Price trading within 5% of its 52-week high, positioning for a potential major breakout.
The 252-day high captures the highest closing price over the past full trading year. The screen requires the current close to be above 95% of that value — within a 5% band beneath the 52-week high. The 5% threshold is deliberately permissive: it surfaces both stocks at the doorstep of a breakout and those that broke out, pulled back slightly, and may retest. Unlike 52-Week High + Volume, this screen has no volume requirement, so it captures stocks consolidating near the high as well as those actively breaking through.
Stocks within 5% of their 52-week high are generally in strong uptrends — the fact that they have returned to or held near the annual high despite any intervening volatility signals persistent demand. The primary failure mode is a "high shelf" that keeps getting tested and rejected: a stock may appear on this screen repeatedly as it spends months consolidating just below the annual high, forming a distribution zone rather than a launchpad. The second failure mode is sector rotation — a stock near its 52-week high in a sector that is beginning to underperform can break downward decisively. For the breakout confirmation, pair this watchlist with 52-Week High + Volume. For opposite-end context, compare to Near 52-Week Low. All-Time High Breakout is the stronger version of this signal for stocks clearing lifetime highs.
Educational references. Videos may not match this screen's exact filters.
This screen finds stocks trading within 5% of their 52-week high — the zone where resistance becomes support upon a breakout. Currently 60 stocks match, making it one of the most populated daily screens. Price proximity to the annual high is a relative strength indicator: stocks that hold near their 52-week high during market pullbacks are demonstrating demand. Swing traders and position traders use this to build watchlists for potential breakouts or as a trend-strength filter. Search phrases: stocks near 52-week high, near annual high breakout watch, relative strength stock screener.