Asset | QQQ+LQD above 50MA, NDX RSI2 dip
Asset | QQQ+LQD above 50MA, NDX RSI2 dip - a v4_baseline concept routed into the free-tier catalog by lifetime ROR (non-HoF, ROR <10%). Lifetime ROR 9.7%, Sharpe 0.94, MaxDD -19.4% across the backtest window. Plain-text source code included.
Retired research concept. This strategy did not clear our bar for sale. We are sharing it as-is for learning and setup verification. No email support. No updates. We do not recommend trading it as-is with live capital.
Honest about the data cost: the .rts file is free, but reproducing the full backtest above requires Norgate's US Stocks Platinum subscription ($346.50 / 6 mo or $630 / 12 mo USD; no monthly plan). It is the only Norgate tier with point-in-time NDX membership and delisted securities back to 1990. The free Norgate trial covers only a recent window - enough to confirm the strategy installs and runs, not enough to match the published equity curve.
Results are hypothetical and based on a historical backtest. Past performance does not guarantee future results. See risk disclosure for full details.
The backtest, in full.
Year-by-year, month-by-month.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | MaxDD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0.0 | -3.4 | -2.5 | -0.3 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 3.5 | -3.3 | 0.0 | 1.0% | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -1.3 | -9.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -5.9% | -12.2% |
| 2009 | -2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.6 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 5.6 | -3.5 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 35.8% | -10.0% |
| 2010 | -4.5 | -0.5 | 3.8 | 2.8 | -1.8 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -4.4 | 3.1 | 5.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 7.0% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | -2.1 | 0.9 | -0.7 | -2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 1.4% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.3 | -0.2 | -0.8 | 0.0 | -0.8 | 3.9 | -3.1 | -2.9 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 7.1% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 0.0 | 1.5 | -0.4 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.7 | -1.1 | -0.1 | 3.6 | 8.7% | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 2.2 | 1.9 | -3.4 | 2.9 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | -0.0 | 0.6 | -2.1 | 12.9% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | -1.3 | 2.4 | -2.7 | -0.7 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -2.3 | 0.0 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 7.6% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | -0.9 | -1.4 | -1.1 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.6% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 2.5 | -1.6 | 1.4 | -1.4 | 1.1 | 3.8 | -3.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 5.8 | 18.9% | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | -5.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6% | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 5.2 | -1.3 | 2.3 | -0.0 | -4.4 | -1.9 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 4.9 | 12.6% | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 2.4 | -6.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 12.6 | 8.5 | 12.3 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | -1.3 | 38.3% | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.4 | -8.7 | 0.2 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 12.3 | 12.0% | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | -0.1 | -2.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 0.5 | -0.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 6.8% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 1.9 | 2.3 | -1.3 | 0.7 | -1.1 | 4.5 | -8.1 | -4.2 | -1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | -5.1% | -18.0% |
| 2025 | 0.0 | -4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | 7.1 | 2.3 | -6.4 | 15.8 | 5.9 | -1.5 | 0.0 | 16.6% | -11.0% |
| 2026 | -0.3 | 2.3 | -1.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8% | -4.9% |
| Mean Yr | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 9.9% | -8.1% |
Year rows: Total = compound of the row's monthly returns. Mean Yr row: per-month cells are column means; Total is the arithmetic mean of annual totals (not compound-of-cells, so the two won't agree — this is by design).
The last 30 trades, in full.
| Entered | Exited | Symbol | Side | Bars | Net % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-20 | 2025-10-27 | DASH | Long | 5 | +0.56% |
| 2025-10-21 | 2025-10-27 | CEG | Long | 4 | +6.31% |
| 2025-10-24 | 2025-10-31 | TTWO | Long | 5 | -1.12% |
| 2025-10-27 | 2025-11-03 | ORLY | Long | 5 | -2.94% |
| 2025-10-29 | 2025-11-03 | GILD | Long | 3 | +2.28% |
| 2025-10-31 | 2025-11-07 | ARM | Long | 5 | -8.19% |
| 2026-01-15 | 2026-01-16 | NVDA | Long | 1 | +1.36% |
| 2026-01-14 | 2026-01-22 | GEHC | Long | 5 | -3.23% |
| 2026-01-14 | 2026-01-22 | INSM | Long | 5 | -4.41% |
| 2026-01-15 | 2026-01-23 | SHOP | Long | 5 | -14.09% |
| 2026-01-16 | 2026-01-26 | ISRG | Long | 5 | -3.35% |
| 2026-01-23 | 2026-01-28 | APP | Long | 3 | +4.83% |
| 2026-01-23 | 2026-01-28 | AVGO | Long | 3 | +6.10% |
| 2026-01-23 | 2026-01-29 | SHOP | Long | 4 | +3.77% |
| 2026-01-27 | 2026-01-29 | INTC | Long | 2 | +8.14% |
| 2026-01-28 | 2026-01-30 | MAR | Long | 2 | +0.50% |
| 2026-02-11 | 2026-02-17 | MNST | Long | 3 | +1.91% |
| 2026-02-11 | 2026-02-18 | INSM | Long | 4 | +0.27% |
| 2026-02-11 | 2026-02-19 | GOOGL | Long | 5 | -5.40% |
| 2026-02-23 | 2026-02-25 | INTC | Long | 2 | +4.51% |
| 2026-02-23 | 2026-02-25 | WMT | Long | 2 | +2.47% |
| 2026-02-23 | 2026-02-27 | MAR | Long | 4 | -0.30% |
| 2026-02-26 | 2026-03-02 | FANG | Long | 2 | +8.88% |
| 2026-02-26 | 2026-03-02 | GILD | Long | 2 | +1.32% |
| 2026-02-26 | 2026-03-05 | INSM | Long | 5 | +0.69% |
| 2026-02-26 | 2026-03-05 | MCHP | Long | 5 | -8.94% |
| 2026-04-16 | 2026-04-20 | PCAR | Long | 2 | +2.42% |
| 2026-04-15 | 2026-04-22 | BKR | Long | 5 | -0.23% |
| 2026-04-20 | 2026-04-22 | FANG | Long | 2 | +5.15% |
| 2026-04-20 | 2026-04-27 | GILD | Long | 5 | -6.73% |
Shown: most recent 30 trades from the production backtest. Full trade list is included in the .zip after purchase. Extracted 2026-05-24.
| Metric | Strategy | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| ROR (CAGR) | 9.74% | 8.28% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.94 | 0.45 |
| MAR Ratio | 0.50 | — |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4% | -55.2% |
| Trades | 1,461 | 1 |
| Avg Exposure | 22.5% | 100% |
What this strategy does
Asset | QQQ+LQD above 50MA, NDX RSI2 dip is a v4_baseline concept that emerged from our research pipeline and was routed into the storefront by its lifetime ROR (<10%, free tier; non-HoF). It trades the Nasdaq-100 with point-in-time membership data, so the published numbers are survivorship-bias-free.
Why this tier
Free: lifetime ROR fell under 10% (the paid-tier routing floor), so the concept was routed to the free download catalog. We share these for learning and setup verification. Lifetime ROR 9.7%, Sharpe 0.94, MAR 0.50, MaxDD -19.4% across approximately 26 years (per-concept window pending).
What you get
Three files: the plain-text RealTest .rts source, a README with install steps and the Norgate data requirements, and the free-tier license. No DRM, no subscription.
- asset_qqq_lqd_both_above_50ma_ndx_rsi2_dip.rtsRealTest strategy file (plain-text source)
- README.txtStrategy summary, install steps, Norgate data requirements, support contact
- LICENSE.txtFree-tier license: personal use, attribution required, no resale
- Style
- Mean Reversion
- Universe
- Nasdaq-100 Current & Past Members
- Timeframe
- Daily
- Side
- Long
- Entry
- Mixed (see .rts)
- Exit
- Mixed (see .rts)
- Commission
- $0.005 / Share (IBKR Pro tier)
- Slippage
- $0.01 / Share
- Limit Buffer
- 0.05% past limit
- Risk-Free Rate
- Per-strategy (see .rts)
SPY Buy & Hold benchmark does not include transaction fees, slippage, or management costs. Strategy figures include both.
Backtests use daily-resolution OHLC data (Norgate does not provide intraday). Stops and limits are checked against the day's High/Low; same-day stop-and-target collisions are resolved pessimistically. See Risk Disclosure § 11 for full detail.
- Data source
- Norgate Data Platinum - point-in-time Nasdaq-100 membership
- Backtest period
- 2000-01-03 to 2026-05-23
- Initial capital
- $100,000.00 USD
- Position sizing
- Per-strategy sizing documented in the .rts. Equal-weight default unless overridden.
- Compounding
- Compounded
- Survivorship bias
- None - Norgate's point-in-time membership and delisted symbols are both included in the backtest universe.
- Look-ahead bias
- None - signals computed at prior-day close. Entries fire at next-day open or as a same-day limit.
- Benchmark
- S&P 500 ETF (SPY) buy & hold
- Delivery
- RealTest v3.x .rts file + research include
- 01Download the .zipClick your download link in the receipt email
- 02Open asset_qqq_lqd_both_above_50ma_ndx_rsi2_dip.rts in RealTestFile -> Open
- 03Import symbolsClick Import (one-time, ~30 seconds with Norgate)
- 04Run the backtestClick Test - your numbers match the published numbers
Norgate Data US Stocks Platinum is required for the full backtest
Reproducing the published numbers needs survivorship-bias-free Nasdaq-100 history with point-in-time index membership and delisted securities. That is only available on Norgate's US Stocks Platinum subscription ($346.50 / 6 months or $630 / 12 months USD; no monthly plan). The free Norgate trial covers only a recent window - enough to confirm the strategy installs and runs, not enough to match the published equity curve.
RealTest is Windows-only
Mac or Linux users will need a Windows VM or dual-boot. RealTest does not run natively on macOS or Linux.
Drawdowns happen. The published MaxDD is real.
Maximum historical drawdown of -19.4% is from the backtest. Live trading drawdowns may exceed it. Size accordingly.
Inspectable proof, not promises.
Every claim in the Validation panel above is backed by a data artifact you can scrutinize. We publish the data behind the badges so a skeptical buyer can verify the strategy is genuinely robust, not a curve-fit that happens to clear our gates.
More than 100 historical trades per parameter. Even very generous tuning room can't manufacture statistical significance out of a sample this size — the result is structural.
Industry rule of thumb: a strategy needs at least 30 trades per parameter to be considered reliably backtested. Below 10 is widely considered unreliable.
We split the 19-year history at 2022-06-28 and replay the strategy on each side independently. If the curve to the right of the line slopes like the curve to the left, the strategy is generalizing — not memorizing the past.
Out-of-sample Sharpe degraded but the strategy stayed profitable. Expect somewhat weaker live performance than the in-sample numbers suggest.
Cutoff date inferred as the 80/20 chronological split. This is a regime-shift stress test, not a strict held-out validation — the development data included both sides of the line. A strategy that works equally well on both halves is still meaningful evidence of robustness.
Each cell is a separate backtest. We varied NumPos and ExitBars across the grid and re-ran the full history. A strategy that depends on a lucky parameter choice would show one bright cell in a sea of dark ones — this one doesn't.
- 100% on each axis is the shipped (production) value of that parameter — the starred cell at the center.
- 75% / 125% means we re-ran the strategy with that parameter scaled down or up by a quarter; other ticks are intermediate steps.
- Cell color follows the selected metric scale (legend below the grid). Greener is better, redder is worse — irrespective of where the star sits.
★ marks the production parameter combination (ringed in accent green). Colors map to an absolute MAR scale — a cell can be greener than the star and still represent a fundamentally similar result.
Most cells in the grid are within 25% of the production value. The parameters sit on a broad performance plateau — not on a needle peak that would only work for one specific combination.
We resample the strategy's actual daily returns three different ways and rebuild the equity curve 2,000 times under each method. Each shaded band shows the range of paths the strategy could have produced under a different assumption about what the random variation looks like. The solid line is the production curve.
Reorders the daily returns with no replacement. Endpoint is identical for every path (compounding is commutative); only the path varies.
Resamples daily returns with replacement. Bands include sample-size uncertainty as well as path risk -- endpoint varies between paths.
Resamples in blocks of 20 consecutive days. Preserves short-term return clustering / autocorrelation -- most defensible for daily data with momentum/mean-reversion regimes.
The production trade sequence is close to the median outcome of 1,000 random orderings. The reported drawdown is representative — neither lucky nor unlucky.
A strategy whose entire edge comes from a handful of jackpot winners is a different beast from one whose edge is broadly distributed. We removed the top and bottom of the trade list by P&L and recomputed the headline stats. If most of the edge survives, the strategy is durable.
| Sample | Trades | CAGR* | Win % | Profit Factor | Retained P&L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All trades | 1,461 | 9.8% | 62.6% | 1.47 | — |
| Trim plus/minus 5% (extremes) | 1,315 | 10.1% | 64.0% | 1.99 | 106% |
| Trim plus/minus 1% (worst outliers) | 1,431 | 10.0% | 62.9% | 1.61 | 106% |
* CAGR is computed against a fixed starting balance and the strategy's actual trade duration. The figure is intended for apples-to-apples comparison across the rows of this table, not as a re-statement of the production headline.
Removing the best and worst 5% of trades retains at least 70% of the CAGR. The edge is distributed across many trades — not the result of a handful of jackpot winners.
Common questions.
How do you decide what to sell?+
Why is the seller not trading this themselves?+
What is in the .zip?+
Can I get support for this strategy?+
Can I run this on Norgate's free tier?+
Asset | QQQ+LQD above 50MA, NDX RSI2 dip — Free
Free download. The .rts file and a README. Real code, retired from active research. No purchase, no email collection, no support, no updates.
Data dependency: the .rts file is free, but reproducing the published equity curve above requires Norgate's US Stocks Platinum subscription ($346.50 USD / 6 mo or $630.00 USD / 12 mo; no monthly plan). It is the only Norgate tier with point-in-time NDX membership and delisted securities back to 1990.
The free Norgate trial covers only a recent window — enough to confirm the strategy installs and runs, not enough to match the published backtest.