V1.1 | What More Do You Need? (Even Longer Backtest) | HTX mod
Today’s Change (Mar 17, 2026)
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About
A rule-based, backtested ETF-rotation system that uses RSI and moving-average signals to pick one asset to own (often QLD/ROM for tech exposure or TLT/SHY for safety) and holds cash otherwise. It uses a layered decision tree, not a fixed calendar, to adapt to momentum and trend conditions.
- The system operates as a hierarchical decision tree that aims to pick one ETF to own at a time. It starts with a cash-equal framework that decides whether to tilt toward an asset or hold cash.
- It repeatedly checks momentum signals, chiefly RSI (short-term momentum) on major market proxies (QQQ, SPY) and on select ETFs (QLD, ROM, SHY, etc.). When certain momentum thresholds are met (for example, RSI > 80 on QQQ or SPY), the model tends to move into safer bonds like TLT rather than riskier, levered tech assets.
- If the high-momentum triggers aren’t met, the model uses ranking rules to pick among a set of assets. It may sort by RSI to find the weakest or by moving-average return to find the strongest, then selects the top candidate (or the bottom, depending on the branch) to own.
- The asset universe includes levered tech ETFs (QLD, ROM), standard proxies (QQQ, SPY), short or intermediate bond alternatives (SHY, SHV, IEF, BIL), and even some sector/commodity proxies (XLP, DBO, UUP). Some branches also reference inverse equivalents (QID) or dollar/commodity-related assets as hedges or supplements.
- Rebalancing is not on a fixed schedule; the strategy tends to reallocate only when a rule fires, and it tends to assign a full position to the chosen asset (weight around 100%). When no rule provides a clear signal, the system keeps cash. This creates periods of cash-like safety and periods of full exposure to a single ETF.
- In short, the approach is a momentum/relative-strength based single-asset rotation with a cash buffer, driven by a dense set of nested rules designed to prefer safer assets during overextended market conditions and aggressively exposed, leveraged tech ETFs when momentum confirms a favorable trend.
Out-of-sample, this strategy targets higher risk-adjusted returns than the S&P 500: ~50.6% annualized vs 20.6%, Sharpe ~1.28 vs 1.22, Calmar ~1.97. Momentum-driven rotations with a cash buffer aim to capture upside and protect capital.
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Invest in this strategy
OOS Start Date
Jan 28, 2024
Trading Setting
Threshold 10%
Type
Stocks
Category
Quantitative, etf rotation, momentum, backtest-driven, trend-following
Tickers in this symphonyThis symphony trades 15 assets in total
Ticker
Type
BIL
State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Stocks
DBO
Invesco DB Oil Fund
Stocks
IEF
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF
Stocks
PSQ
ProShares Short QQQ
Stocks
QID
ProShares UltraShort QQQ
Stocks
QLD
ProShares Ultra QQQ
Stocks
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Stocks
ROM
ProShares Ultra Technology
Stocks
SH
ProShares Short S&P500
Stocks
SHV
iShares Trust iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF
Stocks