Technical Bullish Momentum Trade and Trigger in ServiceNow Inc
ServiceNow Inc (NYSE:NOW) : Technical Bullish Momentum Trade and Trigger
Date Published: 2019-05-25
Disclaimer
The results here are provided for general informational purposes from the CMLviz Trade Machine Stock Option Backtester as a convenience to the readers. The materials are not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person, firm or corporation.Lede
One of the quietest technology companies to turn into nearly a $50 billion large cap is ServiceNow (NOW). In its history it has shown one of the most remarkable patterns with respect to technical analysis and a specific bullish momentum trigger. Today we examine this trigger, and the historical results.Preface
Technical analysis is the most common form of financial back-testing. It does, at every step, use historical patterns in order to extrapolate them into the future.Charting isn't simply a collection of a few trend charts, or a few indicators that work in one example. No matter how many lines and chart patterns are drawn on it, is not a rigorous backtest -- it's just a chart, at one specific time -- it really is.
That's why technical analysis can feel so close to being profitable for a trader, and we can do so much preparation work, but at the same time the results, well, they never quite match up to the expectation.
After rigorous testing over the ten year period from 2009-2019 and the period from 2007-2009, which included the Great Recession, and over 100,000 back-tests, today we demonstrate the technical conditions that have provided a strong short-term bullish momentum trigger for ServiceNow Inc , as well as, broadly speaking, the Nasdaq 100 index constituents.
TESTING SWING TRADING SIGNALS - OPTION BACKTESTER LOGIC WITH TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
The goal is to create a portfolio of option trading backtests with alerts attached to them, so we don't have to stare at the screen all day, but rather use Trade Machine as the pattern recognition work horse to notify when the ideas become actionable.The Bullish Option Trade with Technical Analysis and Moving Averages in ServiceNow Inc (NYSE:NOW)
We examine the result of a long out-of-the-money (strike price is set to the 40 delta) call option, in call options that are the closest to 14-days from expiration (using calendar days). But we follow three rules to test the swing trade:* Never Trade Earnings
That means the backtester never opens a trade between the "black out period" of two before through two-days after an earnings announcement.Here it is, first, we enter the long call.
* Use a technical analysis trigger to start the trade, if and only if these specific items are met. This is the trading system:
* Trigger on the precise day that the stock crosses the 10-day exponential moving average (EMA) -- that's a trigger of a momentum breakout right at that moment -- an uptrend.
* The stock is already above the 200-day simple moving average (SMA), which means that the stock is not in technical failure -- we're not after reversals, we are looking for "not a down trend." There is also some sentiment surrounding this particular moving average.
* Stock prices are below the 50-day SMA means that it has room to run to the upside.
* The Relative Strength Index (RSI), using 20-days, is below 70, so the stock isn't overbought -- there is little risk of being oversold with the prior signals in place.
Here it is in an image from Trade Machine -- only focus on the moving average and RSI settings where the filter is turned to "on.":
You can set an alert in Trade Machine®, which will track all of these moving parts for you, and message you when it triggers. In fact, you can do this with a portfolio of stocks for a portfolio of bullish and bearish triggers. Let Trade Machine do the work for you -- there's no need to stare at the screen.
* Finally, we set a very specific type of stop loss and limit:
* Use a 40% limit gain and a 60% stop loss.
At the end of each day, the back-tester checks to see if the long call option is up 40% or down 60%. If it is, it closes the position.
10-year Stock Option Backtester With Technical Analysis Results in ServiceNow Inc
Here are the results over the last ten-years:
| NOW: Long 40 Delta Call | |||
| % Wins: | 66.67% | ||
| Wins: 12 | Losses: 6 | ||
| % Return: | 671.8% | ||
Tap Here to See the Back-test
We're now looking at 671.8% returns, on 12 winning trades and 6 losing trades.
➡ The average percent return over the last year per trade was 20.71% for each 14-day period.
Stock Option Backtester With Technical Analysis Results
Here are the results over the last three-years in ServiceNow Inc:| NOW: Long 40 Delta Call | |||
| % Wins: | 80% | ||
| Wins: 8 | Losses: 2 | ||
| % Return: | 748.7% | ||
Tap Here to See the Back-test
The mechanics of the TradeMachine® are that it uses end of day prices for every back-test entry and exit (every trigger).
This is not a magic bullet, rather it's a bullish technical analysis momentum strategy predicated on using pattern recognition in charts through moving averages and RSI, rather than manually drawling lines stock by stock.
Setting Expectations
While this strategy had an overall return of 748.7%, the trade details keep us in bounds with expectations:➡ The average percent return per trade was 40.2% for each 14-day period.
Checking the Moving Averages
You can check to see the values of all the moving averages discussed above with real-time daily prices, including live after hours prices, for NOW by viewing the Pivot Points tab on www.CMLviz.com.Rigor to the Option Backtester, Swing Trading Technical Analysis and Backtesting
We compared this technical analysis trigger on the constituents of the Nasdaq 100 versus the results from the baseline. The baseline is simply owning calls and rolling them every two-weeks with the same stop and limit as introduced above (40% / 60%).Using rigorous technical analysis, as opposed to "that one chart that looked good that one time," we saw out performance over the 10-year period from March 2009 - March 2019, largely a bull market, as well as 2007-2009, the period which includes the Great Recession bear market. Further, we saw out performance in each sub period of one-year, two-years, three-years, and five-years.
Finally, the win rates by stock were also higher, as were the average winning trade return for every time period. Why look at one chart one time, when you can test technical set-ups across hundreds of thousands of charts at once?
Technical Analysis Back-testing More Time Periods in ServiceNow Inc
Now we can look at just the last year as well:We're now looking at 95.5% returns, on 2 winning trades and 1 losing trades.
➡ The average percent return over the last year per trade was 35.46%.
Next Steps
You can do this. Tap here to use technical analysis with pattern recognition. Stop guessing.Risk Disclosure
Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Trading futures and options involves the risk of loss. Please consider carefully whether futures or options are appropriate to your financial situation. Only risk capital should be used when trading futures or options. Investors could lose more than their initial investment.
Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The risk of loss in trading can be substantial, carefully consider the inherent risks of such an investment in light of your financial condition.
Please note that the executions and other statistics in this article are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity and slippage.
You should read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.