Skip to Content
Trade options on Composer. Earn up to $200 in cash rebates!Get Started.T&Cs apply.
Symphonies
BIL Replacement | vt but add some crash catcher
Today’s Change
—

A symphony is an automated trading strategy — Learn more about symphonies here

About

A daily tactical “cash-plus” strategy. In good times it tilts to diversifiers (gold, managed futures KMLM, market-neutral BTAL, Bitcoin, momentum). When risk rises, it shifts to T-bills/short-TIPS, defensive sectors, bonds, or hedges (short/VIX). Includes some leveraged/inverse funds.
NutHow it works
This daily, rules-based “cash-plus” mix aims to beat T-bills while sidestepping big drops. It uses simple trend/heat checks (are prices rising, falling, overheated, or washed out?). In calm uptrends it owns diversifiers: gold (GLD), managed futures (KMLM—trend-following in commodities/rates/FX), market-neutral stocks (BTAL), Bitcoin (BITO), and momentum leaders. When risk rises (volatility spikes or downtrends), it shifts to T-bills/short-TIPS, defensive sectors (staples/utilities), bonds, or hedges (short/VIX funds). In panics it may briefly use leveraged ETFs for rebounds.
CheckmarkValue prop
Out-of-sample results show strong risk-adjusted performance and crash protection: beta ~0.17, max drawdown ~3.1%, Calmar ~3.0, Sharpe ~1.8. Diversified gold/futures/hedges guard against selloffs while offering steadier risk-adjusted gains vs the S&P 500.

Loading backtest data...

Invest in this strategy
OOS Start Date
Aug 10, 2025
Trading Setting
Daily
Type
Stocks
Category
Tactical multi-asset, cash-plus, trend-following, defensive rotation, crash protection, volatility hedging
Tickers in this symphonyThis symphony trades 51 assets in total
Ticker
Type
BIL
State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Stocks
BITO
ProShares Bitcoin ETF
Stocks
BOXX
Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF
Stocks
BTAL
AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund
Stocks
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF
Stocks
CORP
PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Exchange-Traded Fund
Stocks
DFEN
Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares
Stocks
EDC
Direxion Daily Emerging Markets Bull 3X Shares, Shares of beneficial interest, no par value
Stocks
EDZ
Direxion Daily Emerging Markets Bear 3x Shares
Stocks
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Stocks

FAQ

A Composer symphony is an automated trading strategy that executes trades based on parameters of your choice. Some symphonies are similar to holding one ETF in normal conditions and rotating to a different ETF when market conditions shift, for example a 5% drop in the S&P 500, while others use complex rules with dozens of triggers. However, complex doesn’t always mean better. A simple, well-structured symphony can be just as effective as an intricate one. Learn more about how symphonies work here.

The symphony is currently performing the same as yesterday today. Performance updates in real time during market hours.

The symphony is currently allocated toVBF, XLV, BITO, TMFC, BOXX, SPMO, SPY, UGL, BTAL, EDZ, XLU, GLD, BIL, SQQQandXLP. Holdings automatically adjust as market conditions change based on the strategy's rules.

Year-to-date, the symphony has returned 9.36%. You can adjust the performance chart above to view returns across different time horizons.

The maximum drawdown for the symphony is 3.11%. The maximum drawdown measures the largest peak-to-trough decline. It's an important metric to evaluate risk and the strategy's behavior during market stress.

To invest in the symphony, simply click the Invest button on this page. You'll need to open an account with Composer if you don't have one yet, then you can start investing. Composer will automatically execute the trades for you based on the strategy's rules. Composer also supports trading individual stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options.