When it comes to examination of a potential stock candidate, Extreme Charts offers users a chance to view a snapshot of the information. This option enables the trader to view some of the fundamentals affiliated with the stock and perhaps make a wiser decision and a better trade.

An Extreme Chart user can get a snapshot of any stock or index just by clicking the icon at the top of the page. it's easy to identify the symbol, which looks like a camera. (Makes sense: A snapshot comes from a camera.)

The snapshot tool allows the user to see as many or as few qualifications as desired. Extreme Charts presets about 30 criteria to be displayed when the snapshot tool is revealed. As an additional bonus, the information is also given for other stocks in the subsector, the sector, and the Standard and Poor's 500.

This is a great place to learn the 52-week high and low price of the stock. This gives a hint as to when a stock may be running up or running down. Average volume is another criteria, which allows the trader to see if the stock is getting support from buyers. Beta, a number that details the volatility of the stock, can also be found here.

Other options for the snapshot tool on Extreme Charts enable the user to see: the number of common shares, the market capitalization, the PE ratio, earnings-per-share, EPS for the last 12months and the estimate EPS, cash dividends on common stock, dividend yield and annual dividend rate, long-term debt, short-term debt, total debt, sales, assets, liabilities, and the percent held by institutions.

The snapshot can also be instructed to show a 30 percent jump in volume, a seven-day ADX bar, cash flow for the year, cash flow for the last five days, and cash flow for the last 90 days, dividends for the last four quarters, earnings for the last four quarters, EPS for the last four quarters, gaps on stocks going up, gaps on stocks going down, profit margin for the last four quarters, and range.

There are many other elements that can be included. It's a good way to receive basic fundamental information on a stock before getting ready to make the trade. With stocks devalued because of the recession, even technical traders are starting to look more frequently at the fundamentals of stocks they're considering.