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 daily: the equity line
Long and short
| Side | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| Long | 39 | 1,339.00 |
| Short | 39 | −405.00 |
By month
| Month | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-09 | 2 | 180.50 |
| 2024-10 | 5 | −166.00 |
| 2024-11 | 1 | 92.00 |
| 2024-12 | 3 | 194.75 |
| 2025-01 | 3 | −43.50 |
| 2025-02 | 5 | 275.75 |
| 2025-03 | 2 | −1.50 |
| 2025-04 | 3 | 509.75 |
| 2025-06 | 6 | 10.75 |
| 2025-08 | 3 | −154.25 |
| 2025-09 | 3 | −25.25 |
| 2025-10 | 9 | −325.75 |
| 2025-11 | 5 | −187.25 |
| 2025-12 | 3 | 122.00 |
| 2026-01 | 3 | −135.00 |
| 2026-02 | 3 | 9.75 |
| 2026-03 | 4 | 187.75 |
| 2026-04 | 1 | 669.25 |
| 2026-06 | 5 | −264.25 |
| 2026-07 | 2 | −19.50 |
| 2026-08 | 7 | 4.00 |
Every trade, ES daily78 trades
Daily results show the table and the equity line; there is no chart viewer for them yet.
All trades (78), newest first
Times are New York time; points are gross.
| Session date | Side | Entry (ET) | Entry price | Exit (ET) | Exit price | Exit reason | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-27 | long | 2026-08-26 18:00 | 7722.00 | 2026-08-27 16:59 | 7733.00 | window end | 11.00 |
| 2026-08-25 | short | 2026-08-24 18:00 | 7676.00 | 2026-08-26 18:00 | 7722.00 | opposite cross | −46.00 |
| 2026-08-24 | long | 2026-08-23 18:00 | 7693.50 | 2026-08-24 18:00 | 7676.00 | opposite cross | −17.50 |
| 2026-08-21 | short | 2026-08-20 18:00 | 7669.00 | 2026-08-23 18:00 | 7693.50 | opposite cross | −24.50 |
| 2026-08-20 | long | 2026-08-19 18:00 | 7733.00 | 2026-08-20 18:00 | 7669.00 | opposite cross | −64.00 |
| 2026-08-19 | short | 2026-08-18 18:00 | 7714.00 | 2026-08-19 18:00 | 7733.00 | opposite cross | −19.00 |
| 2026-08-03 | long | 2026-08-02 18:00 | 7550.00 | 2026-08-18 18:00 | 7714.00 | opposite cross | 164.00 |
| 2026-07-17 | short | 2026-07-16 18:00 | 7572.75 | 2026-08-02 18:00 | 7550.00 | opposite cross | 22.75 |
| 2026-07-16 | long | 2026-07-15 18:00 | 7615.00 | 2026-07-16 18:00 | 7572.75 | opposite cross | −42.25 |
| 2026-06-23 | short | 2026-06-22 18:00 | 7541.25 | 2026-07-15 18:00 | 7615.00 | opposite cross | −73.75 |
| 2026-06-19 | long | 2026-06-18 18:00 | 7576.75 | 2026-06-22 18:00 | 7541.25 | opposite cross | −35.50 |
| 2026-06-18 | short | 2026-06-17 18:00 | 7512.50 | 2026-06-18 18:00 | 7576.75 | opposite cross | −64.25 |
| 2026-06-12 | long | 2026-06-11 18:00 | 7397.50 | 2026-06-17 18:00 | 7512.50 | opposite cross | 47.50 |
| 2026-06-11 | short | 2026-06-10 18:00 | 7259.25 | 2026-06-11 18:00 | 7397.50 | opposite cross | −138.25 |
| 2026-04-06 | long | 2026-04-05 18:00 | 6590.00 | 2026-06-10 18:00 | 7259.25 | opposite cross | 669.25 |
| 2026-03-26 | short | 2026-03-25 18:00 | 6641.50 | 2026-04-05 18:00 | 6590.00 | opposite cross | 51.50 |
| 2026-03-25 | long | 2026-03-24 18:00 | 6646.50 | 2026-03-25 18:00 | 6641.50 | opposite cross | −5.00 |
| 2026-03-12 | short | 2026-03-11 18:00 | 6766.00 | 2026-03-24 18:00 | 6646.50 | opposite cross | 172.00 |
| 2026-03-11 | long | 2026-03-10 18:00 | 6796.75 | 2026-03-11 18:00 | 6766.00 | opposite cross | −30.75 |
| 2026-02-27 | short | 2026-02-26 18:00 | 6899.00 | 2026-03-10 18:00 | 6796.75 | opposite cross | 102.25 |
| 2026-02-26 | long | 2026-02-25 18:00 | 6965.00 | 2026-02-26 18:00 | 6899.00 | opposite cross | −66.00 |
| 2026-02-02 | short | 2026-02-01 18:00 | 6938.50 | 2026-02-25 18:00 | 6965.00 | opposite cross | −26.50 |
| 2026-01-22 | long | 2026-01-21 18:00 | 6920.00 | 2026-02-01 18:00 | 6938.50 | opposite cross | 18.50 |
| 2026-01-21 | short | 2026-01-20 18:00 | 6839.00 | 2026-01-21 18:00 | 6920.00 | opposite cross | −81.00 |
| 2026-01-05 | long | 2026-01-04 18:00 | 6911.50 | 2026-01-20 18:00 | 6839.00 | opposite cross | −72.50 |
| 2025-12-31 | short | 2025-12-30 18:00 | 6945.50 | 2026-01-04 18:00 | 6911.50 | opposite cross | 34.00 |
| 2025-12-19 | long | 2025-12-18 18:00 | 6824.75 | 2025-12-30 18:00 | 6945.50 | opposite cross | 120.75 |
| 2025-12-18 | short | 2025-12-17 18:00 | 6792.00 | 2025-12-18 18:00 | 6824.75 | opposite cross | −32.75 |
| 2025-11-25 | long | 2025-11-24 18:00 | 6726.25 | 2025-12-17 18:00 | 6792.00 | opposite cross | 7.25 |
| 2025-11-18 | short | 2025-11-17 18:00 | 6696.50 | 2025-11-24 18:00 | 6726.25 | opposite cross | −29.75 |
| 2025-11-17 | long | 2025-11-16 18:00 | 6764.75 | 2025-11-17 18:00 | 6696.50 | opposite cross | −68.25 |
| 2025-11-14 | short | 2025-11-13 18:00 | 6762.75 | 2025-11-16 18:00 | 6764.75 | opposite cross | −2.00 |
| 2025-11-11 | long | 2025-11-10 18:00 | 6857.25 | 2025-11-13 18:00 | 6762.75 | opposite cross | −94.50 |
| 2025-10-31 | short | 2025-10-30 18:00 | 6897.00 | 2025-11-10 18:00 | 6857.25 | opposite cross | 39.75 |
| 2025-10-27 | long | 2025-10-26 18:00 | 6881.00 | 2025-10-30 18:00 | 6897.00 | opposite cross | 16.00 |
| 2025-10-22 | short | 2025-10-21 18:00 | 6776.00 | 2025-10-26 18:00 | 6881.00 | opposite cross | −105.00 |
| 2025-10-21 | long | 2025-10-20 18:00 | 6779.50 | 2025-10-21 18:00 | 6776.00 | opposite cross | −3.50 |
| 2025-10-17 | short | 2025-10-16 18:00 | 6659.25 | 2025-10-20 18:00 | 6779.50 | opposite cross | −120.25 |
| 2025-10-16 | long | 2025-10-15 18:00 | 6715.25 | 2025-10-16 18:00 | 6659.25 | opposite cross | −56.00 |
| 2025-10-15 | short | 2025-10-14 18:00 | 6684.25 | 2025-10-15 18:00 | 6715.25 | opposite cross | −31.00 |
| 2025-10-14 | long | 2025-10-13 18:00 | 6691.00 | 2025-10-14 18:00 | 6684.25 | opposite cross | −6.75 |
| 2025-10-13 | short | 2025-10-12 18:00 | 6632.00 | 2025-10-13 18:00 | 6691.00 | opposite cross | −59.00 |
| 2025-09-29 | long | 2025-09-28 18:00 | 6697.00 | 2025-10-12 18:00 | 6632.00 | opposite cross | −65.00 |
| 2025-09-26 | short | 2025-09-25 18:00 | 6662.75 | 2025-09-28 18:00 | 6697.00 | opposite cross | −34.25 |
| 2025-09-10 | long | 2025-09-09 18:00 | 6532.25 | 2025-09-25 18:00 | 6662.75 | opposite cross | 74.00 |
| 2025-08-20 | short | 2025-08-19 18:00 | 6433.00 | 2025-09-09 18:00 | 6532.25 | opposite cross | −99.25 |
| 2025-08-08 | long | 2025-08-07 18:00 | 6372.50 | 2025-08-19 18:00 | 6433.00 | opposite cross | 60.50 |
| 2025-08-04 | short | 2025-08-03 18:00 | 6257.00 | 2025-08-07 18:00 | 6372.50 | opposite cross | −115.50 |
| 2025-06-24 | long | 2025-06-23 18:00 | 6078.00 | 2025-08-03 18:00 | 6257.00 | opposite cross | 179.00 |
| 2025-06-12 | short | 2025-06-11 18:00 | 6022.25 | 2025-06-23 18:00 | 6078.00 | opposite cross | −0.25 |
| 2025-06-11 | long | 2025-06-10 18:00 | 6038.75 | 2025-06-11 18:00 | 6022.25 | opposite cross | −16.50 |
| 2025-06-05 | short | 2025-06-04 18:00 | 5974.25 | 2025-06-10 18:00 | 6038.75 | opposite cross | −64.50 |
| 2025-06-04 | long | 2025-06-03 18:00 | 5980.00 | 2025-06-04 18:00 | 5974.25 | opposite cross | −5.75 |
| 2025-06-02 | short | 2025-06-01 18:00 | 5898.75 | 2025-06-03 18:00 | 5980.00 | opposite cross | −81.25 |
| 2025-04-24 | long | 2025-04-23 18:00 | 5409.00 | 2025-06-01 18:00 | 5898.75 | opposite cross | 489.75 |
| 2025-04-03 | short | 2025-04-02 18:00 | 5550.50 | 2025-04-23 18:00 | 5409.00 | opposite cross | 141.50 |
| 2025-04-02 | long | 2025-04-01 18:00 | 5672.00 | 2025-04-02 18:00 | 5550.50 | opposite cross | −121.50 |
| 2025-03-28 | short | 2025-03-27 18:00 | 5741.75 | 2025-04-01 18:00 | 5672.00 | opposite cross | 69.75 |
| 2025-03-25 | long | 2025-03-24 18:00 | 5813.00 | 2025-03-27 18:00 | 5741.75 | opposite cross | −71.25 |
| 2025-02-21 | short | 2025-02-20 18:00 | 6132.50 | 2025-03-24 18:00 | 5813.00 | opposite cross | 370.75 |
| 2025-02-20 | long | 2025-02-19 18:00 | 6153.75 | 2025-02-20 18:00 | 6132.50 | opposite cross | −21.25 |
| 2025-02-19 | short | 2025-02-18 18:00 | 6143.75 | 2025-02-19 18:00 | 6153.75 | opposite cross | −10.00 |
| 2025-02-17 | long | 2025-02-16 18:00 | 6138.25 | 2025-02-18 18:00 | 6143.75 | opposite cross | 5.50 |
| 2025-02-04 | short | 2025-02-03 18:00 | 6069.00 | 2025-02-16 18:00 | 6138.25 | opposite cross | −69.25 |
| 2025-01-20 | long | 2025-01-19 18:00 | 6032.25 | 2025-02-03 18:00 | 6069.00 | opposite cross | 36.75 |
| 2025-01-17 | short | 2025-01-16 18:00 | 5970.25 | 2025-01-19 18:00 | 6032.25 | opposite cross | −62.00 |
| 2025-01-16 | long | 2025-01-15 18:00 | 5988.50 | 2025-01-16 18:00 | 5970.25 | opposite cross | −18.25 |
| 2024-12-30 | short | 2024-12-29 18:00 | 6028.75 | 2025-01-15 18:00 | 5988.50 | opposite cross | 40.25 |
| 2024-12-23 | long | 2024-12-22 18:00 | 6001.75 | 2024-12-29 18:00 | 6028.75 | opposite cross | 27.00 |
| 2024-12-16 | short | 2024-12-15 18:00 | 6055.50 | 2024-12-22 18:00 | 6001.75 | opposite cross | 127.50 |
| 2024-11-07 | long | 2024-11-06 18:00 | 5963.50 | 2024-12-15 18:00 | 6055.50 | opposite cross | 92.00 |
| 2024-10-31 | short | 2024-10-30 18:00 | 5840.00 | 2024-11-06 18:00 | 5963.50 | opposite cross | −123.50 |
| 2024-10-29 | long | 2024-10-28 18:00 | 5867.00 | 2024-10-30 18:00 | 5840.00 | opposite cross | −27.00 |
| 2024-10-28 | short | 2024-10-27 18:00 | 5857.00 | 2024-10-28 18:00 | 5867.00 | opposite cross | −10.00 |
| 2024-10-25 | long | 2024-10-24 18:00 | 5853.25 | 2024-10-27 18:00 | 5857.00 | opposite cross | 3.75 |
| 2024-10-24 | short | 2024-10-23 18:00 | 5844.00 | 2024-10-24 18:00 | 5853.25 | opposite cross | −9.25 |
| 2024-09-12 | long | 2024-09-11 18:00 | 5558.00 | 2024-10-23 18:00 | 5844.00 | opposite cross | 225.50 |
| 2024-09-06 | short | 2024-09-05 18:00 | 5513.00 | 2024-09-11 18:00 | 5558.00 | opposite cross | −45.00 |
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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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