How to Trade Simple Moving Averages (2024)

Trading

November 10, 2022 Kevin Horner

A stock's simple moving average can help traders identify when trends are established or broken. Here's how to employ them in your own trading.

How to Trade Simple Moving Averages (1)

Technical trading is a lot like surfing—learning to read the "waves" can help you determine their strength and direction. This is especially true of moving averages.

As the running average of a stock's closing price over time, moving averages tend to smooth out the noise of daily trading activity and help traders identify when trends are established or broken—which can be valuable entry and exit signals.

Here's how moving averages can help inform your trades.

The most commonly used moving average is a so-called simple moving average (SMA), which is the average closing price of a given security over a specific number of days. For example, you can find a stock's 20-day SMA by adding its prices over 20 days, then dividing that number by 20.

SMAs can be used as potential indicators of:

  • Support, or the level at which a stock's price has difficulty breaking below due to buyers wishing to take advantage of the lower value. When an SMA acts as a support indicator, it runs below the current stock price, acting as a bottom—when the stock price tests the support, it typically rebounds.
  • Resistance, or the level at which a stock's price has difficulty breaking above because of the number of investors willing to sell at that price. When an SMA acts as a resistance indicator, it runs above the current stock price, acting as a top; when the stock price tests the resistance, it typically falls back.

Deciding which SMA time frame to use often comes down to your trading time horizon. If you rarely hold a stock for more than 10 trading days, for example, the 20- or even 10-day SMA may give you good insights into how a stock's price has been moving recently. If you're more of a "position" trader—that is, someone willing to hold a stock for up to a year—the 200-day SMA is going to give you a better sense of a stock's long-term price pattern.

That said, some stocks break through their moving averages more often than others, which can make it difficult to identify support or resistance. If a stock's price regularly dips below its 50-day average, for example, any breaks above or below the line become less significant. In such cases, adding a slightly longer SMA for comparison—such as the 200-day SMA—might make it easier to assess whether the stock has truly broken through its support or resistance.

Another factor to watch is how short- and long-term SMAs interact. When they cross over, it can indicate one of two things: The price's direction is beginning to shift, or the recent break from a longer-term trend is likely to continue.

Crossing paths

When short- and long-term moving averages intersect, it could indicate a shift in price action.

Consider the 50- and 200-day simple moving averages for stock XYZ:

A: The 50-day simple moving average breaks above the 200-day simple moving average at the start of the period, prefacing a long, upward trend.

B: It isn't until the 50-day SMA breaks back below the 200-day SMA in early 2022 that the stock begins a new sustained, downward trend. Traders who sold after the price dipped in 2021—when the 50-day came close to the 200-day but didn't break below it—would have lost out when the upward trend resumed.

How to Trade Simple Moving Averages (2)

Source: Schwab.com.

This example is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only.

Time your moves

Those who are new to trading averages should take a more cautious approach until they develop an eye for identifying trends. Until then, consider the following tips:

  • Start long: Longer moving averages tend to smooth out spikes in volatility. That can help you ignore brief bouts of rising or falling prices that quickly peter out. You'll have fewer opportunities to trade and potentially profit, but buying and holding for longer periods has its advantages, including reduced risk of getting wiped out on a single trade. As you grow more confident, you can begin to shorten your trading periods and rely more on shorter-term averages.
  • Add and subtract: Trading moving averages is not a perfect science, and even seemingly obvious signals sometimes don't pan out the way you think they will. When you're just starting out, I generally suggest making piecemeal trades by looking for opportunities to selectively add to or subtract from your positions as you get more comfortable reading SMAs.

Moving averages can be tricky to trade. They sometimes give competing signals that leave you unsure of whether to act. So, if you're ever in doubt, sit it out. The good news is the waves just keep on coming.

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The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Schwab does not recommend the use of technical analysis as a sole means of investment research.

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How to Trade Simple Moving Averages (2024)

FAQs

How to Trade Simple Moving Averages? ›

The thumb rule for trading with a simple moving average is that a security trading above its simple moving average is in an uptrend whereas a security trading below its simple moving average is in a downtrend. For example, a security trading above its 20-day simple moving average is said to be in a short-term uptrend.

What is the 5 8 13 21 EMA strategy? ›

The 5 8 13 21 EMA strategy revolves around spotting trends, gauging their strength, and identifying potential entry and exit points. Here's a breakdown of how the strategy typically works: Trend Identification: The EMAs help traders identify trends in the market.

What is the best moving average to trade? ›

But which are the best moving averages to use in forex trading? That depends on whether you have a short-term horizon or a long-term horizon. For short-term trades the 5, 10, and 20 period moving averages are best, while longer-term trading makes best use of the 50, 100, and 200 period moving averages.

What is the 9 21 55 EMA strategy? ›

9/21/55 EMA Crossover Strategy

The market is uptrend when the 9 EMA is above the 21-period and 55-period EMAs. The market is in a downtrend when the 9-EMA is below the other two. To enter a long trade using this strategy, first, you look out for a cross of the 9 EMA above the 21 EMA while both are above the 55 EMA.

How do you plot a simple moving average? ›

If you plotted a 5 period simple moving average on a 1-hour chart, you would add up the closing prices for the last 5 hours, and then divide that number by 5. Voila! You have the average closing price over the last five hours! String those average prices together and you get a moving average!

What is the 10 20 30 EMA strategy? ›

The 10 20 30 EMA strategy involves the following steps: Calculate the 10-day, 20-day, and 30-day EMAs for a particular asset's price. These EMAs represent the average price over their respective timeframes, with the 10-day EMA being the most sensitive to recent price changes.

What is the 20 50 EMA trading strategy? ›

A common trading strategy utilizing EMAs is to trade based on the position of a shorter-term EMA in relation to a longer-term EMA. For example, traders are bullish when the 20 EMA crosses above the 50 EMA or remains above the 50 EMA, and only turn bearish if the 20 EMA falls below the 50 EMA.

How to use simple moving average in trading? ›

The simple moving average is calculated by adding the price of a security over a period and then dividing that figure by the number of periods. For example, adding the closing prices of a security for the previous month and then dividing the total by the number of days in the month.

How to trade moving averages like a pro? ›

Using the trend as the context, when the price is trending higher (MACD should be above zero line), buy when the MACD crosses above the signal line from below. In a downtrend (MACD should be below zero line), short sell when the MACD crosses below the signal line.

What 3 moving averages should I use? ›

Typical settings for moving averages:

Long-term trend: 200 days (200 being roughly the number of trading days in a year) Medium-term trend: 50 days (50 being roughly 2 months of trading) Short-term trend: 9, 10 and 20 days.

What is the 44 moving average strategy? ›

What are 44 moving average rising stocks? A 44-day moving average rising stock is a stock that has seen its price rise consistently over the past 44 trading days, as indicated by its 44-day moving average. The moving average is calculated by taking the stock's average price over the past 44 trading days.

How to use 21 moving average? ›

The 21-day exponential moving average (EMA) can be a powerful tool for investors. Though it is most powerful in a bull market, it has plenty of use during bear markets as well. Like the commonly used 50-day moving average, the 21-day takes the closing prices of the past 21 sessions and averages them out.

What is the best simple moving average strategy? ›

The best way to trade moving average is to use the crossover strategy, where a shorter-period moving average crossing above a longer-period moving average generates a bullish signal, and vice versa for a bearish signal. This method helps indicate potential changes in the market trend.

What is the best length for a simple moving average? ›

Moving Average Length

The 20-day may be of analytical benefit to a shorter-term trader since it follows the price more closely and, therefore, produces less lag than the longer-term moving average. A 100-day MA may be more beneficial to a longer-term trader.

What is simple moving average for dummies? ›

A simple moving average (SMA) is an arithmetic moving average calculated by adding recent prices and then dividing that figure by the number of time periods in the calculation average.

What is the EMA 13 21 strategy? ›

What is the 5 8 13 21 EMA strategy? The strategy employing exponential moving averages (EMAs) with periods of 5, 8, 13 and 21 is designed to assess market trends, pinpoint precise entry and exit points for trades, as well as inform trading choices.

What is the 8 and 21 EMA strategy? ›

What are the buy and sell signals in the 8, 13, 21 EMA strategy? A typical buy signal is generated when the 8 EMA crosses above both the 13 and 21 EMAs, suggesting a bullish trend. Conversely, a sell signal is indicated when the 8 EMA crosses below the 13 and 21 EMAs, suggesting a bearish trend.

What is the 8 13 EMA strategy? ›

Prepare Your Chart: Begin by plotting the three EMAs (5, 8, and 13 periods) on your trading chart. Identify Momentum: A bullish trend might be brewing when the 5 EMA surges above the 8 and 13 EMAs. Conversely, a bearish inclination is suggested when the 5 EMA dives below its two counterparts.

Is 5 EMA strategy good? ›

That is, whenever the next candle touches the 5EMA line, a short trade should be taken, and the alert candle high will be the stop-loss level. The minimum target should be 1:3 with respect to the stop-loss. The strategy has a 60–70% success rate, but it will often hit stop losses.

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