How to Spot Winning Trades in Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading
While most of us hang around waiting for the opening bell to ring, the savviest traders are already spotting momentum before 9:30am ET. Whether you're preparing for an earnings reaction, watching for economic data surprises, or tracking global news, pre-market and post-market sessions give you a head start.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to use Barchart’s tools to scan, screen, and get alerts before and after hours — and why this matters more than ever in volatile conditions.
Step #1: Understand Why Pre- & Post-Market Matters
- Pre-market trading happens between 4am–9:30am ET.
- Post-market trading runs from 4pm–8pm ET.
- Major news catalysts moving stocks during these hours can include earnings reports; guidance updates; overseas rate changes; geopolitical headlines; and jobs data.
Why it’s important:
- Big funds sometimes move positions in after-hours.
- Earnings reactions often start before and after the bell.
- Traders watching these moves can prepare for extended volatility, or be ready to capitalize on reversals.
Step #2: Visit Barchart’s Pre-Market & Post-Market Pages
You’ll see:
- Top gainers and losers
- Most active stocks by volume
- Price gaps up or down
- Custom filters to screen lists by exchange, sector, and more
Pro Tip: Sort by Volume or Percent Change to quickly identify momentum.
Step #3: Use Screens and Filters to Customize
Click “Screen” at the top of either page to filter based on your trading style.
Recommended Filters:
- Price: Above $10 (eliminate low-dollar and penny stocks, unless that’s your niche)
- Volume: Over 1,000,000 (to find active names)
- Market Cap: Large & Mega-Cap (for stability and reliability)
- RSI or MACD Signals: Spot overbought or oversold setups
- Gap Up / Gap Down %: To catch extreme overnight moves
Barchart Premier members can unlock even more technical features and trade alerts.
Step #4: Analyze Setups with FlipCharts
After filtering your list, open the FlipCharts view.
- Use chart templates for different strategies
- Look for key technical patterns like breakouts, gaps, and reversal levels
- Save setups to a Watchlist for later review
Pro tip: Use daily and weekly views to compare short-term movement vs. longer trends.
Step #5: Save the Screener + Set Trade Alerts
Once you've customized your screener:
- Click “Save Screener”
- Set up email alerts when new stocks meet your criteria
- Name and save a Watchlist to track entries and exits
With Barchart Premier, you can even track strategy-based setups like moving average crossovers or TrendSeeker signals with exclusive trade alerts.
Final Tips: What the Pros Watch in Pre-Market
- Volume early in the session: Spikes in pre-market often indicate news
- Gap-ups on strong earnings: Confirm direction with volume and RSI
- Gap-downs on weak guidance: Watch for support levels and future reversals
- Sector-based movement: Energy, tech, and financials often react to macro news in after-hours trading
Watch It In Action
If you’re more of a visual learner, we’ve got you covered!
Check out this quick video, where Barchart educator Reynolde Jordan explains exactly how to use our pre-market and post-market tools to spot trade setups, screen for volume leaders, and set your own alerts.
Want access to trade alerts and strategies for your favorite stocks? Try Barchart Premier FREE for 30 days and take your pre-market prep to the next level!
On the date of publication, Barchart Insights did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.