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Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL
Today’s Change

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

About

An all-in timing strategy that toggles between 3x long SPXL and cash-like BIL based on VIXY volatility signals and SPY momentum (RSI), with daily rebalancing.
NutHow it works
Two-step daily decision process: - Step 1 (volatility rule): If VIXY price is below its 9-day moving average, allocate 100% to SPXL (bet on a rising market with 3x leverage). - Step 2 (fallback rule): If the first condition isn’t met, examine SPY’s momentum. If RSI(SPY) is below 30 (meaning SPY has recently pulled back too far), allocate 100% to SPXL. Otherwise, allocate 100% to BIL (short-term Treasuries, a cash-like holding). Rebalance happens every trading day, switching fully between SPXL and BIL depending on the signals. The strategy uses known tickers: SPXL (3x S&P 500), SPY (S&P 500), BIL (short-term Treasuries), and VIXY (volatility index ETF) to guide decisions. It does not diversify across many assets; it concentrates risk on SPXL during signals and shifts to BIL as a protective position when signals don’t align with a bullish setup.
CheckmarkValue prop
Out-of-sample annualized return ~38% vs SPY ~17%, with Sharpe ~0.96 and Calmar ~1.25. A simple volatility/momentum timing strategy aiming for outsized upside and strong risk-adjusted return, but with higher drawdowns (~30% vs ~19%).
1M
3M
6M
YTD
1Y
3Y
Max
Performance
Compared to selected benchmarks
AlphaBetaR2R
0.171.730.580.76
Performance Metrics
Cumulative ReturnAnnualized ReturnTrailing 1M ReturnTrailing 3M ReturnSharpe Ratio
578.18%13.48%-1.77%0.2%0.83
18,064.5%41.02%0.76%-0.03%1.08
Initial Investment
$10,000.00
Final Value
$1,816,449.57
Regulatory Fees
$7,531.64
Total Slippage
$50,791.58
Invest in this strategy
OOS Start Date
Oct 15, 2024
Trading Setting
Daily
Type
Stocks
Category
Equities, leveraged etfs, volatility timing, tactical asset allocation
Tickers in this symphonyThis symphony trades 4 assets in total
Ticker
Type
BIL
State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Stocks
SPXL
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3x ETF
Stocks
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Stocks
VIXY
ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures 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.

"Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL" is currently performing the same as yesterday today. Performance updates in real time during market hours.

"Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL" is currently allocated toSPXL. Holdings automatically adjust as market conditions change based on the strategy's rules.

Year-to-date, "Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL" has returned 26.28%. You can adjust the performance chart above to view returns across different time horizons.

The maximum drawdown for "Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL" is 30.26%. 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 "Which way is up? Use VIXY for SPXL", 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, and options.