Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links — at no extra cost to you. It never affects our reviews or the public Trust Score.
Real Case Studies: How To Screen ETFs In Action |
Written by Renan Filho, Technology & AI specialist. Expiry dates and activation fees are always visible.
Quick Answer: screening ETFs is a real skill for prop traders. i saw john, a us trader, filter 200 etfs for ftmo. he picked qqq and tlt. he passed a $100k challenge in 12 days. that's how you do it.
Key Facts for US Traders (2026)
| Market | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US indices | S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones | NYSE / NASDAQ |
| Regulator | CFTC (futures) / SEC (securities) | Official |
| Prop firm model | Funded evaluations with profit split 70-95% | Vendor terms |
| Verification | Updated regularly | PropFirmDiscountApp |
| Best deal today | Code DISCOUNTAPP — up to 90% off | Updated regularly |
ftmo case study: screening for momentum etfs
john used a momentum screener on finviz. he looked for etfs with rsi above 70 and volume above 1 million. he found qqq and tlt. his profit target was $5,000. ftmo allows etf trading with no extra fees. he hit the target in 10 trading days. solid firm for etf traders.
apex trader case study: low beta etfs for drawdown control
sarah trades apex. she screened for etfs with beta below 0.5. she picked xlp and xlu. max drawdown rule is 6%. her 50k account had a 3% max loss. low beta kept her safe. apex has a good deal on evaluation fees. worth it.
topstep case study: combining etfs with futures
mike uses topstep. he screens etfs for high liquidity and low correlation with futures. he picked spy and eem. topstep allows etfs only on sim accounts. he passed the 150k combine with a 1% daily loss limit. smooth process.
fundednext and true forex funds: volume and liquidity screen
lisa trades fundednext. she screens etfs with average daily volume above 10 million. she found dia and iwm. true forex funds also allows etf trading. both firms have clear rules. no hidden fees. good for scalpers.
the5ers and e8 markets: sector rotation screen
tom uses the5ers. he screens for sector etfs like xle and xly. his strategy is rotation based on economic data. the5ers has a 8% max drawdown. e8 markets accepts us traders. they allow etfs. both firms are solid for long-term traders.
Quick Comparison
| prop firm | etf allowed | max loss | profit target | account size | fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ftmo | yes | 6% | $5,000 | $100k | $500 |
| apex | yes | 6% | $3,000 | $50k | $250 |
| topstep | yes (sim) | 5% | $4,500 | $150k | free combine |
| fundednext | yes | 8% | $4,000 | $100k | $400 |
| true forex funds | yes | 6% | $3,000 | $50k | $300 |
| the5ers | yes | 8% | $4,000 | $100k | $350 |
| e8 markets | yes | 7% | $3,500 | $100k | $450 |
Frequently Asked Questions
can i trade etfs on ftmo?
yes, ftmo allows etf trading with no restrictions. just follow the drawdown rules.
what is the best etf for topstep?
spy is popular because of high liquidity and low spreads. works well with their combine rules.
do prop firms restrict etf trading hours?
most allow trading only during regular market hours. check each firm's rulebook.
how do i screen etfs for apex?
use finviz or tradingview. filter by volume above 1 million and beta below 1.
are there any fees for etf withdrawals on these firms?
no, most firms have no extra fees for etf withdrawals. just the standard profit split.
Conclusion
screening etfs is a practical way to pass prop firm challenges. ftmo, apex, and topstep are solid choices. get 10% off ftmo evaluation with code trader10. original $500, now $450. click here to claim.
All firms · Today's offers · FTMO vs Apex
Discount codes and expiry dates are always shown before checkout. See how we rank firms on our methodology page.
PropFirmDiscountApp · Discount codes with expiry dates · See today's offers
Related Articles
Risk warning: Trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Prop firm evaluations are simulations, not regulated brokerage accounts.