Absolute Value

Absolute value is a mathematical function.  The absolute value of a number is the same number without the negative sign.

For example, the absolute value of -5 is 5.  The absolute value of 10 is 10.  The absolute value of -12.34 is 12.34.

We use absolute values when the direction of a move doesn’t matter, only the size of the move.  Most of our alerts have two forms, one positive and one negative.  Our stock screener, however, often lists items which are closest to a certain point, regardless of whether they are higher or lower.

Our software can also be used to filter based on absolute value.  For example, showing alerts for stocks that have gapped up higher than 5% or lower than -5%.  See help for more info.