Magic Formula Investing adds Stock Ideas coverage that Valuesider skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ A CURATED DIRECTORY OF FINANCIAL TOOLS ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Tool Comparison
Magic Formula Investing vs Valuesider comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Valuesider includes Investor Holdings, 13F, and Data Visualizations categories that Magic Formula Investing omits.
In depth comparison
Magic Formula Investing
magicformulainvesting.com
Free stock screener based on Joel Greenblatt’s Magic Formula strategy. Covers only U.S.-listed equities, excluding financials and utilities. Users choose a minimum market cap and get either 30 or 50 ranked results. Prices are updated daily on trading mornings, and fundamentals refresh quarterly. Free registration is required.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Straightforward screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap (USD, millions) and number of results (30 or 50).
- Universe restricted to U.S.-listed equities, excluding financial and utility companies.
- Ranks companies on two factors: high earnings yield (low P/E) and high return on capital, with minor accounting adjustments.
- Update cadence: price data refreshed daily around 8:00 AM ET on trading days; financial data updated quarterly.
- Underlying data source is S&P Compustat. Official guidance suggests focusing on larger caps for less volatility and holding at least 20 stocks.
Community votes (overall)
Valuesider
valuesider.com
Free web tool for tracking “superinvestor” portfolios and stock ownership changes based on SEC 13F filings. Valuesider notes 13F data is delayed (filed up to 45 days after quarter-end) and incomplete (e.g., shorts not included), and states it only shows data from 2013 Q2 onward due to filing format limitations; shares/prices are split-adjusted. Terms prohibit bots/automated scraping.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Browse tracked value-investor (“guru”) portfolios and quarter-by-quarter activity (buys/sells) based on SEC 13F filings.
- Free “Holdings Screener” over the aggregated (“grand”) guru portfolio, with filters (e.g., % of grand portfolio, number of gurus, security type) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV.
- Free “Activity Screener” for aggregated buy/sell changes across gurus, with filters (activity type/period, security type, portfolio-impact metrics) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV.
- Guru portfolio pages include an “Important” button linking to the original SEC reports and provide split-adjusted shares and reported prices.
- Ticker pages show which tracked gurus hold a security and the ownership activity over time (based on gurus’ latest SEC reports).
Community votes (overall)
Where they differ
Magic Formula Investing
Distinct strengths include:
- Straightforward screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap (USD, millions) and number of results (30 or 50).
- Universe restricted to U.S.-listed equities, excluding financial and utility companies.
- Ranks companies on two factors: high earnings yield (low P/E) and high return on capital, with minor accounting adjustments.
- Update cadence: price data refreshed daily around 8:00 AM ET on trading days; financial data updated quarterly.
Valuesider
Distinct strengths include:
- Browse tracked value-investor (“guru”) portfolios and quarter-by-quarter activity (buys/sells) based on SEC 13F filings.
- Free “Holdings Screener” over the aggregated (“grand”) guru portfolio, with filters (e.g., % of grand portfolio, number of gurus, security type) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV.
- Free “Activity Screener” for aggregated buy/sell changes across gurus, with filters (activity type/period, security type, portfolio-impact metrics) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV.
- Guru portfolio pages include an “Important” button linking to the original SEC reports and provide split-adjusted shares and reported prices.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Magic Formula Investing | Valuesider |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Screeners Unique: Stock Ideas | Shared: Screeners Unique: Investor Holdings, 13F, Data Visualizations |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Funds, Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Magic Formula Investing and Valuesider both support?
Both platforms cover Screeners workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Magic Formula Investing and Valuesider require subscriptions?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Valuesider keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Magic Formula Investing and Valuesider?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Valuesider prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Magic Formula Investing differentiates itself with Straightforward screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap (USD, millions) and number of results (30 or 50)., Universe restricted to U.S.-listed equities, excluding financial and utility companies., and Ranks companies on two factors: high earnings yield (low P/E) and high return on capital, with minor accounting adjustments., whereas Valuesider stands out for Browse tracked value-investor (“guru”) portfolios and quarter-by-quarter activity (buys/sells) based on SEC 13F filings., Free “Holdings Screener” over the aggregated (“grand”) guru portfolio, with filters (e.g., % of grand portfolio, number of gurus, security type) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV., and Free “Activity Screener” for aggregated buy/sell changes across gurus, with filters (activity type/period, security type, portfolio-impact metrics) and export to XLSX/XLS/CSV..
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.