VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Magic Formula Investing and Variant will find that Both Magic Formula Investing and Variant concentrate on Stock Ideas workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Magic Formula Investing leans into Screeners, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Variant stands out with Market Sentiment, Forums, and AI that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Magic Formula Investing vs Variant
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Magic Formula Investing adds Screeners coverage that Variant skips.
- Variant includes Market Sentiment, Forums, and AI categories that Magic Formula Investing omits.
- Magic Formula Investing 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., and Ranks companies on two factors: high earnings yield (low P/E) and high return on capital, with minor accounting adjustments..
- Variant is known for: AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations., Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments., and Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events..
- Magic Formula Investing has a free tier, while Variant requires a paid plan.
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.
Variant
variantinsights.com
Invite- and approval-based platform for professional and student investors. Variant combines an AI-powered “Catalyst Finder” with buyside discussions and a predictions marketplace focused on public-company outcomes and earnings sentiment. All content is user-generated (never investment advice), with strict prohibitions against material non-public information. Access is available via professional approval, student programs at select universities, or invite-only flows.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations.
- Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments.
- Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events.
- Structured prediction markets focused on company-specific outcomes and event-driven scenarios.
- Access models include professional approval-based signup, student signup at partner universities, and invite-only admission.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
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.
Variant
Distinct strengths include:
- AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations.
- Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments.
- Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events.
- Structured prediction markets focused on company-specific outcomes and event-driven scenarios.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Magic Formula Investing | Variant |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Stock Ideas Unique: Screeners | Shared: Stock Ideas Unique: Market Sentiment, Forums, AI |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks | Stocks |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Other |
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 Variant both support?
Both platforms cover Stock Ideas workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
Magic Formula Investing offers a free entry point, while Variant requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access Magic Formula Investing and Variant?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Variant 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 Variant stands out for AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations., Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments., and Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events..
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.