Screen stocks the Warren Buffett way
Buffett looks for wonderful companies at fair prices — strong competitive moats, exceptional cash returns, consistent operating margins, and low debt. No value traps.
How this screen is built
Every result passes all filters
This screen applies all criteria simultaneously across 100,000+ stocks. Every result must pass all filters — not just one or two.
Exceptional Capital Returns
The screen requires Cash Return on Invested Capital (CROIC) above 60% — a hard filter that eliminates businesses without a true competitive moat. Buffett calls this the most important single indicator of business quality.
Durable Operating Margins
Operating margins above 20% are required. This filters for businesses with pricing power — companies where competitors cannot easily undercut them on price. Buffett sees this as proof of a durable competitive advantage.
Conservative Balance Sheet
Debt ratio must be below 30% and net cash must be positive. This is a hard requirement — not a preference. Buffett avoids businesses that depend on debt to survive downturns.
Fair Price, Not Value Trap
The stock must be flagged as undervalued AND have a trap score below 2 out of 13. This separates genuinely cheap stocks from value traps — companies that look cheap because they are broken.
What Swalex adds on top
Two metrics Buffett himself uses but most screeners ignore: Owner Earnings Yield (the cash a business actually generates for its owners) and 5-Year Net Owner Return (proof the business has rewarded shareholders over time, not just on paper).
Last screen results
What the Warren Buffett screen surfaced
Results based on latest available data. Run the live screen for current results.
| Ticker | Name | Country | Quality | CROIC | EBIT Margin | OE Yield | Owner Return 5y | Trap Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HACK.ST | Hacksaw | Sweden | 94% | 687% | 77% | 7% | — | 0 |
| HRMY | Harmony Biosciences | USA | 89% | 61% | 24% | 16% | 49% | 0 |
| 603444.SS | G-bits Network | China | 87% | 80% | 41% | 9% | 15% | 1 |
| 688578.SS | Shanghai Allist Pharma | China | 86% | 65% | 49% | — | — | 1 |
| LUG.TO | Lundin Gold | Canada | 85% | 102% | 65% | — | 26% | 0 |
| 300628.SZ | Yealink Network | China | 84% | 80% | 47% | 4% | 18% | 1 |
| 336570.KQ | Daishin Balance | South Korea | 84% | 76% | 31% | 6% | — | 0 |
| 600809.SS | Shanxi Fen Wine | China | 83% | 77% | 40% | 5% | 34% | 0 |
| INCY | Incyte Corporation | USA | 80% | 99% | 33% | 6% | 14% | 1 |
| ZEAL.CO | Zealand Pharma | Denmark | 81% | 1235% | 76% | 29% | 44% | 1 |
This screen is inspired by publicly known investment principles attributed to Warren Buffett. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Warren Buffett or Berkshire Hathaway. Not investment advice.