Stock market dispersion creates opportunity—the spread between top and bottom performers can exceed 500 percentage points in any given year. In this environment, passive indexing leaves money on the table. That’s the promise of MarketSurge: give individual investors the same professional screening tools that helped Mark Minervini win the 2021 US Investing Championship. The question isn’t whether the tools are good—they are. The question is whether you’ll actually use them.
Quick Verdict: Is MarketSurge Worth It?
MarketSurge is worth $1,499/year if you’re an active trader who screens daily for breakout candidates. The platform provides IBD’s proprietary 1-99 rating system and AI-powered pattern recognition that you literally cannot get anywhere else—tools that helped a championship-winning trader identify his picks.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 — Very Good |
| Price | $1,499/year ($124.92/month) |
| Trial | $49.95 for 6 weeks |
| Best For | CAN SLIM traders who screen daily for breakout setups |
| Not For | Passive investors or those wanting specific stock picks |
The catch: MarketSurge is a research tool, not a stock-picking service. It gives you professional-grade capability, but YOU must do the analysis. If you want someone to tell you what to buy, look elsewhere. If you want to find your own winners using the same methodology that’s produced market-beating returns for decades, this is the platform.
What Makes MarketSurge Different
Most retail investors cobble together free tools—TradingView for charts, Finviz for screening, Yahoo Finance for fundamentals. It works, sort of. But you’re missing something you can’t get anywhere else: IBD’s proprietary rating system.
MarketSurge provides five exclusive ratings on a 1-99 scale:
- Composite Rating — Overall stock strength combining all factors
- EPS Rating — Earnings growth versus all stocks in the database
- RS Rating — Relative price strength (momentum)
- SMR Rating — Sales growth, profit margins, and ROE
- Accumulation/Distribution Rating — Institutional buying and selling pressure
These ratings aren’t available on Bloomberg, TradingView, or any other platform. They’re the distillation of William O’Neil’s CAN SLIM methodology—the same approach that’s been identifying market leaders since the 1960s.
Beyond ratings, you get:
- 18,000+ securities — Comprehensive coverage of US stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds
- AI-powered pattern recognition — Algorithmic identification of cup-with-handle, flat base, and other chart patterns
- 100+ screening criteria — Fully customizable fundamental and technical filters
- Curated stock lists — Recent Breakouts, Top IPOs, Growth 250, and more
- Real-time data — Live quotes and intraday updates
Try MarketSurge — 6-Week Trial for $49.95
The Social Proof: Who Uses MarketSurge?
MarketSurge doesn’t have a “track record” in the traditional sense—it’s a tool, not a stock-picking service. But the endorsements tell a story.
Mark Minervini, winner of the 2021 US Investing Championship and author of Trade Like a Stock Market Wizard, put it bluntly:
“The screening tool I used to win the 2021 US Investing Championship was MarketSurge. With MarketSurge, I’m never going to miss potential big winners.”
That’s not a paid testimonial buried in marketing copy. That’s a championship-winning trader explaining his edge.
Other professionals who rely on MarketSurge:
| Expert | Credentials | What They Say |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Tom Carr | Author, Trend Trading for a Living | ”I save hundreds of hours a year on research… the best stock ranking system available, all on one chart.” |
| Howard Lindzon | Co-founder of StockTwits | ”An ideal combination of easy-to-use and powerful.” |
| Brian Shannon | CMT, founder of AlphaTrends | ”My best resource for a techno-fundamental overview of a stock.” |
The pattern is clear: serious traders—the kind who write books and win championships—use MarketSurge because it gives them an edge they can’t replicate with free tools.
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How MarketSurge Works: The CAN SLIM Approach
MarketSurge is built on William O’Neil’s CAN SLIM methodology—a systematic approach to identifying growth stocks before they make their major moves:
- C — Current quarterly earnings (strong growth)
- A — Annual earnings growth (consistent)
- N — New products, management, or price highs
- S — Supply and demand (volume analysis)
- L — Leader or laggard (relative strength)
- I — Institutional sponsorship
- M — Market direction (overall trend)
The platform translates this methodology into a three-step research process:
- Find — Use curated stock lists or custom screens to identify potential trades
- Evaluate — Analyze stocks with fundamental and technical data on one screen
- Time — See ideal buy and sell points with AI-powered pattern recognition
This isn’t a black box. You understand exactly why a stock scores high or low, and you can customize screens to match your specific criteria. The methodology has been refined over 60+ years, and MarketSurge puts it in your hands.
Pricing: Is $1,499 Actually Worth It?
Let’s be direct about the cost:
| Plan | Price | Effective Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $1,499/year | $124.92/month |
| Monthly | $149.95/month | $149.95/month |
| Trial | $49.95 for 6 weeks | $33.30/month |
That’s real money. But context matters.
The institutional comparison: Bloomberg Terminal costs $2,000+ per month. FactSet runs $1,000+ monthly. MarketSurge delivers professional-grade tools at roughly 1/13th of Bloomberg’s cost.
The retail comparison: You could piece together TradingView Pro ($59.95/month) + Finviz Elite ($299/year) for roughly $1,000/year. But you’d still be missing IBD’s proprietary ratings and pattern recognition AI—the features that actually differentiate MarketSurge.
The breakeven math: If you’re trading a $50,000 portfolio and MarketSurge helps you identify just one stock that outperforms the market by 5%, that’s $2,500 in excess returns. You’ve paid for the service for nearly two years.
But here’s the honest truth: the $1,499 only makes sense if you’ll actually use the platform regularly. If you screen daily and trade actively, the cost is trivial compared to the edge you gain. If you check in monthly and mostly hold index funds, you’re paying for a gym membership you won’t use.
What’s included (no extra fees):
- Personal coaching via phone and email
- ~100 webinars per year
- Educational video library
- Welcome kit and quarterly stock guide
- Multi-device access (web, iOS, Android)
Start Your MarketSurge Trial — $49.95 for 6 Weeks
The Trade-Offs: Pros and Cons
What MarketSurge Does Well
- Proprietary IBD ratings — The 1-99 scoring system is exclusive and proven
- Pattern recognition AI — Saves hours of manual chart analysis
- All-inclusive pricing — No hidden data fees or premium tiers
- Professional-grade at retail prices — Comparable platforms cost 10x more
- Extensive free support — Coaching and ~100 webinars/year included
- Championship-proven — Used by Mark Minervini to win the 2021 US Investing Championship
Where MarketSurge Falls Short
- Premium pricing — $1,499/year requires regular use to justify
- Steep learning curve — Professional tools take time to master
- Research tool only — Does NOT provide specific stock recommendations
- Requires active management — Not a “set and forget” solution
- US markets focus — Primarily covers US-traded securities
- No specific refund policy — You can cancel anytime, but no money-back guarantee stated
Who Should Use MarketSurge
Subscribe if you:
- Screen daily for breakout candidates — This is the core use case
- Follow CAN SLIM or growth momentum strategies — The platform is built for this methodology
- Want professional tools without institutional pricing — You value the edge but not the Bloomberg cost
- Prefer finding your own stocks — You want capability, not hand-holding
- Have a portfolio large enough to justify the cost — Generally $25,000+ makes the math work
Don’t subscribe if:
- You want specific stock picks — MarketSurge is a tool, not a recommendation service. Consider IBD Leaderboard or IBD SwingTrader instead.
- You’re a passive, buy-and-hold investor — Index funds and occasional rebalancing don’t require professional screening tools
- You won’t use it regularly — The monthly cost is high for occasional use
- You’re a budget-conscious beginner — Start with IBD Digital ($20 for 2 months intro) to learn the methodology first
- You hate learning curves — Professional tools require time investment to master
Best Alternatives to MarketSurge
If MarketSurge isn’t the right fit, here’s where to look:
If You Want Stock Picks Instead of Tools
IBD Leaderboard — IBD’s model portfolio service. Provides 10-15 specific stocks with trading plans. Same methodology as MarketSurge, but they do the screening for you.
IBD SwingTrader ($699/year) — Swing trade picks with complete entry/exit plans. Shorter holding periods (5-10 days) for active traders who want guidance.
If You Want Cheaper Screening Tools
Finviz Elite ($299/year) — Solid screener with good visualization, but no proprietary ratings or pattern recognition AI.
TradingView Pro ($59.95/month) — Excellent charting, but primarily technical analysis without IBD’s fundamental ratings.
If You Want a Different Methodology
Morningstar Investor — Value-focused research with fair value estimates. Different philosophy (buy undervalued stocks) than CAN SLIM (buy momentum leaders).
Seeking Alpha Premium — Crowdsourced analysis with multiple perspectives. Good for research depth, less focused on systematic screening.
Try MarketSurge — See If It Fits Your Trading Style
Final Verdict
MarketSurge is the real deal—professional-grade stock screening tools at a fraction of institutional pricing. The proprietary IBD ratings, AI-powered pattern recognition, and CAN SLIM methodology provide a genuine edge for active traders.
But tools don’t make traders. MarketSurge won’t turn a passive investor into Mark Minervini. It gives you the same instruments he uses, but you still have to show up every day, screen for opportunities, and execute with discipline.
The bottom line: If you’re an active trader who screens daily and wants to find your own breakout candidates using a proven methodology, MarketSurge is worth every dollar of the $1,499/year. If you want someone to tell you what to buy, or you’ll only check in occasionally, save your money.
The 6-week trial at $49.95 is the smart move—long enough to determine if you’ll actually use the platform regularly. If you find yourself screening daily and discovering opportunities you’d have missed, the annual subscription becomes obvious. If the tools sit unused, you’ve learned something important about your trading style for less than $50.
Not sure MarketSurge is the right fit? Compare all professional-grade analysis platforms in our guide to the best stock analysis websites.
Start Your MarketSurge Trial — $49.95 for 6 Weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MarketSurge worth the money?
Yes, for active traders who screen daily. At $1,499/year, MarketSurge provides IBD’s proprietary 1-99 rating system and AI-powered pattern recognition—tools that helped Mark Minervini win the 2021 US Investing Championship. The platform costs roughly 1/13th of Bloomberg Terminal while providing comparable professional-grade screening capabilities. The math works if you trade actively; it doesn’t if you check in occasionally.
What are the best alternatives to MarketSurge?
For stock picks instead of tools, consider IBD Leaderboard (model portfolio with trading plans) or IBD SwingTrader ($699/year for swing trade recommendations). For cheaper screening, Finviz Elite ($299/year) provides solid filtering without IBD’s proprietary ratings. For a different methodology, Morningstar Investor offers value-focused research with fair value estimates. See our full comparison in the best stock analysis websites guide.
MarketSurge vs TradingView: Which is better?
MarketSurge for systematic stock selection; TradingView for pure charting. TradingView excels at technical analysis and chart customization at $59.95/month. MarketSurge provides IBD’s proprietary fundamental ratings (EPS, RS, SMR, Composite) and AI pattern recognition that TradingView lacks. If you follow CAN SLIM methodology, MarketSurge is essential. If you’re purely technical, TradingView may suffice.
How do I cancel MarketSurge?
You can cancel MarketSurge anytime through your account settings or by contacting IBD customer support. There’s no specific money-back guarantee stated, but the subscription won’t renew after cancellation. The 6-week trial at $49.95 is the lowest-risk way to test the platform before committing to the $1,499 annual subscription.
Does MarketSurge provide stock picks?
No—MarketSurge is a research tool, not a stock-picking service. It provides screening capabilities, proprietary ratings, and pattern recognition to help you find your own stocks. If you want specific recommendations with buy/sell guidance, consider IBD Leaderboard (model portfolio) or IBD SwingTrader (swing trade picks with trading plans).
What is the CAN SLIM methodology used by MarketSurge?
CAN SLIM is a seven-factor stock selection system developed by William O’Neil that has identified market leaders since the 1960s. The acronym stands for: Current quarterly earnings (25%+ growth), Annual earnings growth (25%+ for 5 years), New products/management/price highs, Supply and demand (volume analysis), Leader or laggard (RS Rating of 80+), Institutional sponsorship (increasing fund ownership), and Market direction (confirming uptrend). MarketSurge translates this methodology into quantifiable 1-99 ratings, allowing you to screen for stocks meeting these criteria systematically rather than manually analyzing each factor.
Is there a MarketSurge mobile app?
Yes, MarketSurge offers fully-featured mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices at no additional cost. Your annual or monthly subscription includes multi-device access, meaning you can screen for stocks on your desktop, then monitor positions and check alerts from your phone. The mobile apps provide access to the same proprietary IBD ratings, stock charts, and curated lists available on the web platform. Real-time quotes and push notifications for price alerts help active traders stay connected to the market throughout the trading day.
What’s the difference between MarketSurge and IBD Digital?
MarketSurge is IBD’s professional screening platform ($1,499/year), while IBD Digital is their entry-level subscription ($20 for 2-month intro, then $34.95/month). IBD Digital provides access to IBD’s stock lists, ratings, and articles—ideal for learning the CAN SLIM methodology. MarketSurge adds advanced screening with 100+ customizable criteria, AI-powered chart pattern recognition, and comprehensive charting tools for serious traders. If you’re new to IBD’s methodology, start with IBD Digital to learn the system, then upgrade to MarketSurge when you’re ready to screen actively for your own breakout candidates.