 3EMA Change Report – Shows which stocks have flipped trends—ideal for identifying fresh setups.
4. Heatmap Report – Offers a sector-wide snapshot of daily movement across the 200 largest ASX stocks.
5. Model Portfolios – I monitor entries/exits as signals for my own portfolio.
6. Short Position Movers – Which stocks are seeing the biggest increase / decrease in short selling activities?
7. 3EMA Compliance Report – Reveals which companies are trending up, down, or mixed.

If anything stands out, I dig deeper via the Fact Sheet.

 

Conclusion

StocksUnderTheHood.com has become an essential part of my market workflow, streamlining analysis and sharpening decision-making. As I continue to refine its tools and expand its features, I aim to make it a go-to destination for investors seeking a data-driven, tactical edge—whether they’re focused on trends, macro insights, or sector-specific strategies.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided purely for educational purposes. It takes no account of an individual’s personal financial circumstances and hence can in no way constitute financial advice. The above data may be subject to errors or inconsistencies for which the author takes no liability. It is imperative that all investors do their own research or if they need advice, seek it from a qualified financial adviser.

How I use stocksunderthehood.com