CA50
▲ Bullish
Streaming Alert (Scanner)
Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average Alert (CA50)
By Daniel Mirkin, CEO, Trade Ideas. Updated October 2026.
Find stocks crossing above their 50-day moving average in real time with Trade Ideas Streaming Alerts (Scanner). A 50-day moving average cross is when price moves above the stock's 50-day simple moving average. This alert requires sufficient volume.
See the cross when it happens, not on tomorrow’s chart.
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Streaming Alerts show the cross above the 50 day moving average the moment it happens, with volume behind it.
How Trade Ideas finds it: by default, the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert appears when the price of a stock crosses above its 50 day moving average with sufficient volume. See Trade Ideas plans and pricing to run it live.
What does crossing above the 50 day moving average mean?
The 50 day moving average is the average closing price over the last 50 trading days. Many traders use it as a rough line between a stock that is trending up and one that is not.
Key point
When price moves from below the 50 day line to above it, that is a cross above. The Trade Ideas alert requires enough volume with the move, so tiny drifts across the line are left out.
Parts of a 50 day moving average cross
Price below the line
For a while, closes have stayed beneath the 50 day line.
The 50 day moving average
A slow line that smooths out about ten weeks of prices.
The cross
Price trades above the line with sufficient volume. The alert fires.
How traders use it
Step 1: Let the Trade Ideas alert find it
Turn on the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert (CA50). Trade Ideas tracks the 50 day line for every stock and reports crosses that come with volume. See it live in the Web Dashboard.
Step 2: Wait for the trigger
Trader tip
Some traders act on the intraday cross. Others want a daily close above the line before they believe it.
Step 3: Entry
A common entry is the cross itself or a pullback that holds the line from above.
Step 4: Exit
Many place stops a bit below the 50 day line. It is a widely used habit, not a recommendation.
Tips
- Check whether the 50 day line is rising, flat or falling. A cross into a rising line reads stronger.
- Stocks often chop back and forth around the line. Volume helps sort that out.
- Look at the 200 day line too for the bigger picture.
- For the opposite move see Crossed Below 50 Day (CB50).
Past results, including backtests, are not indicative of future results.
How the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert works
Simple Moving Average (SMA) is a commonly used technical indicator that helps smooth out price data to identify trends over a specified period of time. The SMA is calculated by taking the average price of a security over a set number of periods, dividing the sum by the number of periods. The 50-period moving average is a widely used technical indicator in trading and investing. Its primary benefits include:
- Trend Identification: The 50MA helps traders and investors identify the overall trend in a stock or market. If the current price is consistently above the 50MA, it may indicate an uptrend, while a price consistently below the 50MA may suggest a downtrend.
- Smoothing Price Data: Moving averages, including the 50MA, smooth out price data, reducing noise and making it easier to visualize the underlying trend. This smoothing effect helps traders filter out short-term fluctuations and focus on the broader market direction.
- Support and Resistance Levels: The 50MA can act as a dynamic support or resistance level. In an uptrend, the price often finds support around the 50MA, and in a downtrend, it may face resistance. Traders use these levels to make decisions about entering or exiting positions.
- Confirmation of Trends: Crosses of the price over or under the 50MA can be used as signals to confirm trends. For example, a price crossing above the 50MA might be considered a bullish signal, suggesting potential upward momentum.
- Reversal Indication: Changes in the relationship between the price and the 50MA can indicate potential reversals. For instance, if a stock that was in a downtrend crosses above its 50MA, it may signal a potential reversal to an uptrend.
- Reference Point for Traders: Many traders use the 50MA as a reference point when developing trading strategies. It serves as a common and widely watched indicator, providing a shared reference for market participants.
The alert listed here requires statistical confirmation before it appears. This filters out noise, but requires a slight delay. This analysis involves price, time, and volume. If the price continues to move around the 50 day moving average, this alert may never appear. Once the price chooses a direction the exact amount of time required for the alert to appear depends on volume. The statistical analysis does not require that every print cross the 50 day moving average before the alert is displayed. The analysis filters out insignificant prints that go against the general trend. It is even possible, although unlikely, that the last print disagrees with the analysis as a whole.
Default settings
Settings
By default, the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert appears when the price of a stock crosses above its 50 day moving average with sufficient volume.
What the alert shows you
The description column will report at which price the stock crossed its moving average.
Related alerts
Filters to pair with the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert
Categories
FAQ
Which stocks just crossed above their 50-day moving average?
Turn on the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert (CA50) in Trade Ideas Streaming Alerts. By default, the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert appears when the price of a stock crosses above its 50 day moving average with sufficient volume.
What is the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert?
A 50-day moving average cross is when price moves above the stock's 50-day simple moving average. This alert requires sufficient volume.
What is the opposite of the Crossed Above 50 Day Moving Average alert?
Why do traders watch the 50 day moving average?
It is a common way to judge the medium-term trend. Many traders and funds watch it, so price often reacts near it.
Does the CA50 alert need volume?
Yes. It reports the cross only with sufficient volume.
Is crossing above the 50 day bullish?
Many read it that way, especially if the line is turning up. It is not a sure thing.
Is there a 20 day or 200 day version?
Yes. Trade Ideas has crossed above 20 day and 200 day moving average alerts too.