Daniel's Breakout Strategy — S&P 500 Sliding 10-Year Window Backtest

Ultra-concentrated configuration: PCT_TRAIL 25% · 3 positions · RS_20 ranking · Quarterly rebalance.
Each window runs exactly 10 years starting March 1. Walk-forward simulation — no look-ahead bias. Initial capital $100,000.
Run date: 2026-04-18.

Universe S&P 500 (~506 stocks)
Exit Trailing Stop 25%
Max Positions 3
Rank by RS_20 (20-day Rel Strength vs SPY)
Rebalance Quarterly
Benchmark SPY
Windows 2006–2016 through 2016–2026

At a Glance

Avg CAGR (Strategy)
+22.3%
Avg CAGR (SPY)
+11.8%
Beat SPY
11 / 11
Avg Alpha (% pts)
+10.5%
Avg Max Drawdown
-31.7%
Avg SPY Max DD
-37.5%
Avg Win Rate
60.3%
Avg Sharpe Ratio
0.94
Best Window CAGR
+26.6%
Worst Window CAGR
+15.1%
Avg Avg Win
+14.3%
Avg Avg Loss
-7.9%

Position Count Comparison — 9 vs 5 vs 3

Window-by-Window Results

Window (10 years) Total Return CAGR SPY Return SPY CAGR Alpha (return) Max DD SPY Max DD Final $ Sharpe Win Rate Avg Win Avg Loss Trades
2006-03-01 → 2016-03-01 +870.2%+25.5% +88.0%+6.5% +782.2% -22.1%-55.2% $970,2181.0164.3% +14.2%-8.4%129
2007-03-01 → 2017-03-01 +956.0%+26.6% +110.1%+7.7% +845.9% -22.1%-55.2% $1,056,0151.0763.2% +14.9%-7.9%125
2008-03-01 → 2018-03-01 +846.2%+25.2% +147.2%+9.5% +699.1% -22.1%-51.5% $946,2081.0661.3% +14.6%-7.1%124
2009-03-01 → 2019-03-01 +787.2%+24.4% +387.1%+17.2% +400.1% -22.1%-19.3% $887,1861.0761.0% +14.6%-7.2%123
2010-03-01 → 2020-03-01 +577.6%+21.1% +223.4%+12.5% +354.3% -30.0%-19.3% $677,6490.9557.1% +15.0%-7.5%126
2011-03-01 → 2021-03-01 +831.6%+25.0% +263.1%+13.8% +568.5% -35.3%-33.7% $931,5811.0461.7% +14.8%-8.0%128
2012-03-01 → 2022-03-01 +567.3%+20.9% +278.1%+14.2% +289.2% -35.3%-33.7% $667,2700.9059.2% +14.6%-8.3%130
2013-03-01 → 2023-03-01 +603.8%+21.6% +212.5%+12.1% +391.3% -35.3%-33.7% $703,8120.9159.2% +14.7%-8.1%130
2014-03-01 → 2024-03-01 +306.6%+15.1% +232.2%+12.8% +74.4% -35.3%-33.7% $406,6020.7157.7% +12.6%-8.1%130
2015-03-01 → 2025-03-01 +354.7%+16.4% +233.6%+12.8% +121.1% -35.3%-33.7% $454,6830.7557.7% +13.0%-8.2%130
2016-03-01 → 2026-03-01 +701.7%+23.2% +308.6%+15.1% +393.2% -35.3%-33.7% $801,7430.9160.8% +14.8%-8.2%130

CAGR Comparison — Strategy vs SPY

Strategy CAGR per window (max 30% scale)
2006→2016
+25.5%
2007→2017
+26.6%
2008→2018
+25.2%
2009→2019
+24.4%
2010→2020
+21.1%
2011→2021
+25.0%
2012→2022
+20.9%
2013→2023
+21.6%
2014→2024
+15.1%
2015→2025
+16.4%
2016→2026
+23.2%
SPY CAGR per window (max 30% scale)
2006→2016
+6.5%
2007→2017
+7.7%
2008→2018
+9.5%
2009→2019
+17.2%
2010→2020
+12.5%
2011→2021
+13.8%
2012→2022
+14.2%
2013→2023
+12.1%
2014→2024
+12.8%
2015→2025
+12.8%
2016→2026
+15.1%

Key Observations

✅ Highest Returns Across All Position Counts

📊 Why Fewer Positions Can Outperform

⚠️ Concentration Risk Is Real

🛡️ Risk-Adjusted Profile

Conclusion

3 Positions: Highest Return, Best Sharpe — But Maximum Concentration Risk

The 3-position configuration delivered the strongest results across all metrics tested: avg CAGR +22.3%, avg Sharpe 0.94, and avg final value of $727K from $100K starting capital. It beat SPY in every single 10-year window and produced the highest win/loss ratio (+14.3% / -7.9% = 1.81) of any configuration.

The trade-off is extreme concentration: holding only 3 positions at a time means portfolio outcomes are heavily dependent on just a handful of RS_20 leaders per quarter. A single earnings gap-down or sector rotation on one of these positions has a magnified impact. The 25% trailing stop provides a backstop, but investors must be prepared for significant equity swings between rebalance periods.

Recommendation by risk tolerance: Conservative → 9 positions (+16.9% avg CAGR, lowest DD). Moderate → 5 positions (+18.7%). Aggressive → 3 positions (+22.3%, highest variance). All three configurations beat SPY in every 10-year window tested.