> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://finance.chiefpriest.design/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Most Active Stocks

> Get the most actively traded stocks by volume

## Overview

Retrieve the most actively traded stocks by trading volume. This endpoint provides real-time data on stocks with the highest trading activity, helping investors identify market interest, momentum, and potential opportunities.

<Info>
  High trading volume often indicates significant market interest, news events, or institutional activity. These stocks typically have better liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads.
</Info>

## Parameters

<ParamField query="limit" type="number" default="20">
  Number of active stocks to return (max 50)
</ParamField>

## Response

<ResponseField name="active_stocks" type="array">
  Array of the most active stocks by volume

  <Expandable title="Active Stock Object">
    <ResponseField name="symbol" type="string">
      Stock ticker symbol
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="name" type="string">
      Company name
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="price" type="number">
      Current stock price
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="change" type="number">
      Price change in dollars
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="changesPercentage" type="number">
      Price change percentage
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="volume" type="number">
      Trading volume (number of shares)
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="avgVolume" type="number">
      Average daily volume
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="marketCap" type="number">
      Market capitalization
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="pe" type="number">
      Price-to-Earnings ratio
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="eps" type="number">
      Earnings per share
    </ResponseField>
  </Expandable>
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="source" type="string">
  Data source identifier ("FMP")
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="timestamp" type="string">
  ISO timestamp of the response
</ResponseField>

## Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl "https://stocks-dev.up.railway.app/api/v1/market/active?limit=10"
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  response = requests.get("https://stocks-dev.up.railway.app/api/v1/market/active")
  data = response.json()

  print("🔥 Most Active Stocks by Volume:")
  print("=" * 60)

  for i, stock in enumerate(data['active_stocks'][:10], 1):
      symbol = stock['symbol']
      name = stock['name'][:30] + "..." if len(stock['name']) > 30 else stock['name']
      price = stock['price']
      change_pct = stock['changesPercentage']
      volume = stock['volume']
      avg_volume = stock['avgVolume']
      volume_ratio = volume / avg_volume if avg_volume > 0 else 0
      
      # Format volume in millions/billions
      if volume >= 1e9:
          vol_str = f"{volume/1e9:.1f}B"
      elif volume >= 1e6:
          vol_str = f"{volume/1e6:.1f}M"
      else:
          vol_str = f"{volume/1e3:.0f}K"
      
      change_emoji = "🟢" if change_pct >= 0 else "🔴"
      
      print(f"{i:2d}. {symbol:<6} {change_emoji} ${price:>7.2f} ({change_pct:>+5.1f}%)")
      print(f"    {name}")
      print(f"    📊 Volume: {vol_str} ({volume_ratio:.1f}x avg)")
      print()
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch('https://stocks-dev.up.railway.app/api/v1/market/active');
  const data = await response.json();

  console.log("🔥 Most Active Stocks by Volume:");
  console.log("=".repeat(60));

  data.active_stocks.slice(0, 10).forEach((stock, index) => {
      const symbol = stock.symbol;
      const name = stock.name.length > 30 ? stock.name.substring(0, 30) + "..." : stock.name;
      const price = stock.price;
      const changePct = stock.changesPercentage;
      const volume = stock.volume;
      const avgVolume = stock.avgVolume;
      const volumeRatio = avgVolume > 0 ? volume / avgVolume : 0;
      
      // Format volume
      let volStr;
      if (volume >= 1e9) {
          volStr = `${(volume/1e9).toFixed(1)}B`;
      } else if (volume >= 1e6) {
          volStr = `${(volume/1e6).toFixed(1)}M`;
      } else {
          volStr = `${(volume/1e3).toFixed(0)}K`;
      }
      
      const changeEmoji = changePct >= 0 ? "🟢" : "🔴";
      
      console.log(`${(index + 1).toString().padStart(2)}. ${symbol.padEnd(6)} ${changeEmoji} $${price.toFixed(2).padStart(7)} (${changePct >= 0 ? '+' : ''}${changePct.toFixed(1)}%)`);
      console.log(`    ${name}`);
      console.log(`    📊 Volume: ${volStr} (${volumeRatio.toFixed(1)}x avg)`);
      console.log();
  });
  ```

  ```php PHP theme={null}
  <?php
  $response = file_get_contents('https://stocks-dev.up.railway.app/api/v1/market/active');
  $data = json_decode($response, true);

  echo "🔥 Most Active Stocks by Volume:\n";
  echo str_repeat("=", 60) . "\n";

  foreach (array_slice($data['active_stocks'], 0, 10) as $index => $stock) {
      $symbol = $stock['symbol'];
      $name = strlen($stock['name']) > 30 ? substr($stock['name'], 0, 30) . "..." : $stock['name'];
      $price = $stock['price'];
      $change_pct = $stock['changesPercentage'];
      $volume = $stock['volume'];
      $avg_volume = $stock['avgVolume'];
      $volume_ratio = $avg_volume > 0 ? $volume / $avg_volume : 0;
      
      // Format volume
      if ($volume >= 1e9) {
          $vol_str = number_format($volume/1e9, 1) . "B";
      } elseif ($volume >= 1e6) {
          $vol_str = number_format($volume/1e6, 1) . "M";
      } else {
          $vol_str = number_format($volume/1e3, 0) . "K";
      }
      
      $change_emoji = $change_pct >= 0 ? "🟢" : "🔴";
      
      echo sprintf("%2d. %-6s %s $%7.2f (%+5.1f%%)\n", 
          $index + 1, $symbol, $change_emoji, $price, $change_pct);
      echo "    $name\n";
      echo "    📊 Volume: $vol_str (" . number_format($volume_ratio, 1) . "x avg)\n\n";
  }
  ?>
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Response Example

```json theme={null}
{
  "active_stocks": [
    {
      "symbol": "TSLA",
      "name": "Tesla, Inc.",
      "price": 248.50,
      "change": 12.45,
      "changesPercentage": 5.27,
      "volume": 85420000,
      "avgVolume": 45230000,
      "marketCap": 789450000000,
      "pe": 45.2,
      "eps": 5.50
    },
    {
      "symbol": "AAPL",
      "name": "Apple Inc.",
      "price": 201.08,
      "change": -2.15,
      "changesPercentage": -1.06,
      "volume": 78920000,
      "avgVolume": 52100000,
      "marketCap": 3089450000000,
      "pe": 28.4,
      "eps": 7.08
    },
    {
      "symbol": "NVDA",
      "name": "NVIDIA Corporation",
      "price": 135.21,
      "change": 8.92,
      "changesPercentage": 7.06,
      "volume": 72150000,
      "avgVolume": 38450000,
      "marketCap": 3321450000000,
      "pe": 62.8,
      "eps": 2.15
    }
  ],
  "source": "FMP",
  "timestamp": "2025-06-28T20:15:30.123456"
}
```

## Understanding Volume Analysis

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Volume Significance">
    **Why Volume Matters:**

    * **Liquidity**: High volume stocks are easier to buy/sell
    * **Interest**: Indicates market attention and institutional activity
    * **Momentum**: Volume often precedes price movements
    * **News Events**: Earnings, announcements drive volume spikes
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Volume Metrics">
    * **Current Volume**: Today's trading activity
    * **Average Volume**: Typical daily trading volume
    * **Volume Ratio**: Current vs average (>2x is significant)
    * **Dollar Volume**: Price × Volume (institutional focus)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Trading Implications">
    * **High Volume + Price Up**: Strong bullish momentum
    * **High Volume + Price Down**: Strong bearish pressure
    * **High Volume + Flat Price**: Accumulation/distribution
    * **Low Volume**: Lack of conviction in price moves
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Use Cases

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Day Trading" icon="zap">
    **Intraday Opportunities**

    * High liquidity for quick entries/exits
    * Momentum identification
    * Scalping opportunities
  </Card>

  <Card title="News & Events" icon="newspaper">
    **Market Catalysts**

    * Earnings reactions
    * Breaking news impact
    * Institutional activity
  </Card>

  <Card title="Swing Trading" icon="chart-line">
    **Short-term Positions**

    * Momentum continuation
    * Breakout confirmations
    * Volume-price analysis
  </Card>

  <Card title="Market Sentiment" icon="heart">
    **Overall Market Health**

    * Risk-on/risk-off sentiment
    * Sector rotation patterns
    * Market participation levels
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Volume Analysis Tips

<Info>
  **Volume Leaders** often include:

  * Large-cap tech stocks (AAPL, MSFT, NVDA)
  * Meme stocks during social media hype
  * Stocks with recent earnings or news
  * ETFs during market volatility
</Info>

<Tip>
  **Trading Strategies:**

  * Look for volume 2-3x average for significant moves
  * Combine with price action for confirmation
  * Watch for volume at key support/resistance levels
  * Use volume to validate breakouts
</Tip>

<Warning>
  **Volume Considerations:**

  * High volume doesn't guarantee profitable trades
  * Consider market cap when evaluating volume
  * Be aware of options expiration effects
  * Watch for wash trading or manipulation
</Warning>

## Error Responses

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Market Closed (503)">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "error": "Market data unavailable",
      "detail": "Markets are currently closed. Data may be delayed."
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate Limited (429)">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "error": "Rate limit exceeded",
      "detail": "Too many requests. Please wait before retrying."
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## MCP Protocol Usage

For AI agents using the Model Context Protocol:

```json theme={null}
{
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "fmp_get_most_active",
    "arguments": {
      "random_string": "dummy"
    }
  }
}
```

## Related Endpoints

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Market Gainers" icon="trending-up" href="/api-reference/market/gainers">
    Get the biggest stock gainers of the day
  </Card>

  <Card title="Market Losers" icon="trending-down" href="/api-reference/market/losers">
    Get the biggest stock losers of the day
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sector Performance" icon="chart-pie" href="/api-reference/market/sectors">
    Get sector performance data
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stock Quote" icon="chart-line" href="/api-reference/stock/quote">
    Get detailed quote for specific stocks
  </Card>
</CardGroup>