RS rating for NSE stocks: what the 1 to 99 number means
An RS rating is a single number from 1 to 99 showing how a stock’s price performance ranks against every other stock. It condenses a year of price history into one score you can sort and filter by.
Open the free scanner
Watch a tour of the workspace and RS rankings (Hindi, from 0:59).
How the number is built
Each stock’s returns over about 3, 6, 9 and 12 months are blended, with the most recent period weighted most. Every stock is then ranked against the rest of the universe, and the rank is converted to a percentile. A rating of 90 means the stock’s weighted return beat about 90% of stocks scanned.
What counts as a high RS rating
- 80 to 99: leaders. Many momentum traders start their search here.
- 60 to 80: solid, but not yet in the top group.
- Below 50: lagging the average stock.
These are rules of thumb, not thresholds. The ranking changes with the market and with the universe used.
RS rating and its change
The level shows how strong a stock is; the one-month change shows whether it is getting stronger. RS improvers are stocks whose rating rose sharply, which can flag new leadership before price makes headlines. A stock with a high rating that is falling quickly is a caution flag.
Using RS ratings in the scanner
Filter any screen by RS, such as “RS 80 or higher”, or open the RS improvers and multi-timeframe RS leaders screens. Combine RS with the trend template, distance from the 52-week high and the RS line. The full guide is in the relative strength scanner page.
A worked example
Stock A is up 60% over twelve months and 25% over the last three, beating most of the market, and has an RS rating of 93. Stock B is up 12% over twelve months, a rating near 40. A month later Stock B’s rating jumps to 68 after a strong quarter. It is not a leader yet, but it is an RS improver, and the change in rating is an early clue.
Strategy examples
These are illustrative rule sets that show how the scanner can be used. They are not recommendations or advice, the numbers are examples, and rules like these can lose money. Test any idea on your own and manage risk before acting.
Leaders list
- Filter the stock list to RS 80 or higher and “Liquid only”.
- Add a trend filter: above a rising 50- and 200-day average.
- Rank by distance from the 52-week high.
- Open the best few charts and note the pivot of each base.
RS improvers
- Open RS improvers with a change of 10 or more points.
- Require the new rating to be 70 or higher.
- Check that price confirms: a base or a breakout, not just a bounce.
- Review the list weekly.
Multi-timeframe check
- Open the multi-timeframe RS leaders screen.
- Prefer stocks ranked high on 1-, 3- and 6-month relative strength together.
- Treat a stock with strength in only one window as less reliable.
Common mistakes
- Treating a rating as a recommendation.
- Chasing the highest ratings without checking for extension.
- Comparing ratings across different universes.
- Ignoring liquidity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good RS rating?
Many traders focus on ratings above 70 to 80. There is no single threshold, and the rating is a ranking tool rather than a prediction.
Is the RS rating the same as RSI?
No. RSI looks at one stock’s own gains and losses. An RS rating ranks a stock against other stocks.
How often is the RS rating updated?
After each trading day’s close.
Can an RS rating be too high?
A very high rating can mean a stock is already extended. Check how far it is above its moving averages and the quality of its base.