If you invest through a U.S. broker, you know the frustration of finding great stocks you cannot buy. This article shows you exactly how to fix that. You will learn two fast ways to filter for only U.S.-listed companies (including ADRs) in the Quant Investing screener. These methods - using Currency and ISIN filters - will help you avoid unavailable stocks, focus only on investable opportunities, and speed up your research. After reading, you will be able to set up your screen in minutes, find qualified U.S. stocks, and move faster on investment decisions with confidence.
Estimated Reading time: 5 minutes
Only Want U.S.-Traded Stocks? Here's How to Filter for Them Easily
Investing in foreign stocks can be tricky if your broker only supports U.S. exchanges.
This article shows you two fast ways to filter for U.S.-listed companies, including American Depository Receipts (ADRs), using the Quant Investing stock screener.
Why This Matters: You Need U.S.-Only Stocks You Can Actually Buy
If you invest through a U.S.-based broker, you may only be able to buy stocks listed on U.S. exchanges. That includes U.S. companies and foreign companies trading as ADRs.
The problem?
Most stock screeners include all companies by default. If you do not filter correctly, your screen results may include stocks you cannot buy. And if you only select the USA as country ADRs will not be included.
This guide shows you exactly how to avoid that.
Method 1: Filter by Currency – The Easiest First Step
Add the “Currency” column to your screener results.
Then, filter for “USD” (U.S. dollars).
This will give you a list of companies with their primary listing in the U.S., either directly or as ADRs.
How to add the column:
Click the “Add/Remove Columns” icon in the screener. Under the “General Info” section, select “Currency.”
Method 2: Use the ISIN Filter – Nearly 100% Accurate
ISIN stands for International Securities Identification Number.
All ISINs starting with “US” are for securities listed in the United States. So, you can filter for companies whose ISIN begins with “US”.
Select the ISIN column by clicking on the add remove columns icon and under the General Info heading select ISIN.
How to do it:
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Add the “ISIN” column from the same “General Info” menu.
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Filter using the condition “ISIN starts with US”.
This filter will show:
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U.S. companies
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ADRs listed on U.S. exchanges
Why it works:
The ISIN code is issued based on where the company is listed. So “US” at the beginning almost always means it trades on a U.S. exchange.
How to add the column:
Click the “Add/Remove Columns” icon in the screener. Under the “General Info” section, select “ISIN.”
Click here to start finding US and ADR stocks that EXACTLY meet your investment strategy.
How Accurate Are These Filters? (Very Close)
These two steps will get you 95% to 99% of the way.
You might still get the occasional stock that is not available through your broker. If in doubt, copy the ISIN or company name into your brokerage platform to check availability.
In practice, this extra step takes just seconds and only affects a few stocks.
Do This Now: Your Step-by-Step Summary
If your broker only allows U.S.-listed stocks, here is how to focus your screen:
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Step 1: Open the Quant Investing screener.
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Step 2: Set up and run your screen
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Step 3: Click “Add/Remove Columns.”
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Step 4: Add the “Currency” and “ISIN” columns under “General Info.”
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Step 5: Filter separately for:
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Currency = USD
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ISIN starts with “US”
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Step 6: If unsure, paste the company name or ISIN into your broker’s platform.
These two filters will help you avoid unavailable stocks, focus your research, and move faster when placing trades.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I know if a stock I see in the screener is actually available to me in the U.S.?
If you add the Currency and ISIN columns to your screen, you can quickly check.
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If the currency is USD, it usually trades on a U.S. exchange.
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If the ISIN starts with US, it is almost always a U.S.-listed stock or ADR.
Still, before buying, type the ticker or ISIN into your broker’s search to confirm.
2. Why do I need both the Currency filter and the ISIN filter?
Using just one filter can miss some stocks.
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The Currency filter catches most U.S.-listed stocks but can miss some ADRs.
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The ISIN filter is more accurate for U.S. exchanges but does not show the currency.
Using both gives you about 95–99% accuracy and saves time.
3. What is an ADR and why should I care?
An ADR (American Depository Receipt) is a way to buy shares of a foreign company in U.S. dollars on a U.S. exchange. Example: If you want to buy Nestlé, you can buy its ADR without opening an account overseas.
Filtering for ISIN starting with US will include ADRs that you can buy through most U.S. brokers.
4. What should I do if a stock still does not appear in my broker after filtering?
This happens with a few stocks.
The easiest fix:
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Copy the company name or ISIN from the screener.
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Paste it into your broker’s search.
If it still does not appear, your broker may not support that stock. In that case, you can skip it and move on to the next one.
5. Is there a quick way to set this filter so I do not have to redo it each time?
Yes. Once you have added the Currency and ISIN columns and set the filters, save your screen in the Quant Investing screener.
Next time you log in, just open your saved screen and all the filters will be ready.
6. If I only want big U.S. companies, can I add that to the filter too?
Yes. You can combine the U.S.-only filter with other factors, like:
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Market Cap (for size)
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Quality scores (for financial strength)
This way, you are not just finding U.S.-listed stocks, but also the ones that fit your style, such as large stable companies.
7. Why is this step important before I start my stock research?
Because you do not want to waste time researching stocks you cannot buy. By filtering for U.S. currency and ISIN, you focus only on stocks available through your broker.
This makes your research faster and more productive.
Click here to start finding US and ADR stocks that EXACTLY meet your investment strategy.
