CANSLIM is an investment strategy popularized by William J. O’Neil, the founder of Investor’s Business Daily. He is an investor, stockbroker, and author.
The CANSLIM formula is a systematic approach to stock picking and portfolio management that emphasizes the importance of following rules and guidelines.
The CANSLIM Formula To Choose Good Stocks

Now that we are done with the introduction let’s look at how we can use the CANSLIM formula to choose good stocks.
C – Current Earnings and Earnings Growth
This component of the CANSLIM formula emphasizes the importance of finding stocks with strong earnings growth. This means looking for companies that have consistently posted strong earnings reports and are expected to continue to do so.
The emphasis is on finding companies that have been able to deliver consistent earnings growth and have a strong track record of delivering on their financial commitments.
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A – Annual Earnings Increase

The annual earnings increase component of the CANSLIM formula is all about finding stocks with a strong upward trend in earnings. This means looking for companies that have posted year-over-year increases in earnings and are expected to continue doing so in the future.
N – New Products, Services or Management
The new products, services or management component of the CANSLIM formula is all about finding companies that are innovating and introducing new products or services to the market. This component also emphasizes the importance of having a strong management team, as a well-run company is more likely to succeed in the long term.
S – Supply and Demand
This component of the CANSLIM formula is all about understanding the forces of supply and demand and how they impact the price of a stock. In general, stocks with strong demand and limited supply perform better than those with weak demand and abundant supply.
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L – Leader or Laggard

The leader or laggard component of the CANSLIM formula is all about finding stocks performing well compared to their peers. This means looking for companies outpacing their competitors in earnings growth, sales growth, and market share.
I – Institutional Sponsorship
The institutional sponsorship component of the CANSLIM formula is all about finding stocks backed by large institutional investors. This means looking for companies with a large base of institutional shareholders likely to receive continued support from these investors.
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M – Market Direction

The market direction component of the CANSLIM formula emphasizes the importance of timing your investments based on the market’s overall direction. This means looking for opportunities to invest in the stock market in a long-term uptrend and avoiding investments in a downtrend.
CANSLIM formula is designed to help investors identify stocks with strong earnings growth, solid management teams, and favorable market conditions. By following the guidelines of the CANSLIM formula to choose good stocks, investors can increase their chances of success and avoid common mistakes such as investing in stocks with poor earnings growth or investing in the stock market during a bear market.
In conclusion, the CANSLIM formula to choose good stocks is a comprehensive investment strategy many investors have used to build successful portfolios. While it is not a guarantee of success, following the CANSLIM formula can help investors make informed decisions and minimize their risk of loss.
Hope that you now know how to use the CANSLIM formula to choose good stocks. But as with any investment strategy, it is important to do your research and due diligence before making investment decisions.