This Moving Average Strategy Beats Buy and Hold by Nearly 3-to-1

Moving averages (MAs) are one of the most popular trading tools. Their popularity may be due to their simplicity. Before there were calculators or computers, a 10-day simple moving average could be found by adding up the last 10 closing prices and moving the decimal point one space to the left. I've talked to old floor traders who told me that was the reason the 10-day moving average become popular.

Now, MAs of any length are easy to calculate and widely used. We also have variations of the simple calculation. Rather than just adding up numbers and dividing by the total number, there are at least four other possible ways to find a moving average:
1. Exponential Moving Average: Assigns a greater weight to the more recent market action in an effort to be more responsive to changes in the trend.
2. Weighted Moving Average: Allows users to decide which data should be overweighted and allows for the weighting values to be changed.
3. Triangular Moving Average: Weights the middle of the data more heavily.
4. Adaptive Moving Average: Uses smoothing factors to adjust the number of days used in the calculations to current market conditions.

Each method has its proponents and each of the four methods adds a level of complexity to what was originally a simple indicator. Complexity, at least in my mind, is only OK if it adds value. Visually, it looks like the different moving averages move in the same general direction.

The chart below is a weekly chart of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY) with the prices hidden so all we see are the moving averages. This eliminates the clutter on the chart and makes it possible to see that the moving averages rise and fall at the same time.

The adaptive moving average, the thin red line, stands out as consistently lagging the simple MA, shown as the thick blue line. At the bottom in 2009, the exponential MA, the brown line, was the last to signal a buy. That signal came after SPY had gained more than 35%. The other MAs signaled a buy after a gain of 25%. Large delays at bottoms are one of the most significant drawbacks of trading with a moving average. The other significant drawback is that there are a large number of small trades in a sideways market.

Based on the visual comparison, we can say that the averages are all close to each other. More detailed quantitative testing of the various MAs is required to develop a stronger opinion as to which one is best. The results are summarized in the table below. All results are for a 26-week MA and the system is always in the market, long when the price is above the MA and short when the price is below the MA.

Each MA delivered a low number of winning trades and none beat the market. Digging deeper, we learn that the performance problems are due to large losses on the short side.
Looking at the results for a long-only MA system, moving to cash when the price falls below the MA, we see much better performance.

Although the number of winning trades is still low, the adaptive MA beats buy and hold by a significant amount, nearly 3-to-1. This indicator will not call the top of the market. In fact, because it is calculated with historical data, it is impossible for any MA to signal at the exact top or bottom.
At the time of this writing, SPY is well above its adaptive MA, and based on this indicator alone, a bull market would be intact as long as SPY remains above $141.36. Of course, the precise value of the MA changes daily, and will likely be higher when the next bear market does begin.

There is no way to fully eliminate the problems associated with moving averages. But in my experience, the best way to use them is to apply an adaptive MA as a long-only signal. No matter what type of MA is used, when the prices are below the MA, the chances of profitable buys are low. Personally, I'd consider selling any stock or ETF when the price moves below the 26-week moving average.

Please bookmark us