Darvas Box Breakout Stocksbullish
Stocks breaking out of a tight multi-week consolidation box on elevated volume — the classic Nicolas Darvas setup.
4 stocks · ranked by significance · click any symbol for the full smart-money deep dive · Download CSV
| Stock | LTP | Box Top | Box Range % | RVOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNBPunjab National Bank | 121.90 | 119.64 | 8.6 | 5.9× |
| UNIONBANKUnion Bank of India | 180.70 | 178.99 | 7.9 | 4.6× |
| FEDERALBNKFederal Bank Ltd. | 348.85 | 344.80 | 9.0 | 4.3× |
| GABRIELGabriel India Ltd. | 1486.10 | 1460.00 | 11.6 | 4.0× |
How this screen works
Nicolas Darvas — a dancer who famously turned $36,000 into $2 million in the late 1950s — bought stocks only when they broke out of a box: a tight consolidation range whose ceiling had held for weeks. The box top breaking on strong volume was his entire entry signal.
This screen applies that idea mechanically: stocks whose prior 15 sessions formed a tight box (range within 12% of the top) and whose latest close broke above the box top on at least 1.5x their 20-day average volume, ranked by volume intensity.
For each stock the prior 15 sessions (excluding today) define the box: box top = highest high, box bottom = lowest low. The box qualifies only if its range is within 12% of the top — a genuine consolidation, not a volatile swing.
A breakout is flagged when today's close exceeds the box top and relative volume is at least 1.5x — Darvas insisted on volume confirming the move.
Box breakouts can fail and fall back into the box (Darvas's own stop rule was a close back inside). This is a setup list, not a recommendation.
FAQ
What is a Darvas box?
A Darvas box is a tight consolidation range — a ceiling the stock keeps failing to clear and a floor it keeps holding. Nicolas Darvas bought only when price broke above the ceiling on strong volume, betting the consolidation would resolve into a new leg up.
How does Strota detect a Darvas box?
The prior 15 sessions (excluding today) define the box. It qualifies if the high-to-low range is within 12% of the box top, and a breakout is flagged when today's close clears the top on at least 1.5x the 20-day average volume.
Who was Nicolas Darvas?
A professional dancer who made about $2 million in the 1950s market trading his box method part-time, documented in his book 'How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market'. The method is an early, rules-based momentum/breakout system.
Do Darvas breakouts always work?
No — breakouts regularly fail and fall back into the box. Darvas himself exited the moment price closed back inside. This screen surfaces the setup; it is information, not buy/sell advice.