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At Least X of the Last Y

Filter for consistency. Find stocks that meet your criteria not just once, but repeatedly over time.

What it does

Most screeners only check the most recent data point. StockWatch's "At Least X of the Last Y" feature checks a condition across multiple periods and requires it to be true in at least X of the last Y quarters.

This filters out one-hit wonders and surfaces companies with consistent performance.

Where to find it

In the visual builder, each rule row has two number fields on the right:

  • At Least -- how many periods the condition must be true (X)
  • Of the Last -- the total number of periods to look back (Y)

Leave both at 1 (the default) to only check the most recent quarter, which is the standard screener behavior.

Examples

Consistent revenue

Revenue > 1,000,000,000   At Least 3 of the Last 4

Finds companies that reported over $1B in revenue in at least 3 of their last 4 quarters. Allows one soft quarter without disqualifying the stock.

Recovering growth

Revenue QoQ Growth > 0%   At Least 2 of the Last 4

Finds companies where revenue grew quarter-over-quarter in at least 2 of the last 4 quarters. Useful for spotting turnaround stories.

Reliable profitability

Net Income > 0   At Least 4 of the Last 4

Only shows companies that were profitable in every one of the last 4 quarters. No exceptions.

How it works with modifiers

The "At Least X of the Last Y" check applies to each individual period independently. The modifier you choose determines what value is tested in each period:

  • Value -- tests the raw quarterly number for each of the Y quarters.
  • QoQ Growth -- tests quarter-over-quarter growth for each of the Y quarters.
  • YoY Growth -- tests year-over-year growth for each of the Y quarters.
  • TTM -- tests the trailing-twelve-month sum at each of the Y quarters.

See Modifiers Explained for full details on each modifier.

Tips

  • Start with 3 of 4 -- it's the most common setting. It demands consistency while allowing one off quarter.
  • Use 4 of 4 for strict filters like profitability checks.
  • Use 2 of 4 for looser filters when you want to catch early-stage trends.
  • Combine multiple "At Least" rules in the same screen to layer consistency requirements across different metrics.

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