Momentum Factor Stocks Strategy
This systematic approach harnesses the classic 12‑1 month momentum factor in equities. At the end of each month stocks are ranked by their performance over the prior twelve months while skipping the most recent month to sidestep short-term reversals. Securities in the highest quintile are purchased and those in the lowest quintile are sold short, forming a market-neutral spread.
Rebalancing occurs on the first trading day of every month. Positions are equally weighted and remain open until the next rebalance; no explicit stop-losses are used.
Extensive academic and industry research shows momentum delivers persistent excess returns and offers valuable diversification when combined with other factors.
Details
- Entry Criteria: Monthly 12‑1 momentum ranking; long top quintile, short bottom quintile
- Long/Short: Both
- Exit Criteria: Next monthly rebalance
- Stops: No
- Default Values:
LookbackDays= 252SkipDays= 21Quintile= 5MinTradeUsd= 200CandleType= TimeSpan.FromDays(1)
- Filters:
- Category: Momentum
- Direction: Both
- Indicators: Price change
- Stops: No
- Complexity: Intermediate
- Timeframe: Medium-term
- Seasonality: No
- Neural networks: No
- Divergence: No
- Risk level: Medium
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Ecng.Common;
using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
using StockSharp.Configuration;
using StockSharp.Messages;
namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;
/// <summary>
/// Momentum factor strategy that trades the primary instrument when its medium-term momentum outperforms a benchmark after filtering out the most recent short-term move.
/// </summary>
public class MomentumFactorStocksStrategy : Strategy
{
private readonly StrategyParam<string> _security2Id;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _lookbackPeriod;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _skipPeriod;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _normalizationPeriod;
private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _entryThreshold;
private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _exitThreshold;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _cooldownBars;
private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLoss;
private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
private Security _benchmark = null!;
private RateOfChange _primaryLongMomentum = null!;
private RateOfChange _benchmarkLongMomentum = null!;
private RateOfChange _primaryShortMomentum = null!;
private RateOfChange _benchmarkShortMomentum = null!;
private SimpleMovingAverage _spreadAverage = null!;
private StandardDeviation _spreadDeviation = null!;
private decimal _latestPrimarySignal;
private decimal _latestBenchmarkSignal;
private decimal? _previousZScore;
private bool _primaryUpdated;
private bool _benchmarkUpdated;
private int _cooldownRemaining;
/// <summary>
/// Benchmark security identifier.
/// </summary>
public string Security2Id
{
get => _security2Id.Value;
set => _security2Id.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Long momentum lookback period.
/// </summary>
public int LookbackPeriod
{
get => _lookbackPeriod.Value;
set => _lookbackPeriod.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Short lookback period removed from the long momentum signal.
/// </summary>
public int SkipPeriod
{
get => _skipPeriod.Value;
set => _skipPeriod.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Lookback period used to normalize the relative factor spread.
/// </summary>
public int NormalizationPeriod
{
get => _normalizationPeriod.Value;
set => _normalizationPeriod.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Z-score threshold required to open a position.
/// </summary>
public decimal EntryThreshold
{
get => _entryThreshold.Value;
set => _entryThreshold.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Z-score threshold required to close a position.
/// </summary>
public decimal ExitThreshold
{
get => _exitThreshold.Value;
set => _exitThreshold.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Closed candles to wait before another position change.
/// </summary>
public int CooldownBars
{
get => _cooldownBars.Value;
set => _cooldownBars.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Stop loss percentage.
/// </summary>
public decimal StopLoss
{
get => _stopLoss.Value;
set => _stopLoss.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Candle type used for calculations.
/// </summary>
public DataType CandleType
{
get => _candleType.Value;
set => _candleType.Value = value;
}
public MomentumFactorStocksStrategy()
{
_security2Id = Param(nameof(Security2Id), Paths.HistoryDefaultSecurity2)
.SetDisplay("Benchmark Security Id", "Identifier of the benchmark security", "General");
_lookbackPeriod = Param(nameof(LookbackPeriod), 36)
.SetRange(8, 200)
.SetDisplay("Lookback Period", "Long momentum lookback period", "Indicators");
_skipPeriod = Param(nameof(SkipPeriod), 8)
.SetRange(2, 60)
.SetDisplay("Skip Period", "Short lookback period removed from the long momentum signal", "Indicators");
_normalizationPeriod = Param(nameof(NormalizationPeriod), 24)
.SetRange(5, 120)
.SetDisplay("Normalization Period", "Lookback period used to normalize the relative factor spread", "Indicators");
_entryThreshold = Param(nameof(EntryThreshold), 1.15m)
.SetRange(0.2m, 5m)
.SetDisplay("Entry Threshold", "Z-score threshold required to open a position", "Signals");
_exitThreshold = Param(nameof(ExitThreshold), 0.3m)
.SetRange(0m, 2m)
.SetDisplay("Exit Threshold", "Z-score threshold required to close a position", "Signals");
_cooldownBars = Param(nameof(CooldownBars), 8)
.SetRange(0, 120)
.SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Closed candles to wait before another position change", "Risk");
_stopLoss = Param(nameof(StopLoss), 2.5m)
.SetRange(0.5m, 10m)
.SetDisplay("Stop Loss %", "Stop loss percentage", "Risk");
_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromHours(4).TimeFrame())
.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Time frame for candles", "General");
}
/// <inheritdoc />
public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
{
if (Security != null)
yield return (Security, CandleType);
if (!Security2Id.IsEmpty())
yield return (new Security { Id = Security2Id }, CandleType);
}
/// <inheritdoc />
protected override void OnReseted()
{
base.OnReseted();
_benchmark = null!;
_primaryLongMomentum = null!;
_benchmarkLongMomentum = null!;
_primaryShortMomentum = null!;
_benchmarkShortMomentum = null!;
_spreadAverage = null!;
_spreadDeviation = null!;
_latestPrimarySignal = 0m;
_latestBenchmarkSignal = 0m;
_previousZScore = null;
_primaryUpdated = false;
_benchmarkUpdated = false;
_cooldownRemaining = 0;
}
/// <inheritdoc />
protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
{
base.OnStarted2(time);
if (Security == null)
throw new InvalidOperationException("Primary security is not specified.");
if (Security2Id.IsEmpty())
throw new InvalidOperationException("Benchmark security identifier is not specified.");
_benchmark = this.LookupById(Security2Id) ?? new Security { Id = Security2Id };
_primaryLongMomentum = new RateOfChange { Length = LookbackPeriod };
_benchmarkLongMomentum = new RateOfChange { Length = LookbackPeriod };
_primaryShortMomentum = new RateOfChange { Length = SkipPeriod };
_benchmarkShortMomentum = new RateOfChange { Length = SkipPeriod };
_spreadAverage = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = NormalizationPeriod };
_spreadDeviation = new StandardDeviation { Length = NormalizationPeriod };
var primarySubscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType, security: Security);
var benchmarkSubscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType, security: _benchmark);
primarySubscription
.Bind(ProcessPrimaryCandle)
.Start();
benchmarkSubscription
.Bind(ProcessBenchmarkCandle)
.Start();
var area = CreateChartArea();
if (area != null)
{
DrawCandles(area, primarySubscription);
DrawCandles(area, benchmarkSubscription);
DrawOwnTrades(area);
}
StartProtection(
new Unit(2, UnitTypes.Percent),
new Unit(StopLoss, UnitTypes.Percent));
}
private void ProcessPrimaryCandle(ICandleMessage candle)
{
if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
return;
var longMomentum = _primaryLongMomentum.Process(candle);
var shortMomentum = _primaryShortMomentum.Process(candle);
if (longMomentum.IsEmpty || shortMomentum.IsEmpty || !_primaryLongMomentum.IsFormed || !_primaryShortMomentum.IsFormed)
return;
_latestPrimarySignal = longMomentum.ToDecimal() - shortMomentum.ToDecimal();
_primaryUpdated = true;
TryProcessSpread(candle.OpenTime);
}
private void ProcessBenchmarkCandle(ICandleMessage candle)
{
if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
return;
var longMomentum = _benchmarkLongMomentum.Process(candle);
var shortMomentum = _benchmarkShortMomentum.Process(candle);
if (longMomentum.IsEmpty || shortMomentum.IsEmpty || !_benchmarkLongMomentum.IsFormed || !_benchmarkShortMomentum.IsFormed)
return;
_latestBenchmarkSignal = longMomentum.ToDecimal() - shortMomentum.ToDecimal();
_benchmarkUpdated = true;
TryProcessSpread(candle.OpenTime);
}
private void TryProcessSpread(DateTime time)
{
if (!_primaryUpdated || !_benchmarkUpdated)
return;
_primaryUpdated = false;
_benchmarkUpdated = false;
var spread = _latestPrimarySignal - _latestBenchmarkSignal;
var mean = _spreadAverage.Process(spread, time, true).ToDecimal();
var deviation = _spreadDeviation.Process(spread, time, true).ToDecimal();
if (!_spreadAverage.IsFormed || !_spreadDeviation.IsFormed || deviation <= 0m)
return;
if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
return;
if (_cooldownRemaining > 0)
_cooldownRemaining--;
var zScore = (spread - mean) / deviation;
var bullishEntry = _previousZScore is decimal previousBullish && previousBullish < EntryThreshold && zScore >= EntryThreshold;
var bearishEntry = _previousZScore is decimal previousBearish && previousBearish > -EntryThreshold && zScore <= -EntryThreshold;
if (_cooldownRemaining == 0 && Position == 0)
{
if (bullishEntry)
{
BuyMarket();
_cooldownRemaining = CooldownBars;
}
else if (bearishEntry)
{
SellMarket();
_cooldownRemaining = CooldownBars;
}
}
else if (Position > 0 && zScore <= ExitThreshold)
{
SellMarket(Position);
_cooldownRemaining = CooldownBars;
}
else if (Position < 0 && zScore >= -ExitThreshold)
{
BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
_cooldownRemaining = CooldownBars;
}
_previousZScore = zScore;
}
}
import clr
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Messages")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.BusinessEntities")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo.Indicators")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo.Strategies")
from System import TimeSpan, Math
from StockSharp.Messages import DataType, CandleStates, Unit, UnitTypes
from StockSharp.Algo.Indicators import RateOfChange, SimpleMovingAverage, StandardDeviation, CandleIndicatorValue
from StockSharp.Algo.Strategies import Strategy
from StockSharp.BusinessEntities import Security
from indicator_extensions import *
class momentum_factor_stocks_strategy(Strategy):
"""Momentum factor strategy that trades the primary instrument when its medium-term momentum outperforms a benchmark after filtering out the most recent short-term move."""
def __init__(self):
super(momentum_factor_stocks_strategy, self).__init__()
self._security2_id = self.Param("Security2Id", "TONUSDT@BNBFT") \
.SetDisplay("Benchmark Security Id", "Identifier of the benchmark security", "General")
self._lookback_period = self.Param("LookbackPeriod", 36) \
.SetRange(8, 200) \
.SetDisplay("Lookback Period", "Long momentum lookback period", "Indicators")
self._skip_period = self.Param("SkipPeriod", 8) \
.SetRange(2, 60) \
.SetDisplay("Skip Period", "Short lookback period removed from the long momentum signal", "Indicators")
self._normalization_period = self.Param("NormalizationPeriod", 24) \
.SetRange(5, 120) \
.SetDisplay("Normalization Period", "Lookback period used to normalize the relative factor spread", "Indicators")
self._entry_threshold = self.Param("EntryThreshold", 1.15) \
.SetRange(0.2, 5.0) \
.SetDisplay("Entry Threshold", "Z-score threshold required to open a position", "Signals")
self._exit_threshold = self.Param("ExitThreshold", 0.3) \
.SetRange(0.0, 2.0) \
.SetDisplay("Exit Threshold", "Z-score threshold required to close a position", "Signals")
self._cooldown_bars = self.Param("CooldownBars", 8) \
.SetRange(0, 120) \
.SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Closed candles to wait before another position change", "Risk")
self._stop_loss = self.Param("StopLoss", 2.5) \
.SetRange(0.5, 10.0) \
.SetDisplay("Stop Loss %", "Stop loss percentage", "Risk")
self._candle_type = self.Param("CandleType", DataType.TimeFrame(TimeSpan.FromHours(4))) \
.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Time frame for candles", "General")
self._benchmark = None
self._primary_long_momentum = None
self._benchmark_long_momentum = None
self._primary_short_momentum = None
self._benchmark_short_momentum = None
self._spread_average = None
self._spread_deviation = None
self._latest_primary_signal = 0.0
self._latest_benchmark_signal = 0.0
self._previous_z_score = None
self._primary_updated = False
self._benchmark_updated = False
self._cooldown_remaining = 0
@property
def candle_type(self):
return self._candle_type.Value
def GetWorkingSecurities(self):
result = []
if self.Security is not None:
result.append((self.Security, self.candle_type))
sec2_id = str(self._security2_id.Value)
if sec2_id:
s = Security()
s.Id = sec2_id
result.append((s, self.candle_type))
return result
def OnReseted(self):
super(momentum_factor_stocks_strategy, self).OnReseted()
self._benchmark = None
self._primary_long_momentum = None
self._benchmark_long_momentum = None
self._primary_short_momentum = None
self._benchmark_short_momentum = None
self._spread_average = None
self._spread_deviation = None
self._latest_primary_signal = 0.0
self._latest_benchmark_signal = 0.0
self._previous_z_score = None
self._primary_updated = False
self._benchmark_updated = False
self._cooldown_remaining = 0
def OnStarted2(self, time):
super(momentum_factor_stocks_strategy, self).OnStarted2(time)
sec2_id = str(self._security2_id.Value)
if not sec2_id:
raise Exception("Benchmark security identifier is not specified.")
s = Security()
s.Id = sec2_id
self._benchmark = s
lookback = int(self._lookback_period.Value)
skip = int(self._skip_period.Value)
norm_period = int(self._normalization_period.Value)
self._primary_long_momentum = RateOfChange()
self._primary_long_momentum.Length = lookback
self._benchmark_long_momentum = RateOfChange()
self._benchmark_long_momentum.Length = lookback
self._primary_short_momentum = RateOfChange()
self._primary_short_momentum.Length = skip
self._benchmark_short_momentum = RateOfChange()
self._benchmark_short_momentum.Length = skip
self._spread_average = SimpleMovingAverage()
self._spread_average.Length = norm_period
self._spread_deviation = StandardDeviation()
self._spread_deviation.Length = norm_period
primary_subscription = self.SubscribeCandles(self.candle_type, True, self.Security)
benchmark_subscription = self.SubscribeCandles(self.candle_type, True, self._benchmark)
primary_subscription.Bind(self.ProcessPrimaryCandle).Start()
benchmark_subscription.Bind(self.ProcessBenchmarkCandle).Start()
area = self.CreateChartArea()
if area is not None:
self.DrawCandles(area, primary_subscription)
self.DrawCandles(area, benchmark_subscription)
self.DrawOwnTrades(area)
self.StartProtection(
Unit(2, UnitTypes.Percent),
Unit(float(self._stop_loss.Value), UnitTypes.Percent)
)
def ProcessPrimaryCandle(self, candle):
if candle.State != CandleStates.Finished:
return
long_iv = CandleIndicatorValue(self._primary_long_momentum, candle)
long_iv.IsFinal = True
long_result = self._primary_long_momentum.Process(long_iv)
short_iv = CandleIndicatorValue(self._primary_short_momentum, candle)
short_iv.IsFinal = True
short_result = self._primary_short_momentum.Process(short_iv)
if long_result.IsEmpty or short_result.IsEmpty or not self._primary_long_momentum.IsFormed or not self._primary_short_momentum.IsFormed:
return
self._latest_primary_signal = float(long_result) - float(short_result)
self._primary_updated = True
self.TryProcessSpread(candle.OpenTime)
def ProcessBenchmarkCandle(self, candle):
if candle.State != CandleStates.Finished:
return
long_iv = CandleIndicatorValue(self._benchmark_long_momentum, candle)
long_iv.IsFinal = True
long_result = self._benchmark_long_momentum.Process(long_iv)
short_iv = CandleIndicatorValue(self._benchmark_short_momentum, candle)
short_iv.IsFinal = True
short_result = self._benchmark_short_momentum.Process(short_iv)
if long_result.IsEmpty or short_result.IsEmpty or not self._benchmark_long_momentum.IsFormed or not self._benchmark_short_momentum.IsFormed:
return
self._latest_benchmark_signal = float(long_result) - float(short_result)
self._benchmark_updated = True
self.TryProcessSpread(candle.OpenTime)
def TryProcessSpread(self, time):
if not self._primary_updated or not self._benchmark_updated:
return
self._primary_updated = False
self._benchmark_updated = False
spread = self._latest_primary_signal - self._latest_benchmark_signal
mean = float(process_float(self._spread_average, spread, time, True))
deviation = float(process_float(self._spread_deviation, spread, time, True))
if not self._spread_average.IsFormed or not self._spread_deviation.IsFormed or deviation <= 0:
return
if not self.IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading():
return
if self._cooldown_remaining > 0:
self._cooldown_remaining -= 1
z_score = (spread - mean) / deviation
entry_thresh = float(self._entry_threshold.Value)
exit_thresh = float(self._exit_threshold.Value)
cooldown = int(self._cooldown_bars.Value)
bullish_entry = self._previous_z_score is not None and self._previous_z_score < entry_thresh and z_score >= entry_thresh
bearish_entry = self._previous_z_score is not None and self._previous_z_score > -entry_thresh and z_score <= -entry_thresh
if self._cooldown_remaining == 0 and self.Position == 0:
if bullish_entry:
self.BuyMarket()
self._cooldown_remaining = cooldown
elif bearish_entry:
self.SellMarket()
self._cooldown_remaining = cooldown
elif self.Position > 0 and z_score <= exit_thresh:
self.SellMarket(self.Position)
self._cooldown_remaining = cooldown
elif self.Position < 0 and z_score >= -exit_thresh:
self.BuyMarket(Math.Abs(self.Position))
self._cooldown_remaining = cooldown
self._previous_z_score = z_score
def CreateClone(self):
return momentum_factor_stocks_strategy()