How do I install the Vcp Screener skill?

Run npx skillmds add tools-only/vcp-screener in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Vcp Screener safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Vcp Screener?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Vcp Screener free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Vcp Screener?

tools-only (@tools-only) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Vcp Screener by tools-only — Agent Skill

Name: Vcp Screener
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: tools-only

Vcp Screener

Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP). Identifies Stage 2 uptrend stocks forming tight bases with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points. Use when user requests VCP screening, Minervini-style setups, tight base patterns, volatility contraction breakout candidates, or Stage 2 momentum stock scanning.

tools-only 1299a23 3 files · 7.1 KB Updated Sep 9, 2026 7 repo stars

File contents

VCP Screener - Minervini Volatility Contraction Pattern

Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP), identifying Stage 2 uptrend stocks with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points.

When to Use

User asks for VCP screening or Minervini-style setups
User wants to find tight base / volatility contraction patterns
User requests Stage 2 momentum stock scanning
User asks for breakout candidates with defined risk

Prerequisites

FMP API key (set FMP_API_KEY environment variable or pass --api-key)
Free tier (250 calls/day) is sufficient for default screening (top 100 candidates)
Paid tier recommended for full S&P 500 screening (--full-sp500)

Workflow

Step 1: Prepare and Execute Screening

Run the VCP screener script:

# Default: S&P 500, top 100 candidates
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts

# Custom universe
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --universe AAPL NVDA MSFT AMZN META --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts

# Full S&P 500 (paid API tier)
python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --full-sp500 --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts

Step 2: Review Results

Read the generated JSON and Markdown reports
Load references/vcp_methodology.md for pattern interpretation context
Load references/scoring_system.md for score threshold guidance

Step 3: Present Analysis

For each top candidate, present:

VCP composite score and rating
Contraction details (T1/T2/T3 depths and ratios)
Trade setup: pivot price, stop-loss, risk percentage
Volume dry-up ratio
Relative strength rank

Step 4: Provide Actionable Guidance

Based on ratings:

Textbook VCP (90+): Buy at pivot with aggressive sizing
Strong VCP (80-89): Buy at pivot with standard sizing
Good VCP (70-79): Buy on volume confirmation above pivot
Developing (60-69): Add to watchlist, wait for tighter contraction
Weak/No VCP (<60): Monitor only or skip

3-Phase Pipeline

Pre-Filter - Quote-based screening (price, volume, 52w position) ~101 API calls
Trend Template - 7-point Stage 2 filter with 260-day histories ~100 API calls
VCP Detection - Pattern analysis, scoring, report generation (no additional API calls)

Output

vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.json - Structured results
vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.md - Human-readable report

Resources

references/vcp_methodology.md - VCP theory and Trend Template explanation
references/scoring_system.md - Scoring thresholds and component weights
references/fmp_api_endpoints.md - API endpoints and rate limits

---name: vcp-screenerdescription: Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP). Identifies Stage 2 uptrend stocks forming tight bases with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points. Use when user requests VCP screening, Minervini-style setups, tight base patterns, volatility contraction breakout candidates, or Stage 2 momentum stock scanning.--- # VCP Screener - Minervini Volatility Contraction Pattern Screen S&P 500 stocks for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP), identifying Stage 2 uptrend stocks with contracting volatility near breakout pivot points. ## When to Use - User asks for VCP screening or Minervini-style setups - User wants to find tight base / volatility contraction patterns - User requests Stage 2 momentum stock scanning - User asks for breakout candidates with defined risk ## Prerequisites - FMP API key (set `FMP_API_KEY` environment variable or pass `--api-key`) - Free tier (250 calls/day) is sufficient for default screening (top 100 candidates) - Paid tier recommended for full S&P 500 screening (`--full-sp500`) ## Workflow ### Step 1: Prepare and Execute Screening Run the VCP screener script: ```bash # Default: S&P 500, top 100 candidates python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts # Custom universe python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --universe AAPL NVDA MSFT AMZN META --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts # Full S&P 500 (paid API tier) python3 skills/vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py --full-sp500 --output-dir skills/vcp-screener/scripts ``` ### Step 2: Review Results 1. Read the generated JSON and Markdown reports 2. Load `references/vcp_methodology.md` for pattern interpretation context 3. Load `references/scoring_system.md` for score threshold guidance ### Step 3: Present Analysis For each top candidate, present: - VCP composite score and rating - Contraction details (T1/T2/T3 depths and ratios) - Trade setup: pivot price, stop-loss, risk percentage - Volume dry-up ratio - Relative strength rank ### Step 4: Provide Actionable Guidance Based on ratings: - **Textbook VCP (90+):** Buy at pivot with aggressive sizing - **Strong VCP (80-89):** Buy at pivot with standard sizing - **Good VCP (70-79):** Buy on volume confirmation above pivot - **Developing (60-69):** Add to watchlist, wait for tighter contraction - **Weak/No VCP (<60):** Monitor only or skip ## 3-Phase Pipeline 1. **Pre-Filter** - Quote-based screening (price, volume, 52w position) ~101 API calls 2. **Trend Template** - 7-point Stage 2 filter with 260-day histories ~100 API calls 3. **VCP Detection** - Pattern analysis, scoring, report generation (no additional API calls) ## Output - `vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.json` - Structured results - `vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.md` - Human-readable report ## Resources - `references/vcp_methodology.md` - VCP theory and Trend Template explanation - `references/scoring_system.md` - Scoring thresholds and component weights - `references/fmp_api_endpoints.md` - API endpoints and rate limits

Frequently asked questions