Strategy library · Comparison
MACD signal-line cross vs MACD zero-line cross on NQ and ES futures: 2-year backtest side by side
MACD signal-line cross vs MACD zero-line cross on NQ and ES futures, side by side. The table below holds MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross and MACD zero-line cross at the timeframes they have in common, one row per strategy, ordered by market and then timeframe. No row is ordered by a result, and nothing on this page names one strategy over another: the figures are the figures.
Tested by CE Market Solutions on 2026-10-26. Gross, no commission or slippage. Last 2 years.
MACD signal-line cross and zero-line cross
MACD signal-line cross and zero-line cross, NQ 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 and ES 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, one contract, before commission and slippage.
| Market | Timeframe | Strategy | Trades | Win % | Net pts | Net $ (1 contract) | Max DD pts | Long trades | Long net pts | Short trades | Short net pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | 5 minute | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 3,076 | 37.2% | 461.00 | $9,220 | 3,313.00 | 1,524 | 2,241.50 | 1,552 | −1,780.50 |
| NQ | 5 minute | MACD zero-line cross | 1,290 | 36.1% | 671.00 | $13,420 | 3,798.50 | 652 | −908.50 | 638 | 1,579.50 |
| NQ | 15 minute | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 1,042 | 42.1% | −1,921.25 | −$38,425 | 4,660.75 | 512 | −1,330.75 | 530 | −590.50 |
| NQ | 15 minute | MACD zero-line cross | 454 | 43.8% | 696.00 | $13,920 | 4,214.75 | 233 | −78.50 | 221 | 774.50 |
| NQ | 1 hour | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 264 | 47.0% | −984.75 | −$19,695 | 3,826.25 | 142 | −1,257.75 | 122 | 273.00 |
| NQ | 1 hour | MACD zero-line cross | 153 | 53.6% | 2,908.75 | $58,175 | 1,656.75 | 73 | 1,952.00 | 80 | 956.75 |
| NQ | Daily | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 43 | 27.9% | −2,984.75 | −$59,695 | 7,162.25 | 22 | 3,038.00 | 21 | −6,022.75 |
| NQ | Daily | MACD zero-line cross | 20 | 20.0% | −579.00 | −$11,580 | 5,759.75 | 10 | 3,888.75 | 10 | −4,467.75 |
| ES | 5 minute | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 2,976 | 38.7% | 1,535.75 | $76,788 | 546.75 | 1,477 | 804.75 | 1,499 | 731.00 |
| ES | 5 minute | MACD zero-line cross | 1,287 | 36.3% | 185.75 | $9,288 | 582.75 | 644 | −213.75 | 643 | 399.50 |
| ES | 15 minute | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 1,089 | 41.1% | −152.25 | −$7,612 | 659.75 | 542 | −368.25 | 547 | 216.00 |
| ES | 15 minute | MACD zero-line cross | 494 | 44.7% | 199.00 | $9,950 | 673.50 | 240 | −243.75 | 254 | 442.75 |
| ES | 1 hour | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 298 | 45.6% | −139.50 | −$6,975 | 598.50 | 152 | −108.50 | 146 | −31.00 |
| ES | 1 hour | MACD zero-line cross | 160 | 51.3% | 459.75 | $22,988 | 181.75 | 75 | 451.00 | 85 | 8.75 |
| ES | Daily | MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross | 45 | 24.4% | −877.00 | −$43,850 | 1,643.75 | 22 | 426.25 | 23 | −1,303.25 |
| ES | Daily | MACD zero-line cross | 18 | 22.2% | 152.75 | $7,638 | 765.25 | 9 | 960.75 | 9 | −808.00 |
The figures in words
MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross: buys when the MACD line crosses above the signal line, sells short when the MACD line crosses below the signal line. Exit: Opposite cross.
MACD zero-line cross: buys when the MACD line crosses above zero, sells short when the MACD line crosses below zero. Exit: Opposite cross.
On the NQ 5-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 3,076 trades, won 37.2% of them and made 461.00 points ($9,220 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 5-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD zero-line cross took 1,290 trades, won 36.1% of them and made 671.00 points ($13,420 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 1,042 trades, won 42.1% of them and made -1,921.25 points (-$38,425 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD zero-line cross took 454 trades, won 43.8% of them and made 696.00 points ($13,920 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 1-hour chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 264 trades, won 47.0% of them and made -984.75 points (-$19,695 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 1-hour chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD zero-line cross took 153 trades, won 53.6% of them and made 2,908.75 points ($58,175 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ daily chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 43 trades, won 27.9% of them and made -2,984.75 points (-$59,695 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ daily chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD zero-line cross took 20 trades, won 20.0% of them and made -579.00 points (-$11,580 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
On the ES 5-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 2,976 trades, won 38.7% of them and made 1,535.75 points ($76,788 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 5-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD zero-line cross took 1,287 trades, won 36.3% of them and made 185.75 points ($9,288 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 1,089 trades, won 41.1% of them and made -152.25 points (-$7,612 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD zero-line cross took 494 trades, won 44.7% of them and made 199.00 points ($9,950 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 1-hour chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 298 trades, won 45.6% of them and made -139.50 points (-$6,975 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 1-hour chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD zero-line cross took 160 trades, won 51.3% of them and made 459.75 points ($22,988 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES daily chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 45 trades, won 24.4% of them and made -877.00 points (-$43,850 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES daily chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD zero-line cross took 18 trades, won 22.2% of them and made 152.75 points ($7,638 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage.
How to read the columns: Trades is the number of closed trades; Win % is the share of them that finished above zero points; Net pts is the sum of every trade's points; Net $ is net points times the contract's dollars per point, on one contract; Max DD pts is the largest fall of the running total of points from a peak. The longs-only and shorts-only columns are sums over that side's own trades, and the two sides add up to the strategy's combined result.
CE Market Solutions tested every strategy on the last 2 years of NQ and ES futures (NQ 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 and ES 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27), before commission and slippage, with each signal filled at the next bar's open, intraday positions flat at 15:59 ET and textbook default indicator settings. Nothing is tuned.
Questions and answers
How do MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross and MACD zero-line cross compare on Nasdaq-100 futures (NQ)?
On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 1,042 trades, won 42.1% of them and made -1,921.25 points (-$38,425 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, MACD zero-line cross took 454 trades, won 43.8% of them and made 696.00 points ($13,920 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. The other timeframes they share on NQ are in the table above.
How do MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross and MACD zero-line cross compare on S&P 500 futures (ES)?
On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD (12, 26, 9) signal cross took 1,089 trades, won 41.1% of them and made -152.25 points (-$7,612 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, MACD zero-line cross took 494 trades, won 44.7% of them and made 199.00 points ($9,950 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. The other timeframes they share on ES are in the table above.
How these were run
- Gross: no commission and no slippage.
- The last 2 years of each market, from the first to the last session of its window.
- A signal on a closed bar fills at the next bar’s open.
- A stop and a target touched in the same minute count as the stop.
- Intraday positions are flat at 15:59 ET.
- Textbook TradingView default settings for every indicator; nothing is tuned.
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