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Price & Trend
Price
price
The current market price of a stock, ETF or commodity at the time of the last price fetch. Determined by supply and demand; a higher price doesn't automatically mean expensive.
Limitations
A snapshot, not a live tick-by-tick price -- depending on the data source there can be a few minutes of delay. Says nothing about valuation (expensive/cheap is a matter of P/E, not the price itself).
Example
A price of €500 isn't necessarily "more expensive" than a price of €5 -- that depends on the number of shares outstanding, not the price itself.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Ticker card (headline figure)
- Every percentage calculation (return, P&L, alerts)
Bollinger Bands
volatility
Three lines: a middle band (20-day SMA) plus and minus 2 standard deviations. Bands widen during high volatility. For a normally distributed price series, theoretically about 95% of observations would fall within the bands — in practice, deviations and breakouts occur more often.
Middle band = SMA(20) | Upper/lower band = SMA(20) ± 2 × standard deviation
Limitations
The bands adapt to recent volatility — after a sudden volatility shock (e.g. unexpected news) they lag behind reality.
Example
The price touches the upper band during a strong uptrend: that's not a sell signal by itself — the price can "walk" along the band for a while without falling back.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Price chart overlay (Chart tab)
Support
level
A price level where the price repeatedly finds support. Investors buy heavily at this level. A zone that holds up multiple times is often considered more relevant — but repeated tests can also weaken a zone.
Limitations
Support is a zone, not an exact line -- the price can temporarily move through it without that being a confirmed breakout. Based on historical data, no guarantee for the future.
Example
A stock that bounces three times around €48 builds a support zone around that level -- a fourth test can just as easily hold as break.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Breakout alert (support/resistance icon on the ticker card)
- Price levels in the AI position analysis
Resistance
level
A price level where the price struggles to break through. Can trigger profit-taking, but is not a sell signal on its own. Old resistance becomes new support after a breakout.
Limitations
Same caveat as support: a zone, not an exact price. Repeated tests can either strengthen a level (more investors recognize it) or weaken it (it "uses up" selling pressure).
Example
A price that bounces off €62 three times and then breaks through often turns €62 into new support.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Breakout alert
- Price levels in the AI position analysis
Price performance by period
trend
Percentage price change over 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, 30, 10, 5 and 1 day. The combination helps compare short-term momentum against the medium- and long-term trend. Color-coded: green = up, red = down.
Limitations
Only shows the start and end point of each period, not the path in between -- a steady climb and a crash-with-recovery can end up at the same percentage.
Example
+8% over 30 days could be the result of a steady rise, or of a sharp drop followed by a strong recovery -- two very different risk profiles with the same headline number.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Ticker card (metrics row)
- Compare tool
Technical trend indicator (Bull / Bear / Sideways)
signal
Bullish: uptrend, buyers dominate. Bearish: downtrend, sellers dominate. Sideways: no clear direction. Calculated from RSI, MACD and the price change over 5 trading days.
Limitations
Based on a fixed, short period (5 days). A stock can drop on one day, rise over thirty days and move sideways over a year, all at once -- "the trend" without a time horizon is incomplete.
Example
A stock with a Bullish badge (based on the last 5 days) can still be well below where it was a year ago.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Ticker card
- Report summary table
Trend duration and trend break
trend
How long the price has been on the same side of the average of 50 or 200 price periods, with the status Rising (price above the average and the average rising), Falling or Mixed. A trend break is possible at the first close on the other side, confirmed after two consecutive closes beyond a buffer of 0.5 times the ATR, and restored when the price returns for two closes. Fully calculated, no AI.
Limitations
An average always lags the price: a break is only confirmed after part of the move has already happened, and a confirmed break can still reverse. The buffer adapts to volatility, but a very volatile ticker still gives more false signals. Not a forecast and not investment advice.
Example
A stock has been above its 50-day average for 93 trading days, with a 33% return since then and a largest drawdown in between of 7%. If it closes clearly below for two days in a row, the report says "trend break confirmed".
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Trend duration block on the ticker card in the report
- Price history in a deep-dive
SMA (Simple Moving Average)
trend
A simple moving average. SMA20 = average price over the last 20 days. SMA50 and SMA200 are often used as support/resistance.
Limitations
Lags behind price changes -- the longer the period (SMA200 vs. SMA20), the slower it reacts. Can generate many false signals in a sideways market as the price repeatedly crosses it.
Example
After a sudden price jump, the SMA still reflects the old level for days, because older prices count just as heavily as recent ones.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Chart tab (overlay)
- Golden Cross / Death Cross
EMA (Exponential Moving Average)
trend
An exponentially weighted moving average. Gives more weight to recent prices than SMA, reacts faster to changes.
Limitations
Reacts faster than SMA, but is therefore also more sensitive to short-lived noise -- more false signals in a choppy sideways market.
Example
On the same price jump, the EMA reacts faster than the SMA, which can give an earlier signal -- but also an earlier false signal on a temporary spike.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- MACD calculation
Golden Cross / Death Cross
signal
Golden Cross: SMA50 crosses above SMA200, usually read as a positive long-term signal. Death Cross: SMA50 crosses below SMA200, usually read as negative. Both are lagging signals and can appear only after a significant part of the price move has already happened.
Limitations
Lagging by definition (based on SMA50/SMA200) -- can appear only after a large part of the move has already happened, and can give a false signal in a sideways market.
Example
A Golden Cross that appears after the price has already risen 20% confirms a trend that has mostly already happened -- not an early entry signal.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- The "MA50/MA200" field in the report's AI Analysis tab (shows which of the two is above the other, the same underlying comparison)
Momentum Indicators
RSI (Relative Strength Index)
momentum
Measures the speed and size of price moves on a scale of 0-100. RSI > 70 = overbought, < 30 = oversold, ≈ 50 = neutral. Calculated over 14 trading days. Overbought doesn't automatically mean an imminent decline — in a strong trend, RSI can stay above 70 for a while.
RSI = 100 − (100 / (1 + RS)) | RS = avg. gain ÷ avg. loss
Limitations
RSI is a momentum indicator over a fixed, short period (14 days) — not a prediction. On sudden news it can quickly become stale, and in a strong trend RSI can stay above 70 (or below 30) for weeks without a reversal following.
Example
RSI = 78 after a strong rally points to relatively strong momentum, not necessarily an imminent decline — not unusual in a sustained uptrend.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Trend Badge
- Risk Score
- Overbought/Oversold signal
MACD (12, 26, 9)
momentum
Difference between two exponential moving averages. The signal line (9-day EMA of the MACD line itself) gives buy and sell signals. A crossover of MACD above the signal line is often read as positive momentum, below as negative.
MACD line = EMA(12) − EMA(26) | Signal line = EMA(9) of the MACD line
Limitations
MACD is based on moving averages and therefore lags the price by definition. In a sideways market it can generate a lot of crossovers (and so false signals).
Example
A crossover of the MACD line above the signal line below the zero line is often read as a stronger signal than the same crossover well above the zero line.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Trend Badge
- Chart tab (technical analysis)
ADX (Average Directional Index)
momentum
Measures the strength of a trend, not its direction. ADX > 25 = strong trend, < 20 = no clear trend. Direction is usually assessed separately with +DI/-DI or other trend indicators.
Limitations
Says nothing about the trend's direction -- only its strength. A high ADX can therefore belong to a strong rally just as easily as a strong decline.
Example
An ADX of 35 during a sharp decline points to a strong downtrend, not a buying opportunity -- read direction elsewhere (e.g. the Trend Badge, which is based on RSI/MACD/price change, not ADX).
Note
ADX is included here for general reference only -- MyStockWatcher doesn't calculate an ADX value itself.
Stochastic Oscillator
momentum
Compares the closing price to the price range over 14 days. %K > 80 = overbought, %K < 20 = oversold. %D is usually a moving average of %K, used as a signal line. Usually reacts faster to short-term changes than RSI, but can also give more false signals as a result.
Limitations
More sensitive to short-lived noise than RSI -- can flip between overbought and oversold often in a choppy sideways market without a real trend change following.
Example
%K can jump from 15 to 85 within a few days for a stock with a lot of short-term swings, without the underlying trend changing.
Oversold / Overbought
signal
Oversold (RSI < 30): the price has fallen relatively sharply on a momentum indicator — can point to a possible technical rebound. Overbought (RSI > 70): the price has risen relatively sharply — can point to a temporary cool-off. Neither says anything directly about fundamental valuation.
Limitations
A purely technical classification based on RSI -- an "oversold" stock in a strong downtrend can keep falling for weeks before any recovery.
Example
A stock can stay oversold (RSI below 30) for weeks during bad news without recovering -- oversold is no guarantee of a rebound.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- RSI color coding on the Chart tab
Volume & Volatility
Volume
volume
Number of shares traded in a trading day. High volume on a rally = strong buying pressure. Green = up, red = down. Shown in K (thousand) or M (million).
Limitations
Says nothing about the reason behind the activity -- high volume can come from news, an index rebalancing, or simply an options expiry day.
Example
A price rise on unusually low volume is usually seen as less convincing than the same rise on high volume.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Volume Status badge
- Chart tab (volume chart below the price chart)
ATR % (Average True Range)
volatility
Average daily price movement as a percentage of the price over 14 days. High ATR% = bigger price swings (more price volatility) — not a full measure of business or investment risk. Sometimes used to size price-based stop levels.
(ATR ÷ Price) × 100
Limitations
Measures price swings only, not direction -- a high ATR% says nothing about whether the price is likely to rise or fall.
Example
A €50 price with an ATR% of 3.6% means the stock moves roughly €1.80 per day on average -- an indicative risk level, not a guaranteed range.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Risk Score calculation
Largest decline (max. drawdown)
volatility
The biggest fall from a peak to a following low within a period (in the deep dive: the past year). It shows how deep the price dropped in that period, not what happens next.
(low ÷ peak − 1) × 100
Limitations
Looks only at the past and at one period: a calm year says nothing about the next one.
Example
Peak €120, then a low of €90: the largest decline is −25%. If the price is now €108 it is still 10% below the peak.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Deep dive: risk and volatility
Overlap between ETFs
etf
The share of the largest holdings that two ETFs have in common. With a lot of overlap, two ETFs partly invest in the same companies.
sum of the smaller weight per shared company
Limitations
A lower bound: only an ETF's largest holdings are known, so the real overlap can be higher.
Example
Two global ETFs with the same top 10 have a high overlap, even if they have different names.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Compare: ETF costs and overlap
Ongoing costs (TER)
etf
The yearly costs of an ETF or fund as a percentage of the amount invested, according to Yahoo Finance. They are deducted from the price automatically.
costs per year ÷ amount invested × 100
Limitations
Not included: your broker's trading costs, spreads and any taxes. Yahoo does not have this figure for every fund.
Example
An ETF with 0.20% ongoing costs costs €2 a year per €1,000 invested.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Compare: ETF costs and overlap
Volume Status
volume
Compares current volume to the 20-day average. High (more than 150% of the average): unusually high activity. Normal (50%-150% of the average). Low (less than 50% of the average): low interest.
Limitations
A relative comparison to the stock's own recent history, not to peers -- a structurally thin-trading stock can still show "Normal" while being illiquid in absolute terms.
Example
A small stock that normally trades 50,000 shares a day shows "High" at 80,000 shares -- a large-cap that normally trades 10 million shares shows "Low" at that same number.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Volume badge on the ticker card
VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price)
volume
Volume-weighted average price, mostly used intraday. Price above VWAP is often read as relatively strong, below as relatively weak — the meaning depends on the time and session. Widely used by institutional investors as a benchmark.
Limitations
Resets every session from scratch -- early in the day VWAP is still very sensitive to the first few trades and less meaningful.
Example
A large institutional order is often spread out over the day aiming for an average price close to the VWAP, instead of buying all at once at whatever price is available at that moment.
Fundamental Indicators
P/E Trailing
valuation
Price-to-earnings ratio based on realized earnings over the past 12 months. P/E 20 = you're paying 20x annual earnings. A higher P/E can point to expected growth, a lower P/E can point to a lower valuation, but also to slower growth or higher risk — compare with peers, the company's own history and expected growth.
Price ÷ Earnings per share
Limitations
Based on past earnings, so it says nothing directly about future growth. Can be heavily skewed by one-off gains or losses (e.g. a divested business unit).
Example
A P/E of 60 for a chipmaker in a fast-growing market can be more normal than a P/E of 15 for a utility with stable, low growth — the sector helps define what's "normal".
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
- Peer comparison
P/E Forward
valuation
Price-to-earnings ratio based on expected earnings for the next 12 months. A lower forward than trailing P/E can mean higher future earnings are expected, assuming price and other factors stay equal. Based on analyst estimates, which can change or turn out wrong.
Limitations
Relies entirely on analysts' earnings estimates -- these get revised regularly and can turn out wrong, especially in fast-changing sectors.
Example
A forward P/E of 18 against a trailing P/E of 25 points to expected earnings growth -- but only if that growth actually materializes.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
EPS Growth YoY
growth
Growth in earnings per share compared to the same quarter last year. Positive = more profitable. Growth of more than 20% is often considered strong, but the interpretation depends on sector, company size and comparison base. Negative = a warning sign.
Limitations
Can be heavily skewed by a low comparison base (e.g. growth looks enormous after a crisis year) or by one-off items.
Example
150% earnings growth after a loss-making year mostly reflects the low starting point, not necessarily a structural improvement.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
Revenue Growth
growth
Percentage growth in revenue compared to last year. Positive growth = a growing company. Important in combination with profit margins.
Limitations
Revenue growth without profit growth can point to shrinking margins -- always look at it together with gross margin and profit margin, not as a standalone number.
Example
A company growing revenue 30% but with shrinking margins can end up less profitable despite the growth headline.
Market Cap
valuation
Total market value of a company. Mega-cap (>$200B), Large-cap ($10B-$200B), Mid-cap ($2B-$10B), Small-cap (<$2B). These thresholds are indicative and can vary by data source or market.
Shares outstanding × Current price
Limitations
A snapshot that moves with the price every day -- the category (mega/large/mid/small-cap) can shift without anything fundamental changing about the company.
Example
Two companies with the same revenue can have very different market caps if the market prices in different future growth expectations.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
- Peer comparison
52W High / Low
price
Highest and lowest price level over the past 52 weeks. Near the high can point to relative momentum, near the low to weakness — but also to structural problems. Further analysis is still needed.
Limitations
A 52-week low is not an automatic "buying opportunity" -- it can just as easily be the start of a structural decline.
Example
A stock near its 52-week low after a profit warning may well be there for good reason, not just coincidentally "cheap".
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
Gross Margin
profitability
Percentage of revenue left after subtracting direct production costs. A high gross margin can point to pricing power, low direct costs or a scalable business model — the normal margin varies a lot by sector (e.g. 70%+ for software, 5-10% for retail is normal).
Limitations
Only comparable within the same sector -- a 30% gross margin is excellent for a retailer but weak for a software company.
Example
See the worked example further down this page (the "Examples & Clarification" section).
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
Profit Margin
profitability
Percentage of revenue left as net profit after all costs. Reflects the overall profitability of the company. A negative margin means a loss.
Limitations
Can be distorted by one-off items (e.g. a tax refund or a write-down), which can make it diverge from structural profitability in a normal year.
Example
A company with a 5% profit margin keeps €5 out of every €100 in revenue, after all costs, interest and taxes -- much less than the gross margin, which only subtracts direct production costs.
Dividend Yield
dividend
Annual dividend as a percentage of the price. A 3% yield = €3 per €100 invested. A high yield (5%+) can look attractive, but can also be the result of a sharply lower price or a potentially unsustainable dividend. Very high yields (10%+) deserve extra scrutiny.
(Annual Dividend ÷ Price) × 100
Limitations
A falling price automatically pushes the yield up, even without the company performing better -- a high yield can therefore be a warning sign rather than a bargain.
Example
See the worked example further down this page (the "Examples & Clarification" section).
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Key figures tab
- Dividend calendar (estimated annual yield)
Payout Ratio
dividend
Percentage of profit paid out as dividend. A payout ratio above 100% means the dividend paid out is higher than the reported profit for that period — can be temporary, but deserves a check of free cash flow, debt and dividend policy.
Dividend per share ÷ Earnings per share × 100
Limitations
Based on reported accounting profit, not free cash flow -- a company can show a sustainable payout ratio while actual cash flow doesn't cover the dividend, or vice versa.
Example
A payout ratio of 120% after a weak quarter isn't automatically a problem if the company remains structurally profitable and can sustain the dividend from reserves -- but it does deserve monitoring.
Net debt and net debt / operating income
balance sheet
Net debt is a company's total debt minus its cash and short-term investments. If it is negative, the company has more cash than debt (net cash). Divided by operating income (EBIT) it says roughly how many years of operating income it would take to pay off the net debt.
Limitations
The colour scheme in the deep-dive is a fixed classification: net cash or under 2 times operating income green, over 4 times red, yellow in between. It is not a judgement. Banks and insurers do not get this measure: their debts belong to their business model. "n.a." means a source figure is missing. The balance-sheet date and the fiscal year of the operating income can differ; that is then stated.
Example
Net debt 5.2B USD and 3.1x operating income: a little over three years of operating income.
Interest coverage and current ratio
balance sheet
Interest coverage is operating income divided by interest expense, summed over the last four quarters: how many times operating income covers the interest. The current ratio is current assets divided by current liabilities: whether a company can pay its short-term debts.
Limitations
Interest coverage of 6 or more is coloured green, under 3 red. If a company has no or negligible interest expense, "n.a." is shown. Neither measure exists for banks and insurers. Interest coverage is only calculated over four consecutive quarters; otherwise the app falls back on the fiscal year and says so ("ratio based on fiscal year").
Example
Interest coverage 8.2x: operating income is more than eight times the interest expense.
Figures of banks and insurers (CET1, LCR, NIM, combined ratio)
balance sheet
Banks and insurers have their own set of figures. CET1: the core capital ratio, how much core capital a bank has relative to its risk-weighted assets. LCR and NSFR: liquidity ratios. NIM: the net interest margin. Cost/income: how much of the income goes to costs. Solvency (Solvency II): the capital ratio of an insurer. Combined ratio: claims and costs divided by premiums; below 100% the insurer makes a technical profit.
Limitations
These figures come from the company's official publications and are added manually; they therefore appear only for a few companies and always with period and source. Net debt, interest coverage and current ratio are not shown for these companies.
Example
KBC: CET1 14.4% and cost/income 43% (2nd quarter 2026).
Beta
risk
Estimates how much a stock has historically moved with a benchmark, e.g. the S&P 500. Beta = 1: moves with the market. > 1: higher market sensitivity. < 1: lower market sensitivity. Beta measures market risk, but not all business, liquidity or currency risk.
Limitations
Beta is based on historical data and can change over time (e.g. after a change in company strategy). It says nothing about risks unrelated to market moves, like a product recall or an accounting scandal.
Example
A beta of 1.5 doesn't mean the stock will move exactly 1.5x the market tomorrow — it's a historical average, not a guarantee for any single day.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Risk Score calculation
Risk Score (1-10)
risk
A relative indication of price and market risk, composed of beta, ATR%, sector and RSI. 1-3 = low risk, 4-6 = average, 7-10 = high risk. Not a prediction of loss and not a substitute for full risk analysis — only the price/market component, not e.g. liquidity or currency risk.
Limitations
The score only covers price/market risk, not liquidity, currency or company-specific risk (e.g. an ongoing lawsuit). Crypto, currencies, commodities and ETFs may need a different methodology than individual stocks.
Example
Two stocks with a risk score of 6 can get there for very different reasons — one through high beta, the other through high ATR%. The score itself doesn't show that distinction.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Risk badge on every ticker card
- Summary table in the report
Types of investments
Stock (share)
investment
A stock is a small piece of ownership in a listed company. The price moves with profit expectations, the sector and market sentiment. Some companies pay a dividend.
Limitations
You can lose (part of) your investment, and a company can go bankrupt. A single stock is less diversified than a fund.
Example
A share of ASML (ASML.AS) trades in euros on Euronext Amsterdam; a share of Apple (AAPL) in dollars on NASDAQ.
ETF (Exchange Traded Fund)
etf
An ETF is a fund traded on the stock exchange that bundles a basket of investments, usually tracking an index (e.g. MSCI World or S&P 500). You buy and sell it like a stock, but are spread across dozens to thousands of holdings.
Limitations
An ETF is diversified, but not risk-free: if the index it tracks falls, the ETF falls with it. Watch the costs (TER), the difference from the index (tracking difference), the currency, and whether the ETF is accumulating (Acc) or distributing (Dist). Leveraged or inverse ETFs are more complex and riskier.
Example
A global equity ETF holds shares of companies from dozens of countries at once; a single purchase spreads you over many companies.
Crypto (cryptocurrencies)
investment
Cryptocurrencies (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum) are digital assets running on a blockchain, traded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no underlying company or central bank; the price is set by supply and demand.
Limitations
Highly volatile: prices can fall or rise sharply in a short time. There are no dividends and no fundamentals such as earnings. Custody (wallet, exchange) carries its own risks, such as hacks and loss of access. Regulation differs per country.
Example
BTC-USD shows the price of Bitcoin in dollars. Because crypto also trades on weekends, the price on Monday can already differ strongly from Friday.
USDT and crypto prices from Binance
crypto
USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin: a crypto coin meant to stay worth about 1 dollar. Crypto prices in MyStockWatcher come from Binance, where they are quoted in USDT; they are shown as USD (1 USDT is about 1 USD). The source appears next to the prices and in the reports.
Limitations
USDT can deviate slightly from exactly 1 dollar. Binance volume is part of the total market volume and so differs from composite figures. If Binance is unavailable or does not list a coin, the app uses Yahoo Finance.
Example
BTC-USD is shown as "Binance (USDT)": the price is that of BTC/USDT on Binance.
Commodities
investment
Commodities are physical goods such as oil, natural gas, gold and grain. They are usually followed through futures (in MyStockWatcher recognisable by the suffix =F) or through ETFs.
Limitations
Futures have an expiry: when rolling to the next contract the price can jump. The price depends heavily on supply, demand, weather and politics. A commodity pays no dividend.
Example
NG=F is the natural gas price via futures; GC=F that of gold.
Future (futures contract) and continuous series
investment
A future is a contract to deliver a commodity on an agreed date at a price fixed in advance. The price in MyStockWatcher is that of the continuous series: always the nearest contract (the front contract). It is therefore not a spot price, the price for immediate delivery.
Limitations
When a contract expires, the series takes over the next one (rolling over). If those two contracts have a different price level, the series jumps at that moment even though the market itself did not move. That can affect the 1-month and 1-year change, especially for natural gas.
Example
NG=F is the continuous future of natural gas; GC=F that of gold.
Units for commodities (troy ounce, barrel, MMBtu, pound, bushel)
investment
A commodity price belongs to a unit; MyStockWatcher shows it next to the name. Troy ounce (gold, silver, platinum, palladium): 31.1035 grams. Barrel (oil): about 159 litres. MMBtu (natural gas): one million British thermal units, a measure of energy content. Pound (lb, copper): 453.6 grams. Bushel (grain): a volume measure; a bushel of wheat weighs about 27.2 kg and a bushel of corn about 25.4 kg.
Limitations
The prices are those of continuous futures (see Future). Yahoo quotes wheat and corn in US cents; MyStockWatcher converts that to dollars. A troy ounce is heavier than an ordinary ounce (28.35 grams).
Example
Gold is shown as "USD per troy ounce": 4,200 USD means 4,200 dollars for 31.1 grams of gold.
Currencies (forex)
investment
An exchange rate shows how much of one currency you get for another, e.g. EUR/USD. Currencies trade on the forex market, the largest financial market in the world. In MyStockWatcher you recognise them by the suffix =X.
Limitations
Exchange rates often move by small percentages, but with leverage (see CFD) small moves can cause large gains or losses. There is no volume as for stocks, and no dividend.
Example
EURUSD=X = 1.10 means 1 euro is worth 1.10 dollars.
CFD (Contract for Difference)
investment
A CFD is a contract with a broker in which you settle the price difference between opening and closing, without owning the underlying stock, index or commodity. CFDs are almost always traded with leverage: with a small deposit (margin) you hold a much larger position.
Limitations
CFDs are complex, high-risk products. Leverage magnifies both gains and losses and you can lose more than your deposit (unless the broker offers negative balance protection). There are daily financing costs, spreads and sometimes commissions. Brokers must warn that a large share of retail accounts lose money. CFDs are not suitable for every investor and are not allowed everywhere. MyStockWatcher only shows prices and indicators and does not act as an intermediary.
Example
With 5% margin (1:20 leverage), a 5% fall in the underlying price means a loss of 100% of your deposit.
Dividend
dividend
A dividend is the part of profit a company pays out to shareholders. You receive it based on the ex-dividend date: if you buy the stock before that date, you get the next dividend.
Limitations
Dividends are not guaranteed and can be reduced or cancelled. On the ex-date the price usually drops by roughly the amount paid out. Withholding tax may be deducted.
Example
A 100 euro stock paying 2 euro dividend trades at about 98 euro after the ex-date, all else equal.
ETF-Specific Terms
Acc (Accumulating)
etf
A reinvesting ETF share class: dividends received are automatically reinvested in the fund instead of paid out. No direct payout -- the dividend stays invested, but that is no guarantee of a higher or positive return. Tax treatment varies by country.
Limitations
Acc applies to the share class, not necessarily the whole ETF -- the same fund can have both an Acc and a Dist variant.
Example
See the worked "ETF: Acc vs Dist" example further down this page.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Acc/Dist badge on ETF ticker cards
Dist (Distributing)
etf
A distributing ETF: dividends are periodically paid out to the holder. Suits investors who want passive income or cash flow.
Limitations
Payout frequency (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual) varies by fund -- check this with the fund provider itself, not just the Dist label.
Example
See the worked "ETF: Acc vs Dist" example further down this page.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Acc/Dist badge on ETF ticker cards
TER (Total Expense Ratio)
etf
Annual costs of an ETF as a percentage of invested assets. Lower = cheaper. Typically 0.07% - 0.75%. Every basis point adds up over the long term.
Limitations
TER doesn't cover all real costs -- transaction costs within the fund, the bid-ask spread and tracking difference vs. the index fall outside it.
Example
Two ETFs with the same TER can still deliver a different actual return due to a different tracking difference.
AI Analysis
Trend
ai analysis
Describes whether the price is rising, falling or moving sideways, based on RSI, MACD and recent price change. Purely descriptive -- not a recommendation on what to do.
Limitations
The outcome depends on the period used -- a stock can fall on one day, rise over thirty days and move sideways over a year. "The trend" without a time horizon is incomplete.
Example
A "rising" trend based on the last 5 days says nothing about where the price stood six months ago.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Technical position analysis (dashboard) and the report's AI Analysis tab
Support & Resistance
technical
Price levels where the price has often turned in the past. Support: level above which the price has historically held. Resistance: level below which the price has historically stayed. Calculated per time horizon (short/medium/long term).
Limitations
Support and resistance are zones, not exact prices -- the price can temporarily move through them without that being a confirmed breakout.
Example
A short-term level can be reached by a small price move; the long-term level changes much more slowly.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Technical position analysis (dashboard) and the report's AI Analysis tab
- Breakout alert
MA50 / MA200
technical
Moving average of the price over the last 50 and 200 trading days respectively. When MA50 is above MA200, this points to a longer-term uptrend (and vice versa).
Limitations
Moving averages lag price changes -- this is the same underlying comparison as a Golden/Death Cross, with the same lagging nature.
Example
MA50 can already be above MA200 for weeks while the price itself is already falling again -- the indicator lags the actual price.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- The "MA50/MA200" field in the report's AI Analysis tab
Bull / Bear Case
ai analysis
Two opposing scenarios, each grounded in concrete price levels (e.g. "if the price closes above X, Y is the next technical level"). Bull case: upside scenario. Bear case: downside scenario. Not a prediction, not a recommendation.
Limitations
Both scenarios describe possible developments -- how detailed a scenario is says nothing about how likely it is to happen.
Example
A detailed bull case doesn't mean MyStockWatcher expects a rally -- the bear case is prepared with the same care.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- The report's AI Analysis tab
Peer Comparison
valuation
Comparison with similar stocks from the same sector. Shows relative price performance, RSI and P/E ratio. Helps assess whether a stock is relatively cheap or expensive.
Limitations
A difference in P/E between peers can point to a different market valuation, but should be assessed together with growth, profitability, debt and risk -- P/E alone isn't enough to call something "cheap" or "expensive".
Example
A stock with a lower P/E than its peers may be undervalued, but could also be cheaper for good reason, e.g. weaker growth prospects.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Peers tab in the report
- Peer-average comparison on the Key figures tab
Market context & Return
Price return and total return
return
Price return is only the change in price. Total return also counts the dividend paid, as if it were reinvested.
Limitations
A return depends on the chosen period. In MyStockWatcher 1 month is 30, 3 months 91 and 1 year 365 calendar days. Peers and the ticker comparison show price return; the benchmark in Performance over time is a total return.
Example
A stock rises 5% and pays a 3% dividend: price return 5%, total return roughly 8%.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Compare
- Comparable investments in a deep-dive
- Benchmark in Performance over time
Realised and unrealised result
return
Realised result is profit or loss on positions you sold. Unrealised result is the profit or loss on what you still hold, at the current price.
Limitations
Unrealised result changes with every price and only becomes real after a sale. The overview is in euro at the current exchange rate and ignores transaction costs.
Example
You bought 10 shares at 100 and sold 4 at 120: the profit on those 4 is realised, the other 6 are unrealised.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Return overview in euro
- Performance over time
Benchmark
comparison
A reference index (for example a broad stock index) against which your portfolio is measured. You can choose your own benchmark.
Limitations
An index is not always a fair yardstick for your mix of tickers, currencies and risk. The benchmark uses the same buy and sell moments as you and is a total return.
Example
If your portfolio rose 6% and the benchmark 8%, you trailed that index by 2 percentage points in that period.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- vs benchmark card
- Performance over time
Latest trading session and outdated price
price
The latest trading session is the most recent day the exchange was open. At weekends or on a holiday, prices belong to that day. An outdated price is a price that is a trading day behind or comes from the cache.
Limitations
Crypto trades around the clock and is not used to determine the latest session. If the source temporarily refuses requests, the last known price (at most 24 hours old) is shown and marked.
Example
A report from Sunday shows Friday's closing prices, with a note that it is the latest session.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Daily report
- Dashboard
- Biggest gainers and losers
Leveraged or short product
risk
A product with leverage (for example 2X or 3x) moves a multiple of the underlying every day. A short or inverse product moves the opposite way. Such products are meant for the short term.
Limitations
Because of daily rebalancing, the result over a longer time can differ strongly from the multiple of the underlying index. MyStockWatcher recognises them from the name; a product with a different name does not get the label.
Example
A 2X product on an index that falls 3% falls about 6% that day.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Weekly overview
- Biggest weekly moves
Interest rate, yield curve and inflation
macro
The interest rate on government bonds shows what borrowing costs. The yield curve is the difference between long and short rates; negative is called inverted. Inflation is the rise in the price level; for the eurozone MyStockWatcher follows the HICP index. A flash estimate is a first, provisional estimate.
Limitations
Macro figures appear monthly or quarterly and are revised. The reference date is the period the figure covers, not the publication day. They are facts, not a forecast.
Example
If the 2-year rate is higher than the 10-year rate, the curve is inverted.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Market context on the dashboard
VIX (volatility index)
market
The VIX measures the volatility that the options market prices in for the US S&P 500 over the next 30 days. That is why it is also called the "fear index". A higher VIX means the market prices in larger price swings; a lower one means it is calmer. The value is an index figure, not a percentage you can earn or lose.
Limitations
The VIX says something about the expected swing, not about the direction of the price. It often changes quickly and can jump suddenly after a calm period. In the market context the change is shown as the percentage change of the index figure.
Example
A VIX of 16 is a relatively calm market; above 30 there is usually a lot of unrest.
Policy rate (ECB, Fed)
macro
The policy rate is the interest rate a central bank (the ECB for the euro area, the Fed for the US) sets for lending money between banks. It influences the rates on savings, loans and bonds. The market context shows the ECB rate (main refinancing rate) and the Fed rate (daily average).
Limitations
The policy rate only changes when the central bank takes a decision, so the series sometimes stands still for a long time. The reference date is then the date of the last change. A higher rate means something different for savers, borrowers and investors; the arrow does not say whether that is good or bad.
Example
ECB rate 2.65%: the rate at which banks can borrow from the ECB.
Reference date and publication date
macro
The reference date is the period or day a figure refers to (for example "September" for inflation or 16 October for a price). The publication date is when the figure was released, often weeks later. In the market context the reference date appears with every indicator; for a preliminary figure (flash estimate) the publication date is shown as well.
Limitations
Macro figures are revised: a preliminary figure can change later. Market prices can be delayed and have the last trading day as reference date, so a row can be a day older than the rest ("last available price"). An "Outdated" warning means the last observation is older than expected.
Example
Euro-area inflation: reference date September, published on 2 October.
Median and sector example
comparison
The median is the middle value of a series and is less distorted by outliers than an average. A sector example is a company in the same industry whose market cap differs by more than 10x: shown for illustration, not counted in the median.
Limitations
A median needs at least 3 comparable tickers; the middle of two numbers says nothing. An industry does not mean companies have the same activities.
Example
For the values 8, 10 and 40 the median is 10, the average about 19.
Used in MyStockWatcher for
- Comparable investments in a deep-dive
Currencies & Exchanges
Quote direction of a currency pair (EUR/USD, USD/JPY)
currency
A currency pair A/B says how much of currency B one unit of A costs. EUR/USD 1.12 means: one euro costs 1.12 dollars. USD/JPY 158 means: one dollar costs 158 yen. MyStockWatcher puts the direction in the name, for example "USD/JPY (Japanese yen per US dollar)". A higher value means the first currency is stronger against the second.
Limitations
The inverse pair (JPY/USD) has a different value and an opposite move, and the percentage change is not exactly the mirror image. The app always shows the pair as it is quoted.
Example
EUR/GBP 0.84: one euro costs 0.84 pounds.
US dollar index (DXY)
currency
The dollar index measures the US dollar against a basket of major currencies (including the euro, the yen and the pound). The value is an index figure, not an amount in dollars: a higher value means a stronger dollar against that basket.
Limitations
The euro has by far the largest weight in the basket, so the index says little about the dollar against currencies that are not in it. A stronger dollar makes dollar-priced commodities more expensive for other countries.
Example
DXY 101.8 means an index level of 101.8, not 101.8 dollars.
Exchange Suffixes
exchange
.AS = Amsterdam (Euronext), .BR = Brussels, .DE = Frankfurt (Xetra), .PA = Paris, .L = London. No suffix = NYSE/NASDAQ (US).
Limitations
"No suffix = NYSE/NASDAQ" holds within the market data source used -- a ticker refers to a specific listing, and the same company can have multiple listings and currencies across exchanges.
Example
ZZ-B.ST (Zinzino, Stockholm) and any US listing of the same company would be two separate tickers, each with its own price and currency.
Currency Symbols
currency
$ = USD (dollar), € = EUR (euro), £ = GBP (British pound), kr = SEK/NOK/DKK (Scandinavian krona/krone), ¥ = JPY (Japanese yen).
Limitations
"kr" is ambiguous -- it denotes the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish krona/krone alike, three different currencies each with their own exchange rate.
Example
134.80 kr could be Swedish, Norwegian or Danish kroner -- always check the ISO code (SEK/NOK/DKK) for the ticker in question before comparing amounts.
Examples & Clarification
Gross Margin
Revenue $100M − Cost of goods $30M = Gross Profit $70M → $70M ÷ $100M = Gross Margin 70%
A software company with a 70% gross margin keeps $70 out of every $100 in revenue. For a retailer, 25-30% is normal. A higher gross margin often points to pricing power or a scalable model -- typical margins vary a lot by sector.
P/E Ratio in practice
Price €150 ÷ EPS €5 = P/E 30
You're paying 30x annual earnings. Is that expensive? A fictional growth company with a P/E of 60+ can be perfectly ordinary within its sector; a fictional utility company with a P/E of 12-18 would stand out at 30. P/E alone therefore does not say whether a stock is cheap or expensive: always compare within the sector and look at growth.
RSI interpretation
RSI = 25 → Oversold | RSI = 75 → Overbought
An RSI of 25 means the stock has declined far more than it has risen over the past 14 days. That points to recent weakness; on its own it does not predict a recovery, and the price can keep falling, for example on bad news.
Dividend Yield calculation
Annual dividend €3.20 ÷ Price €80 × 100 = Yield 4.0%
With a €10,000 investment you receive €400 per year in dividends. Note: if the price drops sharply, the yield automatically rises — that's not always a good sign!
Beta & risk
Market +2% → Beta 1.5 stock: +3% | Beta 0.5 stock: +1%
High beta (e.g. Tesla, beta 2.0) moves more sharply with the market — bigger gains on the way up, but bigger losses on the way down. Low beta (e.g. Unilever, beta 0.4) is more defensive.
Stop-Loss with ATR
Price €50 − (2 × ATR €1.80) = Stop-Loss €46.40
€46.40 is an indicative risk level, not a guaranteed sell price -- a stop order doesn't guarantee execution at exactly that level (e.g. on a price gap or low liquidity). The distance between €50 and €46.40 is ~7.2%; the actual result can differ due to price gaps, costs and execution. The ATR method adapts to the stock's own volatility.
MACD crossover
MACD line crosses above the signal line → Bullish crossover
When the MACD line (blue) crosses the signal line (orange) from below to above, this is often interpreted as a positive momentum signal (the reverse as negative). Its position relative to the zero line adds context: a crossover below zero can point to an early recovery, one above zero can give further confirmation of positive momentum.
ETF: Acc vs Dist
Fund X (Acc) → reinvests | Fund X (Dist) → pays out
For the same ETF with an Acc and a Dist share class, the Acc variant automatically keeps the dividend invested; the Dist variant pays it out as cash. If the distributed dividend isn't reinvested, a difference in compound returns builds up over time -- that's no guarantee of a higher end result. Tax treatment varies by country, residency and fund structure.
Market Cap categories
Apple $3T = Mega-cap | Barco €2.8B = Mid-cap
Mega/Large-cap = more stable, more liquidity, lower volatility. Small-cap = higher growth potential but also higher risk and less trading volume.
Golden Cross example
SMA50 crosses above SMA200 → Golden Cross = Bullish
This is often interpreted as a shift toward a more positive long-term trend. The pattern is lagging (SMAs react slowly to price changes) and can also give a false signal -- no guarantee of further gains. Always combine with other indicators and market context.