Strategy library · Volume
OBV cross backtest on NQ and ES futures
OBV crosses its 20 SMA
Also called: on balance volume strategy, OBV 20 SMA cross, OBV crossover, buy when OBV crosses above its 20-bar SMA, short when OBV crosses below its 20-bar SMA
What happens if you buy NQ every time OBV crosses above its 20-bar SMA?
What it is
On-balance volume (OBV) is a running total that adds volume on up bars and subtracts it on down bars. This strategy goes long when the OBV crosses above its 20-bar SMA, 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 OBV cross strategy took 1,804 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 30.5% of them and finished -10,063.00 points (-$201,260 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, the 909 long trades on the 15-minute chart won 32.7% and made -4,665.50 points (-$93,310 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On ES futures from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the OBV cross strategy took 1,719 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 32.2% of them and finished 17.75 points ($888 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 OBV 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 OBV crosses above its 20-bar SMA; 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 | 5332 | 27.6% | −0.09 | 0.995 | −460.00 | −$9,200 | 5,688.00 | 5201 | 27.2% | −0.08 | 0.978 | −418.50 | −$20,925 | 1,272.50 |
| 5 minute · longs only | 2666 | 29.6% | — | — | −297.25 | −$5,945 | 3,072.50 | 2589 | 27.9% | — | — | −345.75 | −$17,287 | 792.00 |
| 5 minute · shorts only | 2666 | 25.5% | — | — | −162.75 | −$3,255 | 3,744.50 | 2612 | 26.5% | — | — | −72.75 | −$3,637 | 608.00 |
| 15 minute | 1804 | 30.5% | −5.58 | 0.823 | −10,063.00 | −$201,260 | 11,475.00 | 1719 | 32.2% | 0.01 | 1.002 | 17.75 | $888 | 999.75 |
| 15 minute · longs only | 909 | 32.7% | — | — | −4,665.50 | −$93,310 | 5,413.50 | 855 | 34.7% | — | — | −92.50 | −$4,625 | 688.75 |
| 15 minute · shorts only | 895 | 28.4% | — | — | −5,397.50 | −$107,950 | 7,219.75 | 864 | 29.8% | — | — | 110.25 | $5,513 | 474.00 |
| 1 hour | 686 | 39.4% | 6.46 | 1.148 | 4,428.75 | $88,575 | 2,499.75 | 697 | 39.3% | 0.98 | 1.104 | 684.25 | $34,213 | 481.00 |
| 1 hour · longs only | 340 | 42.1% | — | — | 3,549.25 | $70,985 | 1,313.00 | 345 | 41.5% | — | — | 376.25 | $18,813 | 313.25 |
| 1 hour · shorts only | 346 | 36.7% | — | — | 879.50 | $17,590 | 2,019.25 | 352 | 37.2% | — | — | 308.00 | $15,400 | 404.25 |
| Daily | 90 | 30.0% | −24.33 | 0.885 | −2,189.50 | −$43,790 | 6,950.75 | 78 | 37.2% | 11.97 | 1.376 | 934.00 | $46,700 | 798.00 |
| Daily · longs only | 45 | 33.3% | — | — | 3,415.50 | $68,310 | 3,498.00 | 39 | 46.2% | — | — | 1,339.00 | $66,950 | 305.75 |
| Daily · shorts only | 45 | 26.7% | — | — | −5,605.00 | −$112,100 | 7,705.00 | 39 | 28.2% | — | — | −405.00 | −$20,250 | 825.75 |
Free to use with credit to CE Market Solutions (CC BY 4.0).
ES 15 minute: the equity line
Long and short
| Side | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| Long | 855 | −92.50 |
| Short | 864 | 110.25 |
By month
| Month | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-08 | 11 | 87.75 |
| 2024-09 | 70 | −49.00 |
| 2024-10 | 54 | 177.00 |
| 2024-11 | 48 | 8.25 |
| 2024-12 | 65 | 164.00 |
| 2025-01 | 64 | 20.50 |
| 2025-02 | 53 | 181.50 |
| 2025-03 | 86 | −150.25 |
| 2025-04 | 83 | −507.00 |
| 2025-05 | 85 | −200.50 |
| 2025-06 | 80 | 32.75 |
| 2025-07 | 73 | 83.75 |
| 2025-08 | 71 | −19.25 |
| 2025-09 | 81 | −214.00 |
| 2025-10 | 70 | 229.50 |
| 2025-11 | 64 | 267.75 |
| 2025-12 | 87 | −206.00 |
| 2026-01 | 69 | −13.00 |
| 2026-02 | 57 | −116.75 |
| 2026-03 | 73 | 105.25 |
| 2026-04 | 88 | −43.75 |
| 2026-05 | 76 | 68.00 |
| 2026-06 | 78 | 267.25 |
| 2026-07 | 80 | −152.25 |
| 2026-08 | 53 | −3.75 |
Every trade, ES 15 minute1719 trades
Pick any of the 1719 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 (1719), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | long | 15:15 | 6607.50 | 15:59 | 6655.50 | end of day 15:59 | 48.00 |
| 2026-04-07 | short | 15:00 | 6602.50 | 15:15 | 6607.50 | opposite cross | −5.00 |
| 2026-04-07 | long | 12:30 | 6621.75 | 15:00 | 6602.50 | opposite cross | −19.25 |
| 2026-04-07 | short | 09:45 | 6612.25 | 12:30 | 6621.75 | opposite cross | −9.50 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 15:45 | 6646.25 | 15:59 | 6653.00 | end of day 15:59 | 6.75 |
| 2026-04-06 | short | 15:15 | 6645.25 | 15:45 | 6646.25 | opposite cross | −1.00 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 15:00 | 6647.00 | 15:15 | 6645.25 | opposite cross | −1.75 |
| 2026-04-06 | short | 14:45 | 6642.50 | 15:00 | 6647.00 | opposite cross | −4.50 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 14:30 | 6646.50 | 14:45 | 6642.50 | opposite cross | −4.00 |
| 2026-04-06 | short | 13:00 | 6643.25 | 14:30 | 6646.50 | opposite cross | −3.25 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 12:30 | 6641.50 | 13:00 | 6643.25 | opposite cross | 1.75 |
| 2026-04-06 | short | 12:15 | 6640.00 | 12:30 | 6641.50 | opposite cross | −1.50 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 12:00 | 6642.50 | 12:15 | 6640.00 | opposite cross | −2.50 |
| 2026-04-06 | short | 10:45 | 6640.50 | 12:00 | 6642.50 | opposite cross | −2.00 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 09:45 | 6631.00 | 10:45 | 6640.50 | opposite cross | 9.50 |
| 2026-04-02 | short | 15:30 | 6608.00 | 15:59 | 6623.25 | end of day 15:59 | −15.25 |
| 2026-04-02 | long | 15:15 | 6612.00 | 15:30 | 6608.00 | opposite cross | −4.00 |
| 2026-04-02 | short | 13:45 | 6607.25 | 15:15 | 6612.00 | opposite cross | −4.75 |
| 2026-04-02 | long | 13:15 | 6608.25 | 13:45 | 6607.25 | opposite cross | −1.00 |
| 2026-04-02 | short | 13:00 | 6600.25 | 13:15 | 6608.25 | opposite cross | −8.00 |
| 2026-04-02 | long | 12:45 | 6607.00 | 13:00 | 6600.25 | opposite cross | −6.75 |
| 2026-04-02 | short | 12:30 | 6591.75 | 12:45 | 6607.00 | opposite cross | −15.25 |
| 2026-04-02 | long | 10:00 | 6560.25 | 12:30 | 6591.75 | opposite cross | 31.50 |
| 2026-04-02 | short | 09:45 | 6520.50 | 10:00 | 6560.25 | opposite cross | −39.75 |
| 2026-04-01 | short | 14:15 | 6626.50 | 15:59 | 6619.50 | end of day 15:59 | 7.00 |
| 2026-03-31 | long | 14:30 | 6545.00 | 15:59 | 6569.00 | end of day 15:59 | 24.00 |
| 2026-03-31 | short | 14:00 | 6532.00 | 14:30 | 6545.00 | opposite cross | −13.00 |
| 2026-03-30 | short | 09:45 | 6438.75 | 15:59 | 6387.75 | end of day 15:59 | 51.00 |
| 2026-03-26 | short | 11:30 | 6589.50 | 15:59 | 6523.00 | end of day 15:59 | 66.50 |
| 2026-03-26 | long | 11:15 | 6595.25 | 11:30 | 6589.50 | opposite cross | −5.75 |
| 2026-03-26 | short | 11:00 | 6594.75 | 11:15 | 6595.25 | opposite cross | −0.50 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 15:00 | 6639.75 | 15:59 | 6642.00 | end of day 15:59 | −2.25 |
| 2026-03-24 | short | 15:45 | 6613.25 | 15:59 | 6607.00 | end of day 15:59 | 6.25 |
| 2026-03-24 | long | 10:45 | 6612.75 | 15:45 | 6613.25 | opposite cross | 0.50 |
| 2026-03-24 | short | 10:30 | 6600.25 | 10:45 | 6612.75 | opposite cross | −12.50 |
| 2026-03-24 | long | 10:15 | 6601.25 | 10:30 | 6600.25 | opposite cross | −1.00 |
| 2026-03-23 | short | 11:30 | 6687.00 | 15:59 | 6631.50 | end of day 15:59 | 55.50 |
| 2026-03-23 | long | 11:15 | 6699.00 | 11:30 | 6687.00 | opposite cross | −12.00 |
| 2026-03-20 | short | 09:45 | 6638.75 | 15:59 | 6562.75 | end of day 15:59 | 76.00 |
| 2026-03-19 | long | 15:00 | 6645.75 | 15:59 | 6658.75 | end of day 15:59 | 13.00 |
| 2026-03-19 | short | 14:45 | 6625.50 | 15:00 | 6645.75 | opposite cross | −20.25 |
| 2026-03-19 | long | 09:45 | 6633.75 | 14:45 | 6625.50 | opposite cross | −8.25 |
| 2026-03-18 | short | 14:15 | 6728.50 | 15:59 | 6677.25 | end of day 15:59 | 51.25 |
| 2026-03-18 | long | 13:45 | 6721.50 | 14:15 | 6728.50 | opposite cross | 7.00 |
| 2026-03-18 | short | 13:15 | 6718.50 | 13:45 | 6721.50 | opposite cross | −3.00 |
| 2026-03-18 | long | 13:00 | 6727.75 | 13:15 | 6718.50 | opposite cross | −9.25 |
| 2026-03-18 | short | 12:45 | 6727.25 | 13:00 | 6727.75 | opposite cross | −0.50 |
| 2026-03-18 | long | 11:15 | 6738.00 | 12:45 | 6727.25 | opposite cross | −10.75 |
| 2026-03-18 | short | 10:30 | 6721.75 | 11:15 | 6738.00 | opposite cross | −16.25 |
| 2026-03-18 | long | 09:45 | 6750.25 | 10:30 | 6721.75 | opposite cross | −28.50 |
Questions and answers
What happens if you buy NQ every time OBV crosses above its 20-bar SMA?
From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on the NQ 15-minute chart, the OBV cross strategy took 909 long trades, won 32.7% of them and made -4,665.50 points (-$93,310 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, its long trades also made -297.25 points on 2,666 trades on the 5-minute chart, 3,549.25 points on 340 trades on the 1-hour chart and 3,415.50 points on 45 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What happens if you short ES every time OBV crosses below its 20-bar SMA?
From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on the ES 15-minute chart, the OBV cross strategy took 864 short trades, won 29.8% of them and made 110.25 points ($5,513 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on ES, its short trades also made -72.75 points on 2,612 trades on the 5-minute chart, 308.00 points on 352 trades on the 1-hour chart and -405.00 points on 39 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Does the OBV cross strategy work on Nasdaq futures?
On NQ futures from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the OBV cross strategy on the 15-minute chart took 1,804 trades, won 30.5% of them and finished -10,063.00 points (-$201,260 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
What is the win rate of OBV crosses its 20 SMA on ES futures?
The OBV cross strategy won 32.2% of its 1,719 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 27.2% of 5,201 trades on the 5-minute chart, 39.3% of 697 trades on the 1-hour chart and 37.2% of 78 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is the OBV 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 OBV cross strategy made -460.00 points on 5,332 trades on the 5-minute chart, -10,063.00 points on 1,804 trades on the 15-minute chart, 4,428.75 points on 686 trades on the 1-hour chart and -2,189.50 points on 90 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is it better to only buy or only sell OBV cross signals on NQ?
On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the long trades made -4,665.50 points on 909 trades (32.7% won) and the short trades made -5,397.50 points on 895 trades (28.4% won), before commission and slippage.
How many trades does the OBV cross strategy take on NQ in two years?
The OBV cross strategy took 1,804 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 5,332 on the 5-minute chart, 686 on the 1-hour chart and 90 on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What is the max drawdown of the OBV cross strategy on NQ?
The OBV cross strategy had a max drawdown of 11,475.00 points ($229,500 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 5,688.00 points on the 5-minute chart, 2,499.75 points on the 1-hour chart and 6,950.75 points on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
How does the OBV cross strategy do on ES compared with NQ?
On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the OBV cross strategy took 1,719 trades, won 32.2% of them and made 17.75 points ($888 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the OBV cross strategy took 1,804 trades, won 30.5% of them and made -10,063.00 points (-$201,260 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.
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