NSE VCP Screener

Overview

This skill screens Indian stocks (Nifty 50/200/500) for Mark Minervini's Volatility Contraction Pattern (VCP). The VCP identifies stocks in Stage 2 uptrends that are forming tightening bases with declining volume — the classic setup before a potential breakout.

The screening pipeline has 3 phases:

1. Pre-filter: Quick quote-based filtering to eliminate obvious non-candidates
2. Trend Template: Apply Minervini's 7-point Stage 2 criteria using 260-day histories
3. VCP Detection & Scoring: Pattern analysis with 5-component composite scoring

Data Source

This screener uses yfinance with .NS suffix for NSE stocks and the niftystocks package for stock universe lists. No paid API keys required.

Execution

python3 scripts/screen_vcp.py --universe nifty500

Command-Line Arguments

Argument	Default	Description
--universe	nifty50	Stock universe: nifty50, nifty200, nifty500, or custom
--custom-tickers	—	Comma-separated tickers for custom universe (e.g., RELIANCE,TCS,INFY)
--min-contractions	2	Minimum number of contractions (2-4)
--t1-depth-min	10	Minimum T1 contraction depth %
--t1-depth-max	40	Maximum T1 contraction depth %
--contraction-ratio	0.75	Each contraction must be ≤ this ratio of the previous
--min-contraction-days	5	Minimum days per contraction
--lookback-days	120	Days to look back for pattern detection
--breakout-volume-ratio	1.5	Minimum volume ratio for breakout confirmation
--trend-min-score	85	Minimum trend template score (0-100)
--output-dir	reports/	Output directory for results

Workflow

Step 1: Execute the Screener

Run the Python script with desired parameters:

python3 skills/nse-vcp-screener/scripts/screen_vcp.py \
  --universe nifty500 \
  --output-dir reports/

Step 2: Review Results

Load and review the generated reports:

• JSON: reports/vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.json (structured data)
• Markdown: reports/vcp_screener_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.md (human-readable report)

Step 3: Load References for Interpretation

Read: references/vcp_methodology.md
Read: references/scoring_system.md

Step 4: Present Top Candidates

For each top-scoring candidate, present:

1. Composite Score (0-100)
2. Contraction Structure (T1/T2/T3 depths and durations)
3. Volume Pattern (dry-up ratio)
4. Pivot Level (breakout price)
5. Relative Strength vs Nifty 50

Step 5: Actionable Insights

For the top 5-10 candidates:

• Note proximity to pivot/breakout level
• Assess if volume is confirming or diverging
• Check for upcoming F&O expiry or result season impacts
• Identify F&O lot size (if stock is in F&O segment)

Scoring System

The composite score (0-100) weights 5 components:

Component	Weight	What It Measures
Trend Template	25%	Minervini's 7-point Stage 2 criteria
Contraction Quality	25%	Tightening base structure
Volume Pattern	20%	Volume dry-up ratio
Pivot Proximity	15%	Distance from breakout level
Relative Strength	15%	Performance vs Nifty 50

Indian Market Adaptations

• Universe: Nifty 50/200/500 instead of S&P 500
• Benchmark: Relative strength measured vs Nifty 50 (^NSEI) instead of S&P 500
• Volatility: T1 depth range widened to 10-40% (vs 8-35% for US) due to higher small-cap volatility
• Circuit Limits: Stocks hitting circuits may show false VCP patterns — flagged in results
• Liquidity Filter: Minimum average daily volume of ₹1 crore to filter illiquid stocks
• F&O Availability: Results indicate whether the stock is in the F&O segment

Resources

references/vcp_methodology.md

Mark Minervini's VCP theory, Stage 2 criteria, contraction rules, and entry methodology adapted for Indian markets.

references/scoring_system.md

Detailed breakdown of the 5-component composite scoring system with thresholds and examples.