This guide is for Malaysian retail investors who want to research stocks on Bursa Malaysia before buying them. If you are new to investing or tired of scrolling through random lists, KLSE Screener will save you time and help you build a shortlist based on your own rules.
What Is KLSE Screener and What Can You Do With It?
KLSE Screener is a free website and mobile app built by a third party to help you research stocks listed on Bursa Malaysia. It is not run by Bursa Malaysia, and it is not a broker—you cannot buy or sell shares directly in it.
Think of it as a library catalogue for Malaysian stocks. You can look up prices, charts, financial ratios, quarterly results, and company announcements. You build a shortlist of companies you want to investigate further. Then you log into your broker app (such as M+ Global) to actually place the trade.
Over my years as a remisier, I have found that the clients who take the time to screen and research first make fewer emotional trades and tend to be more disciplined. That is what KLSE Screener helps you do.
How to Look Up a Single Stock
Let us say you have heard of a company and want to check its basics. You can search for it by name or stock code.
Once you open the stock page, you will see several useful sections:
- Price and chart: Current price, open, high, low, and a price chart over different time frames (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year).
- Key ratios: Price-to-earnings (PE), dividend yield, return on equity (ROE), and market capitalisation. These ratios help you understand whether a stock is expensive or cheap, and how profitable the company is.
- Company information: Sector, industry group, and a short profile.
- Quarterly results: A table of profit and loss figures from recent quarters, so you can see if the company is making more or less money over time.
- Announcements: Official news from the company filed with Bursa Malaysia—earnings reports, dividends, related-party transactions, and other important updates.
The basic features are free to use. You do not need to pay or log in to view it.
Understanding the Quarterly Results Table
This is where I find many investors get confused. A quarterly results table shows revenue, profit before tax, profit after tax, and earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter. It is tempting to look at the latest quarter and think, “The profit went up, so I will buy it now.” Do not do this.
One good quarter tells you almost nothing. A company might have had a one-off boost (a one-time sale, a weak quarter last year to compare against, or seasonal business). What you need to see is a trend—profits and revenue going up consistently over at least four quarters, ideally two years or more.
If profit is jumping up and down wildly, that is a red flag. If it is flat, the company is not growing. If it is falling, you need to read the announcements to find out why before you decide whether to buy.
Using the Screener Filters to Build a Shortlist
This is where KLSE Screener shows its real power. Instead of looking at one stock at a time, you can set filters and it will show you all stocks that match your rules. You might filter by sector, minimum dividend yield, PE ratio range, or profit growth rate.
Let me walk you through three example screens that I set up regularly for my clients:
Screen 1: Dividend Stocks
Goal: Find stocks that pay good dividends and have stable profits.
Filters you might use:
- Dividend yield: 3% to 6% (you decide the range based on what you need)
- PE ratio: Less than 15 (cheaper than the market average)
- Profit trend: Growing or flat over the last 8 quarters (not falling)
- Market cap: Above a minimum size so the stock is liquid enough to buy and sell
This screen will show you larger, more stable companies that return cash to shareholders. I use it when clients want steady income and lower volatility.
Screen 2: Value Stocks
Goal: Find stocks that the market has underpriced, with solid earnings.
Filters you might use:
- PE ratio: Less than 10 (cheaper than most of the market)
- Price-to-book (PB) ratio: Less than 1 (trading below book value)
- Latest quarter profit: Positive and growing (not shrinking)
- Return on equity (ROE): Above 10% (the company is efficient at making profit from shareholder money)
Value screens require patience. You are looking for stocks the market has overlooked, but that does not mean they are cheap for no reason. You must read the announcements and annual report to understand why the price is down.
Screen 3: Growth Stocks
Goal: Find companies with rising revenue and profit, even if the PE ratio is higher.
Filters you might use:
- Quarterly revenue: Growing at least 10% year-on-year (quarter this year versus the same quarter last year)
- Quarterly profit: Growing at least 15% year-on-year
- Profit margin: Stable or improving (not falling)
- PE ratio: Below 25 (reasonable, not a speculative bubble)
Growth screens suit younger investors with a longer time horizon. These companies are reinvesting profits into expansion, so they may not pay high dividends. The risk is higher, but so is the potential.
Each of these screens is just a starting point. You adjust the numbers based on your own goals and risk appetite. The key is that you set the rules before you start looking, so you do not fall in love with a stock and bend your own criteria.
Using a Watchlist to Track Your Shortlist
After you run a screen, you will have a list of maybe 5 to 20 stocks. You do not buy all of them. Instead, you add your top choices to a watchlist inside KLSE Screener.
A watchlist lets you track the price, chart, and announcements of your shortlisted stocks in one place. You can see which ones are moving, which ones have released new results, and which ones have paid dividends. It is a personal tracking tool—only you can see it, and you can create multiple watchlists if you want (e.g., “Dividend Ideas”, “Value Picks”, “Watch for Dip”).
I tell my clients to spend a month monitoring their watchlist before they buy. This teaches you the personality of the stock, the pace of announcements, and whether the company is executing its business plan. It also gives you time to read the annual report and understand what the company actually does.
The Limits of Any Screener (This Is Critical)
A screener is a tool, not a crystal ball. There are four big limitations you must know:
Data can lag: The financial data in KLSE Screener is updated regularly, but it may not be live. If you see a PE ratio or dividend yield, it is usually based on the last full quarter or year. A company might have just announced bad news yesterday, but the screener has not caught it yet.
Ratios do not explain causation: A stock might have a low PE ratio because the market thinks earnings will fall, not because it is a hidden gem. A high ROE might be driven by one-off events, not a durable business. The screener shows you the what, not the why.
You must read the Bursa announcements: Before you put any money down, log into Bursa Anywhere (the official Bursa Malaysia website where companies file announcements) and read the latest quarterly results announcement and any material news. This is where you find out if the company has a lawsuit pending, if a key director resigned, or if they are entering a new market.
You must read the annual report: The annual report is a detailed book issued by the company once a year. It is free on the Bursa website. It explains the business strategy, risks, management team, and often gives guidance on future performance. A 30-minute read of the annual report will teach you more than hours of looking at ratios.
In my experience, the investors who read announcements and annual reports avoid 80% of the traps. Those who only look at screeners and prices fall into them.
Your Workflow: From Screener to Trade
Here is how to go from an idea in KLSE Screener to an actual trade:
- Build a screen based on your strategy (dividend, value, growth, or your own rules).
- Review the results and add your top picks to a watchlist.
- Monitor the watchlist for a few weeks. Watch for announcements, price movement, and any news.
- Read the latest quarterly results announcement on the official Bursa website (not in the screener).
- Read the annual report or at least the business overview and risk sections.
- Check the most recent price and set your budget. How many shares do you want to buy, and at what price? (Remember: standard board lot is 100 units.)
- Log into your broker app (M+ Global, for example) and place the trade. You cannot buy via KLSE Screener.
- The order settles on T+2 (two business days later). Your shares will appear in your CDS account with your broker.
This workflow takes time, but that is the point. Rushing from screener to trade is how people lose money.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying on a single good quarter: One quarter tells you nothing. Wait for a trend.
- Trusting a screener more than official announcements: Always verify what you find in the screener with the latest news from Bursa.
- Confusing KLSE Screener with a broker: You cannot place a trade in the screener. You must use your broker’s app.
- Setting filters too tight: If you filter for PE under 5, ROE above 20%, and dividend yield above 5%, you might get zero results. Start broad, then narrow down.
- Ignoring the announcements and annual report: A low PE might mean the company is in trouble. Read the full story.
- Building a giant watchlist and doing nothing: A watchlist is meant to narrow your focus, not to collect every idea. Aim for 5 to 15 stocks on your main watchlist, and commit to reading about them.
Key Takeaways
- KLSE Screener is a free research tool for Bursa Malaysia stocks. You cannot trade in it; use it to build a shortlist.
- Use filters to find stocks that match your strategy—dividend stocks, value stocks, growth stocks, or your own mix.
- One good quarter is not a reason to buy. Look for a trend over at least 8 quarters.
- Never rely on the screener alone. Always read the company’s quarterly announcements and annual report on the official Bursa website before you commit money.
- A watchlist helps you monitor your shortlist over time. Give yourself at least a month to watch before you buy.
- Place your actual trade in your broker’s app (like M+ Global), not in the screener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KLSE Screener owned by Bursa Malaysia or my broker?
No. KLSE Screener is a third-party website and app built independently. It is not run by Bursa Malaysia, and it is not run by any broker like Malacca Securities. It is a free research tool, similar to a financial data website.
Can I buy and sell shares in KLSE Screener?
No. KLSE Screener is for research only. You research stocks in KLSE Screener, then log into your broker’s app (M+ Global, for example) to place the buy or sell order.
How often is the data in KLSE Screener updated?
KLSE Screener updates regularly, but there may be a small lag (usually a few hours to a day). Always check the latest official announcement on Bursa Malaysia before you trade, especially for breaking news or earnings surprises.
What is the difference between building my own screen and just scrolling through a list of all stocks?
A screen lets you set rules so you only see stocks that match your strategy. Without a screen, you are looking at hundreds of stocks with no criteria. A screen cuts your work from hours to minutes, and it removes emotion because you are following your own rules, not chasing a hot tip.
Can I set up a screener that automatically alerts me to buy stocks?
KLSE Screener is a research tool, not a trading tool. It does not send buy alerts or execute trades automatically. You use it to build a shortlist, monitor it yourself, and make your own buy or sell decision. Your broker’s app (M+ Global) may have alert features—check with your remisier about what notifications are available.
Next Steps
Start by opening KLSE Screener and playing with the filters. Pick one strategy—say, dividend stocks—and run a screen. Add your top five results to a watchlist. Then, pick one and read its last two quarterly announcements and its annual report. This single exercise will teach you more than any theory. After a month of watching and learning, you will be ready to make your first trade with confidence.
If you have questions about how to trade once you have built your shortlist, or if you need help setting up your M+ Global account, please reach out to me. I am Dexter Chia, a remisier at Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd. You can contact me on WhatsApp at +60169059789, or use my Invitation Code UBZQ to open an M+ Global account. I am here to help you turn your research into successful trades.
Need Help With This?
If you are an M+ Global client and need help with this process, message me directly — I handle these requests for clients every week.
WhatsApp: +60169059789 | M+ Global Invitation Code: UBZQ
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
Want to invest in Bursa Malaysia or US markets? Contact Dexter Chia, an AI Driven Remisier who has 2,200+ clients at Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd (M+ Global). M+ Global Invitation Code: UBZQ | WhatsApp: +60169059789 | Why Choose Dexter?
