A stochastic oscillator is a momentum indicator comparing a particular closing price of a security to a range of its prices over a certain period of time. A 14-period %K would use the most recent close, the highest high over the last 14 periods and the lowest low over the last 14 periods. %D is a 3-day simple moving average of %K. This line is plotted alongside %K to act as a signal or trigger line.

Formula:

%K = (Current Close - Lowest Low)/(Highest High - Lowest Low) * 100
%D = 3-day SMA of %K

Lowest Low = lowest low for the look-back period
Highest High = highest high for the look-back period
%K is multiplied by 100 to move the decimal point two places

The default setting for the Stochastic Oscillator is 14 periods.

Download Stochastic Oscillator Excel Sheet

In the Excel Sheet, Column ‘E’ has the closing price, column ‘F’ has Highest high period, Column ‘G’ has Lowest Low period, Column ‘H’ has %K and Column ‘I’ has %D.