Bull Rhythm

Weekly Leaders (max 25%)

Weekly Leaders with a limit: no stock takes more than a quarter of the money.

How it works

Weekly Leaders (max 25%) holds 10 of the 500 most actively traded US stocks: those with the strongest price trends over the past year, among companies that generate cash and whose profitability is improving. It puts much more money in the strongest trends, never more than 25% in one stock, and rebuilds the portfolio every week. Each rule is listed below in the order it is applied.

The rules, step by step

  1. When it decides. After the market closes on the last trading day of each week (usually Friday), using that day’s closing prices and only information available by then.
  2. The stock pool. US-listed common stocks and ADRs, not traded over the counter, closing at $5 or more. Each must have traded at least $10 million a day on average over 20 trading days at this decision and one and two months (21 and 42 trading days) before it. Of those, the 500 with the highest 20-day average trading value form the pool.
  3. Cash flow. Keeps only companies whose latest quarterly report, filed by the decision day, shows positive free cash flow.
  4. Improving profitability. Keeps only companies whose gross margin in the latest filed quarter is higher than in the same quarter a year earlier (as first reported).
  5. No sudden spikes. Skips any stock that rose more than 40% over the last month (21 trading days).
  6. The ranking. Ranks the remaining stocks by 12-1 momentum: the price change from twelve months ago (252 trading days) to one month ago (21 trading days), using prices adjusted for splits and dividends. The latest month is left out on purpose.
  7. The selection. Takes the 10 highest-ranked stocks, with at most two from any one industry sector: when a sector is full, the next-ranked stock from another sector takes the place. Stocks already held get no preference; each rebuild starts from the ranking.
  8. How much in each. In proportion to each stock’s 12-1 momentum raised to the power 2 (squared): a stock up 80% gets four times the money of one up 40%. (Momentum below 1% counts as 1%.)
  9. A minimum per stock. No stock gets less than 3% of the portfolio; the difference is taken from the larger holdings in proportion to their size.
  10. A maximum per stock. No stock gets more than 25% of the portfolio; the excess is shared among the others in proportion to their size.
  11. The trades. Made at the next trading day’s closing price: stocks no longer selected are sold, new ones bought, and those that stay are resized to their new amounts. Every buy, sale and resize pays 0.10% of the amount traded.
  12. Between rebuilds. No trades. The holdings’ shares of the portfolio drift as their prices move until the next decision.

These rules are frozen (rules version 1) and are exactly what the record uses, every day since go-live and throughout the backtest. Changing any of them would make a new strategy with its own record. Key terms explained.

What to expect: Less riding on one or two stocks than Weekly Leaders, with smaller falls and a lower return.

What would your money have done?

The amount you picture putting in. It only scales the dollar figures: the percentages are the same for $1,000 or $1,000,000.
How much of the account follows the strategy. The rest sits in BIL, a fund of US Treasury bills that mature in 1 to 3 months: close to cash, earning short-term interest. Every time the strategy rebuilds, the account is put back to your split. With 70/30, if the stocks have risen, some of the gain moves into T-bills; if they have fallen, some T-bills are used to buy stocks. A smaller strategy share means smaller falls and smaller gains.
Hindenburg ruleThe best rule from the Hindenburg research: when more than 2.5% of US stocks over $5 make a new 52-week high and more than 2.5% a new 52-week low on the same day, with SPY above its 50-day average, and the split also shows among companies worth more than $300 million (more than 3.0% at new highs and more than 2.0% at new lows) and in at least 3 sectors at each end (more than 2.0% of a sector's stocks), half of the strategy part moves into T-bills at the close six trading days later, and returns 31 trading days after the last such day. Every move appears in the ledger and pays 0.10%. Backtest before go-live, applied day by day after it.
The day your pretend account starts. “Since go-live” counts only the time the strategies have run live, each decision made at that day’s close with the rules unchanged. Earlier periods are a backtest: the same rules applied to past prices.

$10,000 put in at the close of Nov 1, 2017, worth at the close of Oct 16, 2026:

Weekly Leaders (max 25%)$749,711+7,397.1% · +62.2% a year
SPY over the same time$34,044+240.4% · +14.7% a year
Worst fall on the way-44.6%$5,541 at the lowest point after a high
Sharpe (SPY 0.82)1.332250 trading day(s)

Growth of $10,000 against SPY

Fall from the highest value so far

Returns over set periods

Returns over set periods, Weekly Leaders (max 25%) and SPY
Strategy1 month3 monthsThis year1 year3 years5 yearsSince 2017Since go-live
Weekly Leaders (max 25%)-4.4%+13.1% (ahead of SPY)+137.2% (ahead of SPY)+121.5% (ahead of SPY)+1,107.0% (ahead of SPY)+873.7% (ahead of SPY)+7,397.1% (ahead of SPY)-10.2%
SPY (buy and hold)+0.3%+3.1%+12.8%+16.0%+81.4%+86.4%+240.4%-0.1%

Year by year

Each calendar year on its own, newest first: the return (bold when ahead of SPY), the worst fall from a high within that year, how much the value swung (volatility, as a yearly figure), Sharpe, the best and worst month, the share of months that ended higher, and beta (how much it moved for each 1% SPY moved). The first and the current year are partial; years before going live are a backtest.

Each calendar year, Weekly Leaders (max 25%) against SPY: return and risk
YearReturnSPYWorst fallSPY worst fallVolatilitySharpeBest monthWorst monthUp monthsBeta
2026
(partial) · live from Sep 29, 2026
+137.2% (ahead of SPY)+12.8%-32.9%-8.9%60.0%2.13+49.7%-24.1%70%2.71
2025+78.0% (ahead of SPY)+17.7%-40.8%-18.8%50.9%1.40+27.8%-14.6%67%1.84
2024+121.1% (ahead of SPY)+24.9%-19.4%-8.4%39.4%2.21+32.5%-12.0%67%2.08
2023+17.5%+26.2%-24.1%-10.0%29.4%0.70+22.2%-10.4%42%1.45
2022-10.4% (ahead of SPY)-18.2%-31.7%-24.5%34.1%-0.15+13.2%-18.4%50%0.94
2021+41.4% (ahead of SPY)+28.7%-25.5%-5.1%48.4%0.95+23.3%-9.6%58%2.05
2020+159.3% (ahead of SPY)+18.4%-39.9%-33.7%58.0%1.93+27.8%-16.8%75%1.15
2019+83.4% (ahead of SPY)+31.2%-14.1%-6.6%27.2%2.37+15.8%-8.9%92%1.21
2018+12.7% (ahead of SPY)-4.6%-36.3%-19.3%34.6%0.52+21.9%-19.3%42%1.55
2017
(partial)
+0.6%+4.2%-11.0%-1.0%28.2%0.27+6.6%-5.6%50%2.31

The account, as a ledger

The strategy shown as one account that started with $10,000 on Nov 1, 2017 (change the amount above) and followed every trade. Shares are fractional; share counts include stock splits and reinvested dividends. Gains are measured on average cost. With a split chosen above, part of the account sits in BIL (a 1–3 month T-bill fund) and is put back to the split at every rebuild: each move is one BIL row below, and it buys or sells the same slice of every stock held.

Account value today$748,962+$738,962 on the $10,000 put in
Realized gains (from sales)+$833,274
Unrealized gains (still held)−$94,312
Trading fees paid (0.10% a trade)$34,230already taken out of the account value

What it holds now

At the close of Oct 16, 2026. It decides after the close on the last trading day of each week and trades at the next day's close. The weights drift with prices between rebuilds. This is the model’s position, published for education, not a recommendation to buy these stocks: a portfolio started today would differ in entry prices and results.

What Weekly Leaders (max 25%) holds now, for an account that started with $10,000
StockSectorWeightSharesAvg costCost basisPriceValueGain on costSince first boughtFirst boughtAtWhy
SNDKTechnology24.0%138.621$1,789.85$248,112$1,299.30$180,111−$68,001-36.6%Jun 29, 2026$2,050.39new: ranked 1 of 10, 12-1 momentum +3265%
AXTITechnology22.9%3,326.489$62.03$206,331$51.47$171,214−$35,116-17.0%Oct 12, 2026$61.98new: ranked 2 of 10, 12-1 momentum +1118%
TXGHealthcare10.8%1,155.273$75.25$86,930$69.86$80,707−$6,223-7.1%Oct 12, 2026$75.19new: ranked 3 of 10, 12-1 momentum +450%
VLOEnergy6.3%106.647$330.70$35,269$444.71$47,427+$12,158+44.6%Aug 3, 2026$307.54new: ranked 9 of 10, 12-1 momentum +98%
NUEBasic Materials6.3%184.641$251.80$46,492$256.29$47,322+$830+1.9%Oct 5, 2026$251.41new: ranked 8 of 10, 12-1 momentum +97%
TGTConsumer Defensive6.2%302.683$157.17$47,574$154.26$46,692−$882-2.2%Sep 21, 2026$157.71new: ranked 10 of 10, 12-1 momentum +86%
PBFEnergy6.2%546.908$73.11$39,985$84.52$46,225+$6,239+16.6%Sep 21, 2026$72.48new: ranked 5 of 10, 12-1 momentum +149%
ATIIndustrials6.1%247.357$203.87$50,428$185.59$45,907−$4,521-10.5%Sep 8, 2026$207.32new: ranked 4 of 10, 12-1 momentum +190%
ILMNHealthcare5.9%168.060$216.06$36,312$262.54$44,123+$7,811+26.1%Sep 14, 2026$208.21new: ranked 8 of 10, 12-1 momentum +102%
BEIndustrials5.2%177.284$258.58$45,842$221.31$39,235−$6,607-14.5%May 18, 2026$258.71new: ranked 2 of 10, 12-1 momentum +937%

Every trade

5,843 trades in all; the latest 50 below, newest first (up to 300 here; the download has them all). Download the full ledger (CSV). A trade is decided at one day’s close and made at the next day’s close.

Every trade of Weekly Leaders (max 25%), newest first, for an account that started with $10,000
DateStockActionWeightSharesPriceAmountFeeRealized gainAccount valueGain vs startWhy
Oct 12, 2026VLOtrim7.5% → to 5.6%35.856$436.00+$15,633 received$15.63+$3,784$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026TXGbuy0.0% → to 10.5%1,156.141$75.19−$86,930 paid$86.93$824,703+$814,703new: ranked 3 of 10, 12-1 momentum +450%
Oct 12, 2026TGTtrim7.3% → to 5.6%87.897$153.62+$13,503 received$13.50−$302$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026SNDKadd23.0% → to 25.0%11.172$1,487.33−$16,617 paid$16.62$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026PBFtrim7.3% → to 5.6%163.108$85.02+$13,867 received$13.87+$1,951$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026NUEtrim7.3% → to 5.6%53.037$251.83+$13,356 received$13.36+$12$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026MUsell19.6% → to 0.0%163.351$989.04+$161,560 received$161.56−$12,375$824,703+$814,703Technology already has 2 stronger names
Oct 12, 2026ILMNtrim6.8% → to 5.6%35.391$276.67+$9,792 received$9.79+$2,151$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026CNCsell7.6% → to 0.0%929.852$67.02+$62,319 received$62.32+$2,482$824,703+$814,703no longer in the top 10 (ranked 47)
Oct 12, 2026BEtrim6.6% → to 5.6%31.163$262.28+$8,173 received$8.17+$121$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 12, 2026AXTIbuy0.0% → to 25.0%3,328.988$61.98−$206,331 paid$206.33$824,703+$814,703new: ranked 2 of 10, 12-1 momentum +1118%
Oct 12, 2026ATItrim7.1% → to 5.6%62.103$187.98+$11,674 received$11.67−$977$824,703+$814,703rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026VLOadd6.3% → to 6.9%12.472$419.33−$5,230 paid$5.23$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026TGTadd5.6% → to 6.9%70.902$152.99−$10,847 paid$10.85$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026SNDKadd23.2% → to 25.0%9.185$1,704.16−$15,652 paid$15.65$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026PBFadd6.6% → to 6.9%29.024$84.16−$2,443 paid$2.44$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026NUEbuy0.0% → to 6.9%238.004$251.41−$59,837 paid$59.84$869,486+$859,486new: ranked 8 of 10, 12-1 momentum +97%
Oct 5, 2026MUbuy0.0% → to 20.0%163.479$1,063.96−$173,936 paid$173.94$869,486+$859,486new: ranked 2 of 10, 12-1 momentum +426%
Oct 5, 2026ILMNadd6.3% → to 6.9%17.160$293.69−$5,040 paid$5.04$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026HLsell5.8% → to 0.0%2,982.436$17.01+$50,731 received$50.73−$3,848$869,486+$859,486no longer in the top 10 (ranked 42)
Oct 5, 2026CRLsell6.2% → to 0.0%172.210$310.77+$53,518 received$53.52+$2,778$869,486+$859,486no longer in the top 10 (ranked 40)
Oct 5, 2026CNCbuy0.0% → to 6.9%930.585$64.30−$59,837 paid$59.84$869,486+$859,486new: ranked 10 of 10, 12-1 momentum +88%
Oct 5, 2026BEadd6.4% → to 6.9%15.755$286.65−$4,516 paid$4.52$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Oct 5, 2026AXTIsell27.4% → to 0.0%2,754.512$86.66+$238,706 received$238.71+$60,069$869,486+$859,486up more than 40% in the last month
Oct 5, 2026ATIadd6.2% → to 6.9%29.095$193.09−$5,618 paid$5.62$869,486+$859,486rebalance to target weight
Live forward test starts here: Sep 29, 2026. Above: decided each day from that day’s data. Below: backtest.
Sep 28, 2026VLOtrim6.4% → to 6.2%2.657$389.57+$1,035 received$1.04+$181$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026TGTtrim6.5% → to 6.2%11.144$158.43+$1,766 received$1.77+$7$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026SNDKadd25.0% → to 25.0%0.148$1,712.89−$253 paid$0.25$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026PBFtrim6.6% → to 6.2%39.041$74.39+$2,904 received$2.90+$73$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026ILMNtrim7.3% → to 6.2%32.242$271.90+$8,767 received$8.77+$2,043$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026HLadd6.0% → to 6.2%134.615$17.01−$2,290 paid$2.29$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026CRLbuy0.0% → to 6.2%172.237$294.59−$50,739 paid$50.74$811,700+$801,700new: ranked 8 of 10, 12-1 momentum +97%
Sep 28, 2026CNCsell6.2% → to 0.0%804.220$62.53+$50,288 received$50.29−$1,441$811,700+$801,700no longer in the top 10 (ranked 35)
Sep 28, 2026BEadd6.2% → to 6.2%1.492$262.87−$392 paid$0.39$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026AXTIadd23.7% → to 25.0%139.351$73.67−$10,266 paid$10.27$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 28, 2026ATIadd6.1% → to 6.2%4.533$180.67−$819 paid$0.82$811,700+$801,700rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026WBDsell5.9% → to 0.0%1,612.686$30.80+$49,671 received$49.67+$5,863$836,260+$826,260no longer in the top 10 (ranked 61)
Sep 21, 2026VLOadd5.6% → to 6.2%14.626$393.27−$5,752 paid$5.75$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026TGTbuy0.0% → to 6.2%331.555$157.71−$52,290 paid$52.29$836,260+$826,260new: ranked 10 of 10, 12-1 momentum +86%
Sep 21, 2026STLDsell5.3% → to 0.0%193.223$229.99+$44,439 received$44.44−$640$836,260+$826,260no longer in the top 10 (ranked 47)
Sep 21, 2026SNDKadd24.7% → to 25.0%1.597$1,766.64−$2,822 paid$2.82$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026SCCOsell5.7% → to 0.0%240.597$198.06+$47,653 received$47.65−$2,479$836,260+$826,260left the 500 most traded (or under $5)
Sep 21, 2026PBFbuy0.0% → to 6.2%721.434$72.48−$52,290 paid$52.29$836,260+$826,260new: ranked 5 of 10, 12-1 momentum +149%
Sep 21, 2026ILMNadd6.2% → to 6.2%1.302$238.82−$311 paid$0.31$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026HLbuy0.0% → to 6.2%2,849.567$18.35−$52,290 paid$52.29$836,260+$826,260new: ranked 9 of 10, 12-1 momentum +86%
Sep 21, 2026CNCadd5.1% → to 6.2%151.698$64.99−$9,859 paid$9.86$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026BEadd5.8% → to 6.2%15.320$272.89−$4,181 paid$4.18$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026AXTItrim30.3% → to 25.0%559.992$79.93+$44,760 received$44.76+$8,728$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 21, 2026ATIadd5.4% → to 6.2%35.577$189.16−$6,730 paid$6.73$836,260+$826,260rebalance to target weight
Sep 14, 2026WBDtrim6.8% → to 6.2%145.532$28.10+$4,089 received$4.09+$137$725,064+$715,064rebalance to target weight