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.

TimeframeNQ · 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07ES · 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27
TradesWin %Avg ptsProfit factorNet ptsNet $ (1 NQ)Max DD ptsTradesWin %Avg ptsProfit factorNet ptsNet $ (1 ES)Max DD pts
5 minute533227.6%−0.090.995−460.00−$9,2005,688.00520127.2%−0.080.978−418.50−$20,9251,272.50
5 minute · longs only266629.6%——−297.25−$5,9453,072.50258927.9%——−345.75−$17,287792.00
5 minute · shorts only266625.5%——−162.75−$3,2553,744.50261226.5%——−72.75−$3,637608.00
15 minute180430.5%−5.580.823−10,063.00−$201,26011,475.00171932.2%0.011.00217.75$888999.75
15 minute · longs only90932.7%——−4,665.50−$93,3105,413.5085534.7%——−92.50−$4,625688.75
15 minute · shorts only89528.4%——−5,397.50−$107,9507,219.7586429.8%——110.25$5,513474.00
1 hour68639.4%6.461.1484,428.75$88,5752,499.7569739.3%0.981.104684.25$34,213481.00
1 hour · longs only34042.1%——3,549.25$70,9851,313.0034541.5%——376.25$18,813313.25
1 hour · shorts only34636.7%——879.50$17,5902,019.2535237.2%——308.00$15,400404.25
Daily9030.0%−24.330.885−2,189.50−$43,7906,950.757837.2%11.971.376934.00$46,700798.00
Daily · longs only4533.3%——3,415.50$68,3103,498.003946.2%——1,339.00$66,950305.75
Daily · shorts only4526.7%——−5,605.00−$112,1007,705.003928.2%——−405.00−$20,250825.75

Free to use with credit to CE Market Solutions (CC BY 4.0).

NQ daily: the equity line

OBV crosses its 20 SMA, NQ daily, 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07. Cumulative points after each trade; low −3,250.75, high 3,700.00, last −2,189.50.

Long and short

SideTradesNet pts
Long453,415.50
Short45−5,605.00

By month

MonthTradesNet pts
2024-104320.50
2024-112422.00
2024-123−299.25
2025-01320.00
2025-0232,919.00
2025-036−1,594.75
2025-047338.50
2025-0621,262.25
2025-083151.00
2025-095−107.75
2025-108−2,073.00
2025-114−840.75
2025-123−410.75
2026-017−1,748.00
2026-023−669.00
2026-038−64.00
2026-0422,602.25
2026-053135.25
2026-063−1,559.75
2026-072174.25
2026-081−358.50
2026-098−809.00
Every trade, NQ daily90 trades

Daily results show the table and the equity line; there is no chart viewer for them yet.

All trades (90), newest first

Times are New York time; points are gross.

Session dateSideEntry (ET)Entry priceExit (ET)Exit priceExit reasonPoints
2026-09-30long2026-09-29 18:0030657.252026-10-07 16:5931403.75window end746.50
2026-09-29short2026-09-28 18:0030560.502026-09-29 18:0030657.25opposite cross−96.75
2026-09-28long2026-09-27 18:0030870.002026-09-28 18:0030560.50opposite cross−309.50
2026-09-25short2026-09-24 18:0030726.502026-09-27 18:0030870.00opposite cross−143.50
2026-09-22long2026-09-21 18:0030780.002026-09-24 18:0030726.50opposite cross−53.50
2026-09-15short2026-09-14 18:0029488.502026-09-21 18:0030780.00opposite cross−1,291.50
2026-09-14long2026-09-13 18:0028997.752026-09-14 16:5929193.75opposite cross196.00
2026-09-11short2026-09-10 18:0029141.002026-09-13 18:0028997.75opposite cross143.25
2026-08-27long2026-08-26 18:0029499.502026-09-10 18:0029141.00opposite cross−358.50
2026-07-02short2026-07-01 18:0030089.752026-08-26 18:0029499.50opposite cross590.25
2026-07-01long2026-06-30 18:0030505.752026-07-01 18:0030089.75opposite cross−416.00
2026-06-17short2026-06-16 18:0030306.502026-06-30 18:0030505.75opposite cross−199.25
2026-06-15long2026-06-14 18:0029907.002026-06-16 18:0030306.50opposite cross91.50
2026-06-11short2026-06-10 18:0028455.002026-06-14 18:0029907.00opposite cross−1,452.00
2026-05-22long2026-05-21 18:0029444.002026-06-10 18:0028455.00opposite cross−989.00
2026-05-19short2026-05-18 18:0029100.002026-05-21 18:0029444.00opposite cross−344.00
2026-05-01long2026-04-30 18:0027631.752026-05-18 18:0029100.00opposite cross1,468.25
2026-04-30short2026-04-29 18:0027207.002026-04-30 18:0027631.75opposite cross−424.75
2026-04-02long2026-04-01 18:0024180.002026-04-29 18:0027207.00opposite cross3,027.00
2026-03-26short2026-03-25 18:0024373.502026-04-01 18:0024180.00opposite cross193.50
2026-03-25long2026-03-24 18:0024420.002026-03-25 18:0024373.50opposite cross−46.50
2026-03-12short2026-03-11 18:0024934.502026-03-24 18:0024420.00opposite cross729.75
2026-03-11long2026-03-10 18:0025010.252026-03-11 18:0024934.50opposite cross−75.75
2026-03-06short2026-03-05 18:0025019.752026-03-10 18:0025010.25opposite cross9.50
2026-03-05long2026-03-04 18:0025156.502026-03-05 18:0025019.75opposite cross−136.75
2026-03-04short2026-03-03 18:0024710.752026-03-04 18:0025156.50opposite cross−445.75
2026-03-03long2026-03-02 18:0025002.752026-03-03 18:0024710.75opposite cross−292.00
2026-02-27short2026-02-26 18:0025024.252026-03-02 18:0025002.75opposite cross21.50
2026-02-26long2026-02-25 18:0025388.252026-02-26 18:0025024.25opposite cross−364.00
2026-02-05short2026-02-04 18:0025061.752026-02-25 18:0025388.25opposite cross−326.50
2026-01-23long2026-01-22 18:0025605.002026-02-04 18:0025061.75opposite cross−543.25
2026-01-19short2026-01-18 18:0025471.002026-01-22 18:0025605.00opposite cross−134.00
2026-01-16long2026-01-15 18:0025720.502026-01-18 18:0025471.00opposite cross−249.50
2026-01-15short2026-01-14 18:0025593.002026-01-15 18:0025720.50opposite cross−127.50
2026-01-12long2026-01-11 18:0025949.002026-01-14 18:0025593.00opposite cross−356.00
2026-01-09short2026-01-08 18:0025725.002026-01-11 18:0025949.00opposite cross−224.00
2026-01-08long2026-01-07 18:0025838.752026-01-08 18:0025725.00opposite cross−113.75
2025-12-31short2025-12-30 18:0025683.252026-01-07 18:0025838.75opposite cross−155.50
2025-12-22long2025-12-21 18:0025635.252025-12-30 18:0025683.25opposite cross48.00
2025-12-17short2025-12-16 18:0025332.002025-12-21 18:0025635.25opposite cross−303.25
2025-11-27long2025-11-26 18:0025313.002025-12-16 18:0025332.00opposite cross−225.25
2025-11-07short2025-11-06 18:0025314.752025-11-26 18:0025313.00opposite cross1.75
2025-11-06long2025-11-05 18:0025738.502025-11-06 18:0025314.75opposite cross−423.75
2025-11-05short2025-11-04 18:0025545.002025-11-05 18:0025738.50opposite cross−193.50
2025-10-27long2025-10-26 18:0025723.502025-11-04 18:0025545.00opposite cross−178.50
2025-10-23short2025-10-22 18:0025012.252025-10-26 18:0025723.50opposite cross−711.25
2025-10-20long2025-10-19 18:0025065.752025-10-22 18:0025012.25opposite cross−53.50
2025-10-17short2025-10-16 18:0024793.752025-10-19 18:0025065.75opposite cross−272.00
2025-10-16long2025-10-15 18:0024937.002025-10-16 18:0024793.75opposite cross−143.25
2025-10-15short2025-10-14 18:0024754.002025-10-15 18:0024937.00opposite cross−183.00
2025-10-14long2025-10-13 18:0024913.752025-10-14 18:0024754.00opposite cross−159.75
2025-10-13short2025-10-12 18:0024542.002025-10-13 18:0024913.75opposite cross−371.75
2025-09-29long2025-09-28 18:0024726.502025-10-12 18:0024542.00opposite cross−184.50
2025-09-26short2025-09-25 18:0024642.502025-09-28 18:0024726.50opposite cross−84.00
2025-09-12long2025-09-11 18:0024028.252025-09-25 18:0024642.50opposite cross380.00
2025-09-11short2025-09-10 18:0023853.752025-09-11 18:0024028.25opposite cross−174.50
2025-09-10long2025-09-09 18:0023898.502025-09-10 18:0023853.75opposite cross−44.75
2025-08-15short2025-08-14 18:0023888.752025-09-09 18:0023898.50opposite cross−9.75
2025-08-08long2025-08-07 18:0023518.252025-08-14 18:0023888.75opposite cross370.50
2025-08-01short2025-07-31 18:0023308.502025-08-07 18:0023518.25opposite cross−209.75
2025-06-03long2025-06-02 18:0021555.002025-07-31 18:0023308.50opposite cross1,513.50
2025-06-02short2025-06-01 18:0021303.752025-06-02 18:0021555.00opposite cross−251.25
2025-04-23long2025-04-22 18:0018646.002025-06-01 18:0021303.75opposite cross2,657.75
2025-04-22short2025-04-21 18:0017914.002025-04-22 18:0018646.00opposite cross−732.00
2025-04-21long2025-04-20 18:0018306.252025-04-21 18:0017914.00opposite cross−392.25
2025-04-17short2025-04-16 18:0018391.252025-04-20 18:0018306.25opposite cross85.00
2025-04-16long2025-04-15 18:0018790.002025-04-16 18:0018391.25opposite cross−398.75
2025-04-04short2025-04-03 18:0018660.002025-04-15 18:0018790.00opposite cross−130.00
2025-04-01long2025-03-31 18:0019411.252025-04-03 18:0018660.00opposite cross−751.25
2025-03-31short2025-03-30 18:0019319.752025-03-31 18:0019411.25opposite cross−91.50
2025-03-24long2025-03-23 18:0020050.502025-03-30 18:0019319.75opposite cross−730.75
2025-03-21short2025-03-20 18:0019898.502025-03-23 18:0020050.50opposite cross−152.00
2025-03-20long2025-03-19 18:0019949.752025-03-20 18:0019898.50opposite cross−51.25
2025-03-19short2025-03-18 18:0019704.752025-03-19 18:0019949.75opposite cross−245.00
2025-03-18long2025-03-17 18:0019821.002025-03-18 16:5919496.75opposite cross−324.25
2025-02-21short2025-02-20 18:0022136.002025-03-17 18:0019821.00opposite cross2,315.00
2025-02-05long2025-02-04 18:0021562.002025-02-20 18:0022136.00opposite cross574.00
2025-02-04short2025-02-03 18:0021592.002025-02-04 18:0021562.00opposite cross30.00
2025-01-30long2025-01-29 18:0021547.752025-02-03 18:0021592.00opposite cross44.25
2025-01-27short2025-01-26 18:0021771.002025-01-29 18:0021547.75opposite cross223.25
2025-01-24long2025-01-23 18:0022018.502025-01-26 18:0021771.00opposite cross−247.50
2024-12-30short2024-12-29 18:0021711.002025-01-23 18:0022018.50opposite cross−307.50
2024-12-23long2024-12-22 18:0021566.002024-12-29 18:0021711.00opposite cross145.00
2024-12-20short2024-12-19 18:0021429.252024-12-22 18:0021566.00opposite cross−136.75
2024-11-25long2024-11-24 18:0020935.002024-12-19 18:0021429.25opposite cross190.00
2024-11-14short2024-11-13 18:0021167.002024-11-24 18:0020935.00opposite cross232.00
2024-10-25long2024-10-24 18:0020388.502024-11-13 18:0021167.00opposite cross778.50
2024-10-24short2024-10-23 18:0020294.252024-10-24 18:0020388.50opposite cross−94.25
2024-10-21long2024-10-20 18:0020496.252024-10-23 18:0020294.25opposite cross−202.00
2024-10-16short2024-10-15 18:0020334.502024-10-20 18:0020496.25opposite cross−161.75

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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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