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Methodology

How DipBuster works

The DipBuster Score is a composite signal — not a magic formula. Here's exactly what goes into it, what it means, and what it doesn't.

⚠️ Not financial advice. DipBuster is a research tool that surfaces publicly available data in a structured way. Nothing on this site constitutes a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own research. Past signal performance does not guarantee future results. Terms of Service · Full Disclaimer

The Score — What Goes In

1
Insider Buying Cluster Up to 30 pts

When multiple directors — CEO, CFO, or board members — buy shares in the open market within a short window, it's one of the strongest signals in market research. We track UK regulatory filings (RNS) and US SEC Form 4 disclosures.

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Number of buyers
1 director = weak signal. 3+ in same month = strong cluster.
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Transaction size
Large open-market purchases weighted more than small token buys.
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Recency
Buys within last 90 days weighted higher than older transactions.
2
Graham NCAV Ratio Up to 25 pts

Benjamin Graham's Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) = current assets minus all liabilities. Stocks trading below NCAV are priced below liquidation value — historically a strong mean-reversion signal. We calculate this from the latest annual filings.

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NCAV per share
Current assets ÷ shares outstanding, minus total liabilities per share.
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Price / NCAV ratio
Below 1.0 = trading below net-net value. Graham threshold: 0.67.
3
Value Signal (P/E vs Sector) Up to 25 pts

A P/E of 8 means nothing without context. We compare each stock's P/E, EV/EBITDA, and P/B to its sector median. Cheap relative to peers scores higher. Negative P/E (loss-making) is penalised but not excluded — some turn-arounds score well on other signals.

4
Price Momentum Up to 20 pts

We're looking for stocks that are dipping — not crashing. The score rewards stocks near their 52-week low that haven't broken key support, and penalises stocks in a sustained downtrend. Position within 52-week range and recent % change both factor in.

Reading the Score

75–100 BUY Strong composite signal. Multiple positive factors align. Warrants serious research.
50–74 WATCH Mixed signals. Something interesting here but not all factors are positive.
0–49 AVOID Weak or negative signals. May be a value trap, distressed, or loss-making.

The score is a starting point for research — not an instruction to trade. A score of 80 doesn't mean buy 10,000 shares tomorrow.

Indicative Signal Performance

The table below shows a sample of historical high-score signals (score ≥ 70) and their 12-month forward returns. Data is illustrative — based on publicly available price data and manually verified signals. This is not a live-audited backtest.

StockScoreSignal date+12m return
BYIT.L — Bytes Technology 76 Mar 2023 +34%
BP.L — BP 71 Oct 2023 +18%
HSBA.L — HSBC 74 Jan 2024 +22%
SLR.L — SLR Global 78 Jun 2023 +41%
RR.L — Rolls-Royce 80 Nov 2022 +187%
ITV.L — ITV 68 Apr 2023 −8%

Sample of 6 signals. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Includes one loss to illustrate the signal is not infallible. Full audited backtest is planned for Q3 2026.

What the score doesn't account for

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Qualitative moat
Brand strength, regulatory advantages, management quality — none of this is in the score. Numbers only.
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Macro environment
Interest rate cycles, currency moves, and geopolitical events aren't captured.
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Legal / regulatory risk
Ongoing investigations, patent disputes, or regulatory changes won't show up until they hit financials.
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Breaking news
The score is updated daily, not in real-time. A profit warning can change everything overnight.

See it in action

Browse the leaderboard, run the screener, or pull up any stock to see its full DipBuster Score breakdown.

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Not financial advice · Terms · Disclaimer