Trading Strategies

There are many reasons why some succeed at trading, while others badly fail. One of the biggest differences is in trade preparation, establishing proper targets, and being able to stay in the position. Having a sound trading plan and strategy can make the world of difference to any trader, no matter their experience level. Top professional traders share their expert trading strategies to help you become a more consistently profitable trader.

Articles on Trading Strategies

With numerous headlines causing confusion, the weight of evidence still favors the bulls and the S&P 500 Index (^SPX). What we have currently is flat intermediate-term demand coupled with contracting supply, observes Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.
In this episode of the MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast, I sit down with Katie Stockton, founder and managing partner of Fairlead Strategies, to break down what the charts are really saying about markets in 2026.
Despite all the recent volatility and the heavy selling in precious metals last week, market breadth was only slightly negative on the Nasdaq and NYSE. Stock market volatility is likely to continue, but support levels remain intact on the major averages, observes Bonnie Gortler, CEO of BonnieGortler.com.
Markets sold off late last week, with technology names under the most pressure. Bitcoin, metals, emerging markets, and international markets also took a hit. Let this volatility settle out for a couple of days, then review allocations and investments and adjust accordingly if needed, suggests Lance Roberts, editor of the Bull Bear Report.
This past week has seen volatile moves in both directions. But there are several facts to the technical picture that have emerged as a result of all of this, advises Lawrence McMillan, editor of Option Strategist.
Global markets opened the year with a tone of cautious confidence. Equity indices, however, tell only part of the story. Major benchmarks have been largely flat, masking a pronounced internal rotation, notes Michael Gayed, editor of The Lead-Lag Report.
Smart traders make consistently stupid decisions – not because they lack knowledge, but because four silent emotions override their best analysis, writes Deron Wagner, founder and head portfolio manager at Morpheus Trading Group.
The S&P 500 Index (^SPX) finished slightly lower last week as headline price paused. But the broader market continued to display underlying strength. On balance, activity reflected a market in transition rather than retreat, with leadership rotating away from funds like the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), observes Buff Dormeier, chief technical analyst at Kingsview Partners.
I don’t want to jinx the move or anything. But I have to ask: Is Bitcoin...back?
The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) led the market higher last week, gaining 4.6% to close at 260.23, well above the 50-day moving average. If small caps continue to show leadership, it's likely to fuel a broader market advance, advises Bonnie Gortler, CEO of BonnieGortler.com.

Experts on Trading Strategies

Virtual Learning

In today’s complex and volatile markets, a single line of defense is rarely sufficient to protect investor portfolios. This presentation introduces Tactical Allocation Models (TAM), a next-generation framework built on a multi-layered defense that dynamically adapts to shifting market conditions. You’ll explore how TAM integrates an adaptive Volume Factor risk overlay with defined outcome strategies—including floors and buffers—to address distinct phases of the market cycle and help mitigate downside risk and drawdowns. Beyond the mechanics, you’ll discover how this synergistic, goals-based approach aligns with behavioral finance insights, aiming to improve client outcomes by enhancing emotional resilience and reducing the likelihood of impulsive decisions. Attendees will leave with a tactical blueprint for constructing more resilient portfolios—and cultivating greater investor confidence. 

Kenny will demonstrate in this session how you can tell when it is time to cover your shorts if you are shorter and brave enough to go long when you cover—all by using VWAP. 

Falling realized and implied volatility levels have helped the market quickly recover from the Spring Tariff Tantrum. However, we observed similar price action in 2018 during the first trade war, followed by a period of significantly higher volatility levels, as economic data began to sour and tariffs started to take effect. We could consider a repeat, given that tariff levels today are significantly higher than they were in the past.

The summer rally is losing steam just as August and September—the market’s historically weakest months—come into view. With inflation pressures mounting, tariffs returning to the headlines, and political uncertainty rising, timing is everything. Join Jeff as he breaks down his critical NASDAQ Best 8 Months MACD Seasonal Sell Signal, what it means for your portfolio now, and how he's adapting to the shifting landscape of rates, politics, and seasonality. Don’t miss his top picks, defensive plays, and tactical ETF moves to ride out the late-summer volatility and position for a stronger Q4. 

John and Zoe will examine how to strategically create portfolios that deliver returns with reduced volatility. Traditional wisdom about buy and hold strategies fails to consider that many investors are not comfortable sitting through full market cycles, especially when drawdowns exceed 20%. Through an exploration of how to combine complementary strategies and respond tactically to market activity, John and Zoe will demonstrate some of the alternatives to a pure indexing approach. 

Policies dictate price—so the direction of the US dollar, yields, oil, and gold can be tied closely to macroeconomic policies and global events. Samantha LaDuc, founder of LaDucTrading.com, will discuss her macro-to-micro market calls across each critical asset class and how it impacts equity market returns moving forward.  

IBD’s MarketDiem newsletter gives you hand-picked trade ideas for stocks and options right in your inbox every weekday during market hours. Our team does the research, so you get smarter trading insights, timely market analysis, and even bite-size investing lessons––all in a quick 5-minute read. Subscribe today for $4.99 per month or just $20 for the entire year.

Whether you are interested in AI, robotaxis, air taxis, cyber security, cryptocurrency, gold/silver, or your favorite hot stock, there are ways to ensure that you are on the right side of the trade. What's your move when stocks are near their all-time high? At the same time, having the proper amount "safe" and knowing what is "safe" in a Debt World where paper losses abound is an essential part of our successful, time-proven strategy. We can do both! 

In this 30-minute session, discover how to turn both bull and bear markets into opportunities for massive growth, without shorting. You’ll learn a proven methodology that has been tested to grow your portfolio at up to 10 times the return of the S&P 500 over a 25-year test period. Learn to ignore the noise by mastering a versatile trading strategy based on rules and discipline. You’ll also learn precise, actionable insights on what to buy, when to buy, and when to secure profits, empowering you to navigate any market condition confidently. Get ready to transform market dips into wealth-building opportunities and outperform traditional investing with a game-changing system designed for consistent capital growth.

Conferences


In today’s uncertain and computer-driven market, lots of traders are making one critical mistake. They don’t know how to manage a trade once they are in it, so they hold and watch a winner become a loser. Learn how to line up a successful trade, set a realistic target, and know when a trade is not going to work out, so you can exit before incurring large losses.

Trading requires a disciplined approach and there are techniques you can learn to use now that can minimize your risk and increase your profits. The secret lies in knowing how consistently profitable traders find trades and manage them well from start to finish. Anyone can learn these trading strategies—all you need is a commitment to discover what works and the confidence to implement them. Whether you trade stocks, options, or futures, we’ve gathered the top experts here to show you specific tactics that can be used immediately to spot opportunities and trade them profitably.

Trading is a dynamic enterprise. If you aren’t improving your systems, strategies, and technology you may be losing ground. Our experts will keep you up to date on all the cutting-edge tools—as well as some that have stood the test of time—to keep you on the fast track to trading success.

Whether you're just starting out or a veteran trader looking for fresh ideas, or you are interested in learning day trading strategies, stock trading strategies, and everything in between, this section is made for you.Every article, video, or event is designed to bring you the latest intelligence available so that you can make better trading decisions, starting with your very next trade. Our experts will help you gain the edge you need to succeed in any market environment.