Pre-earnings Momentum Trade With a Technical Trigger in Atlassian Corporation PLC
Atlassian Corporation PLC (NASDAQ:TEAM) : Pre-earnings Momentum Trade With a Technical Trigger
Date Published: 2019-01-12
Disclaimer
The results here are provided for general informational purposes, as a convenience to the readers. The materials are not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person, firm or corporation.Preface
There is a bullish momentum pattern in Atlassian Corporation PLC (NASDAQ:TEAM) stock 3 trading days before earnings. Further, we use moving averages as a safety valve to try to avoid opening a bullish position while a stock is in a technical break down, like the fourth quarter of 2018.According to our data provider, Wall Street Horizon, TEAM has a confirmed earnings date on 2019-01-17, after the market closes, and three trading before then would be Monday, 1-14-2019, near the end of the close of trading.
LOGIC
The logic behind the option trading backtest is easy to understand -- in an any market there can be a stock rise ahead of earnings on optimism, or upward momentum, that sets in just 3-trading days before an earnings date. That phenomenon has been well documented by Capital market Laboratories in our seminal webinar on market patterns.The Bullish Option Trade Before Earnings in Atlassian Corporation PLC
We will examine the outcome of getting long a weekly call option in Atlassian Corporation PLC 3-days before earnings (using trading days) and selling the call before the earnings announcement if and only if the stock price is above the 50-day simple moving average.Here's the set-up in great clarity; again, note that the trade closes before earnings, so this trade does not make a bet on the earnings result.
And here is the technical requirement -- note only one is "turned on," and that is the 50-day moving average requirement.:
If the stock price fails the technical requirement, it's fine, we just put a pin in it and check next quarter.
As of this writing, 1-12-2019, TEAM is well above its 50-day moving average (DMA) (see the image below), so unless there is a massive draw down on Monday 1-14-2019, this back-test should trigger at the end of the day on Monday.
From the pivot point chart -- a chart made for traders, available on this very site you are on (www.CMLviz.com), we have the clearest view possible of where the moving averages line up relative to each other, and in this case for TEAM, specifically, where the 50 DMA lines up relative to the stock price.
RISK MANAGEMENT
We can add another layer of risk management to the back-test by instituting and 40% stop loss and a 40% limit gain. Here is that setting:
In English, at the close of each trading day we check to see if the long option is either up or down 40% relative to the open price. If it was, the trade was closed.
RESULTS
Here are the results over the last two-years in Atlassian Corporation PLC:| TEAM: Long 40 Delta Call | |||
| % Wins: | 100% | ||
| Wins: 7 | Losses: 0 | ||
| % Return: | 224% | ||
Tap Here to See the Back-test
The mechanics of the TradeMachine® Stock Option Backtester are that it uses end of day prices for every back-test entry and exit (every trigger).
Track this trade idea. Get alerted for ticker `TEAM` 3 days before earnings
Notice that while this is a 2-year back-test and we would expect four times that many earnings triggers (4 earnings per year), the technical requirement using the 50-day moving average has avoided 1 pre-earnings attempts. In other words -- it's working.
Setting Expectations
While this strategy had an overall return of 224%, the trade details keep us in bounds with expectations:➡ The average percent return per trade was 49.1% for each four 4-day period.
Checking the Moving Average
You can check to see if the 50-day MA for TEAM is above or below the current stock price by using the Pivot Points tab on www.CMLviz.com.Back-testing More Time Periods in Atlassian Corporation PLC
Now we can look at just the last year as well:
| TEAM: Long 40 Delta Call | |||
| % Wins: | 100.00% | ||
| Wins: 3 | Losses: 0 | ||
| % Return: | 83% | ||
Tap Here to See the Back-test
We're now looking at 83% returns, on 3 winning trades and 0 losing trades.
➡ The average percent return over the last year per trade was 35%.
WHAT HAPPENED
Trade Machine gives you the capacity to trade beyond luck, with stock or options, with and without technical triggers.Tap here to see it for yourself
Risk Disclosure
You should read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.
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.