Learn · Volume 6 min read Reviewed

Delivery Volume and Volume Analysis: Reading Real Buying

Trading volume counts every share that changed hands, including intraday round trips. Delivery volume counts only shares actually taken for delivery, which reflects investors rather than day traders. This guide explains both, how to compare them against averages and what the combination can and cannot show.

Volume, delivery volume and delivery percentage

Traded volume

All trades

Total shares bought and sold in the session, including intraday trades that were squared off the same day.

Delivery volume

Settled shares

Shares that were actually delivered into demat accounts, meaning positions carried past the day.

Delivery %

Ratio

Delivery volume divided by traded volume. A high figure means most trading was by holders, not intraday speculators.

NSE publishes delivery data after the market closes, so delivery measures are end-of-day, not live.

Screenshot: controls and readings

Delivery volume analysis tool workspace with numbered controls and reading points
Wide desktop interface capture, with the pictured source dates and selected filters. Readings illustrate the workflow and are not current market data.
  1. Main measure. Select traded volume, delivered volume or delivery percentage before choosing the comparison.
  2. Observation measure. Match the end-of-day or historical measure to the baseline you want to compare.
  3. Multiplier. The multiplier is a screening threshold rather than a conviction score.
  4. Comparison baseline. A weekly average and a previous-day value describe different baselines.
Delivery volume analysis tool workspace with numbered controls and reading points

How to use the Daily Volume Screener

  1. Open the Daily Volume Screener, select the date, market universe and comparison period.
  2. Complete the required volume or delivery condition before running the scan.
  3. Read traded quantity, delivered quantity and delivery percentage separately.
  4. Compare the latest observation with its own historical average rather than comparing raw shares across stocks.
  5. Open a result chart and check whether unusual delivery coincided with a price rise, decline or flat session. Delivery does not identify the buyer.

Compare with the stock's own average

Delivery percentages differ widely between stocks, so a figure means little on its own. Compare today's volume and delivery with the stock's own weekly, monthly and six-month averages. A day with volume and delivery both well above average suggests real accumulation or distribution, depending on the price move.

Reading volume and delivery together with price
PriceVolume and deliveryCommon reading
RisingBoth high versus averageInvestor buying behind the move
RisingVolume high, delivery lowIntraday speculation; weaker conviction
FallingBoth high versus averageInvestor selling; possible distribution
FlatBoth high versus averageAbsorption; a break may follow

A worked example

XYZ's monthly average volume is 10 lakh shares with an average delivery of 45%, so about 4.5 lakh delivered shares a day. Today it trades 28 lakh (2.8x) with 62% delivery, which is 17.4 lakh delivered shares, about 3.9x its usual.

Price is up 2.5% on the day. Volume and delivery both well above average on a rising price is a common sign of investor buying behind the move. If delivery had stayed near 45% on the same volume, intraday activity would explain most of it.

Worked example

Illustrative numbers for a hypothetical stock, not a recommendation or a past trade.

Limits

  • Delivery does not show direction. Every delivered share has both a buyer and a seller.
  • Hedged and arbitrage positions can create delivery without a view.
  • Event days such as index rebalancing or bulk deals distort the figures.
  • Single-day readings are noisy. Look for repeated high-delivery sessions.
FAQ

Delivery volume analysis: frequently asked questions

01What is delivery percentage in stocks?

It is delivery volume divided by total traded volume for the day. A high percentage means a larger share of trades led to shares being delivered into accounts rather than being squared off intraday.

02Is high delivery percentage bullish?

Not by itself. High delivery shows that investors transacted, but each delivered share has a buyer and a seller. Read it with price: high delivery on a rising price suggests buying, while on a falling price it suggests selling.

03What is a good delivery percentage?

There is no universal figure because it varies by stock. Compare today's delivery with the stock's own average over weeks and months to see whether it is unusual.

04Is delivery data available intraday?

No. Exchanges publish delivery figures after the close, so delivery-based screens use the previous session's data.

05Does high delivery percentage mean institutions are buying?

Not necessarily. Delivery includes retail investors, institutions and anyone who carried shares overnight. It shows investors transacted, but it cannot tell you which type of investor or which side initiated.

Next steps

Open the live tool on NSE data, then continue with the related walkthroughs.

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