Score Thresholds Explained: What +4, +8.5, and -4 Really Mean

The Scoring Scale

Every stock on WSOB receives a score from -10 to +10:

• +10 = Maximum bullish momentum
• 0 = Neutral / no directional edge
• -10 = Maximum bearish momentum

But not all score levels are equal. Certain thresholds mark important transitions that change how you should trade.

The Key Thresholds

The +4 / -4 Line: Regime Boundary

This is the most important threshold. Crossing +4 (or -4) typically marks a regime change:

• Above +4: Bullish regime. Momentum is clearly to the upside.
• Below -4: Bearish regime. Momentum is clearly to the downside.
• Between -4 and +4: Range. No strong directional edge.

Action at +4: When a stock's score crosses above +4 from below, it's a potential entry signal. When it drops below +4 from above, it's a caution signal.

The +8.5 / -8.5 Line: Strong Bullish / Strong Bearish

Stocks scoring above +8.5 (or below -8.5) are in strong momentum territory:

• Nearly all scoring components are aligned in the same direction
• These stocks have broad, sustained momentum — not just a one-day spike
• Pullbacks tend to be shallow and short-lived
• The trend usually continues for weeks

Action at +8.5: These are your highest-conviction trades. Consider adding to positions on dips. For shorts, scores below -8.5 are equally strong. Maintain positions but trail stops — when these scores eventually reverse, the move can be sharp.

Note: The 8.5 threshold is a guideline, not a hard rule. Different stocks and sectors behave differently — some may show strong momentum at +7, while others need +9 to confirm a sustained trend. Use 8.5 as a starting point and adjust based on your own observations and trading style.

The Zero Line: Directional Shift

When a score crosses zero, the overall bias is flipping:

• A stock moving from -2 to +2 is shifting from bearish to bullish bias
• This doesn't always mean the stock will trend — it might enter a range
• But it's worth watching for follow-through

Action at 0: Not an entry signal by itself, but a signal to start monitoring the stock for a potential regime change at +4.

Score Velocity Matters Too

It's not just the absolute score that matters — it's how fast it's changing:

• Slow grind higher (e.g., +2 → +3 → +4 over two weeks): Steady, sustainable momentum
• Fast spike (e.g., +1 → +6 in two days): Possibly news-driven, may not sustain
• Steady decline (e.g., +8 → +6 → +4): Momentum is fading, time to reassess

Putting It All Together

Score Range	Regime	Action
> +8.5	Strong Bullish	Highest conviction — hold/add on dips, trail stops
+4 to +10	Bullish	Enter on pullbacks, hold/add on dips, trail stops
-4 to +4	Range	Wait, reduce size, watch for breakout
-10 to -4	Bearish	Short on bounces, buy puts, or avoid
< -8.5	Strong Bearish	Highest conviction short — strong downtrend in place

Key Takeaways

• +4 / -4 is the most important threshold — it marks regime boundaries
• +8.5 / -8.5 marks strong bullish / strong bearish territory — highest conviction
• The higher the score above +4 (or lower below -4), the stronger the conviction
• Score velocity (speed of change) adds important context

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