---
url: /indicators/cmf.md
description: >-
  Created by Marc Chaikin, Chaikin Money Flow is the simple moving average of
  the directional Money Flow Volume.
package: FacioQuo.Stock.Indicators
docs_version: v3
canonical: https://dotnet.stockindicators.dev/indicators/cmf
generated: 2026-10-15T06:15:05.027Z
commit: 4044e66ee11c1611f024b18d0096806706a00c9d
---

# Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)

Created by Marc Chaikin, [Chaikin Money Flow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaikin_Analytics#Chaikin_Money_Flow) is the simple moving average of the directional Money Flow Volume.
[\[Discuss\] 💬](https://github.com/facioquo/stock-indicators-dotnet/discussions/261 "Community discussion about this indicator")

```csharp
// C# usage syntax
IReadOnlyList<CmfResult> results =
  bars.ToCmf(lookbackPeriods);
```

## Parameters

| param | description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `lookbackPeriods`*`int`* | Number of periods (`N`) in the moving average.  Must be greater than 0.  Default is 20. |

### Historical price bars requirements

You must have at least `N+1` periods of `bars` to cover the warmup periods.

`bars` is a collection of generic `TBar` historical price bars.  It should have a consistent frequency (day, hour, minute, etc).  See [the Guide](/guide/getting-started.md#historical-bars) for more information.

## Response

```csharp
IReadOnlyList<CmfResult>
```

* This method returns a time series of all available indicator values for the `bars` provided.
* It always returns the same number of elements as there are in the historical price bars.
* It does not return a single incremental indicator value.
* The first `N-1` periods will have `null` values since there's not enough data to calculate.

### `CmfResult`

| property | description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `Timestamp`*`DateTime`* | Date from evaluated `TBar` |
| `MoneyFlowMultiplier`*`double?`* | Money Flow Multiplier |
| `MoneyFlowVolume`*`double?`* | Money Flow Volume |
| `Cmf`*`double?`* | Chaikin Money Flow = SMA of MFV |

> [!WARNING]
> **🚩 Relative values only**
>
> Absolute values in MFV and CMF are somewhat meaningless.  Use with caution.

### Utilities

* [.Condense()](/utilities/results.md#condense)
* [.Find(lookupDate)](/utilities/results.md#find-by-date)
* [.RemoveWarmupPeriods()](/utilities/results.md#remove-warmup-periods)
* [.RemoveWarmupPeriods(removePeriods)](/utilities/results.md#remove-warmup-periods)

See [Utilities and helpers](/utilities.md) for more information.

## Chaining

Results can be further processed on `Cmf` with additional chain-enabled indicators.

```csharp
// example
var results = bars
    .ToCmf(..)
    .ToSlope(..);
```

This indicator must be generated from `bars` and **cannot** be generated from results of another chain-enabled indicator or method.

See [Chaining indicators](/guide/chaining.md) for more.

## Streaming

Use the buffer-style `List<T>` when you need incremental calculations without a hub:

```csharp
CmfList cmfList = new(lookbackPeriods);

// call from your WebSocket or SSE message handler
void OnBarReceived(IBar bar) => cmfList.Add(bar);

// based on `ICollection<CmfResult>`; fills as the handler runs
IReadOnlyList<CmfResult> results = cmfList;
```

Subscribe to a `BarHub` for advanced streaming scenarios:

```csharp
BarHub barHub = new();
CmfHub observer = barHub.ToCmfHub(lookbackPeriods);

// call from your WebSocket or SSE message handler
void OnBarReceived(IBar bar) => barHub.Add(bar);

// results fill as the handler runs
IReadOnlyList<CmfResult> results = observer.Results;
```

See [Buffer lists](/guide/styles/buffer.md) and [Stream hubs](/guide/styles/stream.md) for full usage guides.