Earnings season is when a stock you've held quietly for months can move 8% in one session. Third-quarter reports start in mid-October, led by the big banks, and run through early November. The fix is simple: set your alerts before the report, so the reaction comes to you.
1. Know which of your stocks report soon
Go through your watchlist and note each company's report date and whether it reports before the open or after the close. Your broker or any finance site lists them.
2. Set a percent-move alert sized to what matters to you
For each stock, pick the size of move that would make you do something, say 5% up or down from the prior close, and set a percent-change alert. If it fires, read why. If it doesn't, you didn't spend the evening refreshing a quote. Triggerly's Percentage Change alert can measure the move versus the prior close, versus the price when you set the alert, today's open versus the prior close (the opening gap, checked at 9:35 ET), or the daily close (today's close versus the price when you created the alert).
Catch the opening gap
The tool for an earnings-gap move is Percentage Change set to Open from Close. It compares today's open with the prior close and is checked once at 9:35 ET, a few minutes after the opening print. Set the percent that would matter to you, for example 5% either way, before the report.
3. Add price alerts at your decision levels
If there's a price where you'd add to the position or cut it, set a price alert there too.
4. Watch volume the day after
The day after a report, heavy volume tells you whether the move has real participation. A volume spike alert at 3x the 20-day average is a good filter.
A note on timing
Many companies report after the close or before the open. The app shows pre-market and after-hours prices, but alerts don't fire then. Alerts fire during regular US market hours and are checked every 5 minutes. For a gap, use the Open from Close percent-change alert, which is checked at 9:35 ET.
Read before you react
When an earnings alert fires in Triggerly, open Alert Analysis for AI-written context on what likely caused the move, whether it matters technically, and the key levels to watch. Tap the stock for analyst price targets and the latest headlines in one place.
- Report date and time noted for each holding
- Percent-move alert (for example ±5% from the prior close)
- Opening-gap alert (Open from Close), checked at 9:35 ET
- Price alerts at your add and exit levels
- Volume spike alert for the day after
FAQ
When does Q3 2026 earnings season start?
Third-quarter reports typically begin in mid-October with the large US banks and continue through early November.
What percent-move alert should I use for earnings?
Use the size of move that would change what you do. 5% is a common starting point; volatile stocks may need 8 to 10%.
Will Triggerly alert me on after-hours earnings moves?
No. Alerts fire during regular US market hours and are checked every 5 minutes. The app shows pre-market and after-hours prices, but alerts don't fire then. For the opening gap, use Percentage Change set to Open from Close, which is checked at 9:35 ET.
Triggerly guides are for education only. Not investment advice.
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