Two US stocks & ETFs strategies from the top of the return-to-drawdown ranking, compared on the same measures: how far each fell, how fast each grew, and how much return each bought per unit of risk.
| Velocity Strength Filter | Tactical Leveraged Trend Rotation | |
|---|---|---|
| Worst drop (max drawdown) | -27.4% | -29.4% |
| Yearly growth (CAGR) | +17.7% | +18.2% |
| Calmar (CAGR ÷ drawdown) | 0.65 | 0.62 |
| Return per unit of risk (Sharpe) | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| Total return | +406.4% | +428.1% |
| Risk tier | High drawdown | High drawdown |
| Strategy type | Momentum rotation | Momentum rotation |
| Period | 2016-10-24 – 2026-10-05 | 2016-10-26 – 2026-10-07 |
Backtest = historical simulation on past prices, not real trading.
Velocity Strength Filter had the shallower worst fall (-27.4%). Tactical Leveraged Trend Rotation compounded faster (+18.2% a year). On return per unit of drawdown Velocity Strength Filter leads, 0.65 against 0.62; the two backtests cover different periods, so read the comparison with that in mind.
$10,000 start, 2016-10-24 – 2026-10-05, SPY dashed.
$10,000 start, 2016-10-26 – 2026-10-07, SPY dashed.
Velocity Strength Filter, at -27.4%.
Velocity Strength Filter on the Calmar ratio (0.65 vs 0.62); Velocity Strength Filter on the Sharpe ratio (0.84).
Both are US stocks & ETFs strategies re-run with their current code on historical prices, over 2016-10-24 – 2026-10-05 and 2016-10-26 – 2026-10-07.
All strategy backtests, lowest drawdown first
Disclosure. Backtests are hypothetical simulations on historical data. They do not include every real-world cost, are not live results, and do not guarantee future returns. Educational research only, not investment advice.