Strategy library · Momentum oscillators
Awesome Oscillator zero cross backtest on NQ and ES futures
Awesome Oscillator zero cross
Also called: Awesome Oscillator strategy, AO zero line cross, Bill Williams Awesome Oscillator, buy when the Awesome Oscillator crosses above zero, short when the Awesome Oscillator crosses below zero
What happens if you buy NQ every time the Awesome Oscillator crosses above zero?
What it is
The Awesome Oscillator (AO) is the difference between a 5-period and a 34-period simple average of bar midpoints. This strategy goes long when the AO crosses above 0, short when it crosses below, and exits on the opposite cross.
What it did
On NQ futures from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 512 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 45.7% of them and finished 801.50 points ($16,030 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, the 259 long trades on the 15-minute chart won 49.0% and made -9.75 points (-$195 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On ES futures from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 566 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 45.2% of them and finished 68.25 points ($3,413 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. The 5-minute, 1-hour and daily results for both markets are in the table on this page.
How it was tested
CE Market Solutions tested the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy on NQ (2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07) and ES (2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27) futures, 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; the NQ trades are listed on this page and the ES trades under the ES tab.
See it tested with one change · $19
Tested by CE Market Solutions on 2026-10-26. The trades are listed below, one market at a time. Gross, no commission or slippage. Last 2 years.
Results
Rule as tested: Long when AO crosses above 0; short below. Exit: Opposite cross.
| Timeframe | NQ · 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 | ES · 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trades | Win % | Avg pts | Profit factor | Net pts | Net $ (1 NQ) | Max DD pts | Trades | Win % | Avg pts | Profit factor | Net pts | Net $ (1 ES) | Max DD pts | |
| 5 minute | 1590 | 38.2% | 2.59 | 1.086 | 4,123.25 | $82,465 | 2,962.75 | 1558 | 38.1% | 0.43 | 1.065 | 669.75 | $33,488 | 857.25 |
| 5 minute · longs only | 793 | 40.5% | — | — | 3,183.75 | $63,675 | 2,014.75 | 781 | 40.7% | — | — | 284.00 | $14,200 | 511.00 |
| 5 minute · shorts only | 797 | 35.9% | — | — | 939.50 | $18,790 | 1,772.50 | 777 | 35.4% | — | — | 385.75 | $19,288 | 508.25 |
| 15 minute | 512 | 45.7% | 1.57 | 1.034 | 801.50 | $16,030 | 3,204.00 | 566 | 45.2% | 0.12 | 1.013 | 68.25 | $3,413 | 826.25 |
| 15 minute · longs only | 259 | 49.0% | — | — | −9.75 | −$195 | 1,854.00 | 274 | 47.1% | — | — | −246.50 | −$12,325 | 581.75 |
| 15 minute · shorts only | 253 | 42.3% | — | — | 811.25 | $16,225 | 2,407.00 | 292 | 43.5% | — | — | 314.75 | $15,738 | 341.75 |
| 1 hour | 178 | 53.4% | 16.52 | 1.427 | 2,941.00 | $58,820 | 1,229.25 | 197 | 46.2% | 0.65 | 1.065 | 127.25 | $6,363 | 338.50 |
| 1 hour · longs only | 85 | 56.5% | — | — | 1,421.75 | $28,435 | 836.50 | 92 | 50.0% | — | — | 295.00 | $14,750 | 109.50 |
| 1 hour · shorts only | 93 | 50.5% | — | — | 1,519.25 | $30,385 | 1,076.25 | 105 | 42.9% | — | — | −167.75 | −$8,387 | 305.00 |
| Daily | 26 | 30.8% | −34.87 | 0.929 | −906.50 | −$18,130 | 5,546.00 | 22 | 18.2% | −13.40 | 0.863 | −294.75 | −$14,737 | 961.75 |
| Daily · longs only | 13 | 38.5% | — | — | 3,762.50 | $75,250 | 2,639.75 | 11 | 27.3% | — | — | 731.50 | $36,575 | 248.75 |
| Daily · shorts only | 13 | 23.1% | — | — | −4,669.00 | −$93,380 | 5,663.25 | 11 | 9.1% | — | — | −1,026.25 | −$51,312 | 1,026.25 |
Free to use with credit to CE Market Solutions (CC BY 4.0).
NQ 5 minute: the equity line
Long and short
| Side | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| Long | 793 | 3,183.75 |
| Short | 797 | 939.50 |
By month
| Month | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 55 | 238.25 |
| 2024-11 | 55 | 85.00 |
| 2024-12 | 56 | 934.50 |
| 2025-01 | 73 | −636.75 |
| 2025-02 | 64 | 934.25 |
| 2025-03 | 64 | 300.75 |
| 2025-04 | 56 | 2,341.75 |
| 2025-05 | 66 | −858.00 |
| 2025-06 | 59 | −831.50 |
| 2025-07 | 75 | −158.50 |
| 2025-08 | 63 | 302.25 |
| 2025-09 | 62 | 176.75 |
| 2025-10 | 76 | 828.25 |
| 2025-11 | 58 | 1,131.00 |
| 2025-12 | 78 | −843.75 |
| 2026-01 | 66 | 314.75 |
| 2026-02 | 58 | −318.50 |
| 2026-03 | 82 | −387.25 |
| 2026-04 | 66 | 639.00 |
| 2026-05 | 72 | 1,075.75 |
| 2026-06 | 55 | 115.75 |
| 2026-07 | 66 | 16.25 |
| 2026-08 | 76 | −1,147.75 |
| 2026-09 | 78 | −238.00 |
| 2026-10 | 11 | 109.00 |
Every trade, NQ 5 minute1590 trades
Pick any of the 1590 charted trades with Previous, Next or a date, or click a row in the trades table below, to see it drawn on the real 1-minute bars. Drag the chart sideways to move through the sessions around it.
Chart unavailable. The trades are in the table below.
All trades (1590), newest first
Times are New York time; points are gross. Click a row to draw that trade in the chart above.
| Session date | Side | Entry (ET) | Entry price | Exit (ET) | Exit price | Exit reason | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-03 | short | 14:15 | 21653.00 | 15:59 | 21704.50 | end of day 15:59 | −51.50 |
| 2025-05-30 | long | 14:20 | 21280.00 | 15:59 | 21369.50 | end of day 15:59 | 89.50 |
| 2025-05-30 | short | 11:35 | 21326.50 | 14:20 | 21280.00 | opposite cross | 46.50 |
| 2025-05-30 | long | 10:25 | 21371.00 | 11:35 | 21326.50 | opposite cross | −44.50 |
| 2025-05-29 | short | 13:30 | 21415.75 | 15:59 | 21411.50 | end of day 15:59 | 4.25 |
| 2025-05-29 | long | 13:00 | 21455.25 | 13:30 | 21415.75 | opposite cross | −39.50 |
| 2025-05-28 | short | 15:35 | 21455.50 | 15:59 | 21372.50 | end of day 15:59 | 83.00 |
| 2025-05-28 | long | 15:20 | 21467.25 | 15:35 | 21455.50 | opposite cross | −11.75 |
| 2025-05-28 | short | 15:00 | 21468.25 | 15:20 | 21467.25 | opposite cross | 1.00 |
| 2025-05-28 | long | 12:30 | 21469.00 | 15:00 | 21468.25 | opposite cross | −0.75 |
| 2025-05-28 | short | 10:05 | 21477.75 | 12:30 | 21469.00 | opposite cross | 8.75 |
| 2025-05-28 | long | 09:40 | 21556.25 | 10:05 | 21477.75 | opposite cross | −78.50 |
| 2025-05-27 | short | 15:05 | 21435.25 | 15:59 | 21466.50 | end of day 15:59 | −31.25 |
| 2025-05-27 | long | 10:10 | 21349.75 | 15:05 | 21435.25 | opposite cross | 85.50 |
| 2025-05-27 | short | 09:35 | 21234.75 | 10:10 | 21349.75 | opposite cross | −115.00 |
| 2025-05-26 | long | 11:55 | 21271.00 | 12:59 | 21283.50 | early close | 12.50 |
| 2025-05-26 | short | 10:20 | 21273.25 | 11:55 | 21271.00 | opposite cross | 2.25 |
| 2025-05-26 | long | 09:40 | 21298.50 | 10:20 | 21273.25 | opposite cross | −25.25 |
| 2025-05-23 | short | 15:30 | 21013.75 | 15:59 | 20978.50 | end of day 15:59 | 35.25 |
| 2025-05-23 | long | 09:55 | 20874.25 | 15:30 | 21013.75 | opposite cross | 139.50 |
| 2025-05-22 | long | 13:40 | 21263.25 | 15:59 | 21183.50 | end of day 15:59 | −79.75 |
| 2025-05-22 | short | 12:55 | 21243.00 | 13:40 | 21263.25 | opposite cross | −20.25 |
| 2025-05-21 | short | 13:20 | 21376.25 | 15:59 | 21149.00 | end of day 15:59 | 227.25 |
| 2025-05-21 | long | 09:50 | 21382.50 | 13:20 | 21376.25 | opposite cross | −6.25 |
| 2025-05-20 | short | 13:55 | 21433.25 | 15:59 | 21447.50 | end of day 15:59 | −14.25 |
| 2025-05-20 | long | 12:05 | 21433.50 | 13:55 | 21433.25 | opposite cross | −0.25 |
| 2025-05-20 | short | 11:15 | 21414.75 | 12:05 | 21433.50 | opposite cross | −18.75 |
| 2025-05-20 | long | 10:55 | 21438.75 | 11:15 | 21414.75 | opposite cross | −24.00 |
| 2025-05-19 | short | 14:30 | 21460.50 | 15:59 | 21523.25 | end of day 15:59 | −62.75 |
| 2025-05-19 | long | 09:35 | 21247.75 | 14:30 | 21460.50 | opposite cross | 212.75 |
| 2025-05-16 | long | 11:55 | 21424.00 | 15:59 | 21505.75 | end of day 15:59 | 81.75 |
| 2025-05-15 | short | 14:15 | 21420.75 | 15:59 | 21419.50 | end of day 15:59 | 1.25 |
| 2025-05-15 | long | 11:00 | 21335.25 | 14:15 | 21420.75 | opposite cross | 85.50 |
| 2025-05-15 | short | 10:50 | 21294.50 | 11:00 | 21335.25 | opposite cross | −40.75 |
| 2025-05-14 | short | 15:45 | 21345.00 | 15:59 | 21397.00 | end of day 15:59 | −52.00 |
| 2025-05-14 | long | 14:40 | 21367.75 | 15:45 | 21345.00 | opposite cross | −22.75 |
| 2025-05-14 | short | 13:15 | 21345.25 | 14:40 | 21367.75 | opposite cross | −22.50 |
| 2025-05-14 | long | 10:55 | 21361.00 | 13:15 | 21345.25 | opposite cross | −15.75 |
| 2025-05-14 | short | 10:00 | 21331.50 | 10:55 | 21361.00 | opposite cross | −29.50 |
| 2025-05-14 | long | 09:40 | 21373.75 | 10:00 | 21331.50 | opposite cross | −42.25 |
| 2025-05-13 | long | 15:15 | 21332.00 | 15:59 | 21270.75 | end of day 15:59 | −61.25 |
| 2025-05-13 | short | 14:20 | 21307.00 | 15:15 | 21332.00 | opposite cross | −25.00 |
| 2025-05-12 | short | 15:30 | 20883.50 | 15:59 | 20949.75 | end of day 15:59 | −66.25 |
| 2025-05-12 | long | 12:20 | 20817.00 | 15:30 | 20883.50 | opposite cross | 66.50 |
| 2025-05-09 | long | 13:55 | 20141.75 | 15:59 | 20136.25 | end of day 15:59 | −5.50 |
| 2025-05-09 | short | 10:30 | 20134.25 | 13:55 | 20141.75 | opposite cross | −7.50 |
| 2025-05-08 | long | 15:30 | 20321.00 | 15:59 | 20152.25 | end of day 15:59 | −168.75 |
| 2025-05-08 | short | 15:10 | 20273.00 | 15:30 | 20321.00 | opposite cross | −48.00 |
| 2025-05-08 | long | 14:50 | 20301.00 | 15:10 | 20273.00 | opposite cross | −28.00 |
| 2025-05-08 | short | 14:05 | 20244.25 | 14:50 | 20301.00 | opposite cross | −56.75 |
Questions and answers
What happens if you buy NQ every time the Awesome Oscillator crosses above zero?
From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on the NQ 15-minute chart, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 259 long trades, won 49.0% of them and made -9.75 points (-$195 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, its long trades also made 3,183.75 points on 793 trades on the 5-minute chart, 1,421.75 points on 85 trades on the 1-hour chart and 3,762.50 points on 13 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What happens if you short ES every time the Awesome Oscillator crosses below zero?
From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on the ES 15-minute chart, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 292 short trades, won 43.5% of them and made 314.75 points ($15,738 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on ES, its short trades also made 385.75 points on 777 trades on the 5-minute chart, -167.75 points on 105 trades on the 1-hour chart and -1,026.25 points on 11 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Does the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy work on Nasdaq futures?
On NQ futures from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy on the 15-minute chart took 512 trades, won 45.7% of them and finished 801.50 points ($16,030 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
What is the win rate of Awesome Oscillator zero cross on ES futures?
The Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy won 45.2% of its 566 trades on the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, before commission and slippage. On ES from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 it also won 38.1% of 1,558 trades on the 5-minute chart, 46.2% of 197 trades on the 1-hour chart and 18.2% of 22 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy better on the 5-minute, 15-minute, 1-hour or daily chart for NQ?
On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy made 4,123.25 points on 1,590 trades on the 5-minute chart, 801.50 points on 512 trades on the 15-minute chart, 2,941.00 points on 178 trades on the 1-hour chart and -906.50 points on 26 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is it better to only buy or only sell Awesome Oscillator zero cross signals on NQ?
On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the long trades made -9.75 points on 259 trades (49.0% won) and the short trades made 811.25 points on 253 trades (42.3% won), before commission and slippage.
How many trades does the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy take on NQ in two years?
The Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 512 trades on the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, before commission and slippage. On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 it also took 1,590 on the 5-minute chart, 178 on the 1-hour chart and 26 on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What is the max drawdown of the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy on NQ?
The Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy had a max drawdown of 3,204.00 points ($64,080 on one NQ contract) on the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, before commission and slippage. On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 its max drawdown was also 2,962.75 points on the 5-minute chart, 1,229.25 points on the 1-hour chart and 5,546.00 points on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
How does the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy do on ES compared with NQ?
On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 566 trades, won 45.2% of them and made 68.25 points ($3,413 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the Awesome Oscillator zero cross strategy took 512 trades, won 45.7% of them and made 801.50 points ($16,030 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
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.