Scorpio Strategy

Trend-quality driven sector/commodity ETF rotation strategy that selects the top 3 highest-scoring ETFs from a 19-instrument universe.

What This Page Covers

This page explains the Scorpio momentum ETF rotation strategy. You'll learn about the multi-timeframe scoring system, how ETFs are ranked and selected, and how the portfolio rebalances to maintain equal-weighted positions in top performers.

1

Strategy Overview

Core Concept

The Scorpio strategy scores a universe of 19 sector and commodity ETFs using a multi-timeframe momentum scoring system. Each day, all ETFs are ranked by their composite score, and the portfolio holds the top 3 in equal-weight positions.

19 ETF universe spanning sectors and commodities
Daily scoring with 2-factor trend quality system
Top 3 ETFs held in equal-weight positions (~33% each)
Long-only strategy — no shorting or leverage

Current Configuration

Universe19 ETFs
CategoriesSectors + Commodities
Portfolio SizeTop 3
ScoringR² + MA Alignment
RebalancingOn rotation only
WeightingEqual Weight
2

Scoring System

2-Factor Trend Quality Score

Each ETF receives a composite score based on two trend quality factors. The optimizer found that pure price momentum adds noise — the strategy performs best when selecting ETFs with the smoothest, most consistent uptrends.

R² Trend Quality (60%)

  • Measures trend consistency via R-squared over 30 days
  • Dominant factor — favors smooth, reliable trends
  • Filters out noisy, choppy price action

MA Alignment (40%)

  • SMA 50/200 moving average alignment
  • Confirms trend direction and strength
  • Avoids entering counter-trend positions
3

Risk Characteristics

Key Risks

Momentum rotation strategies carry specific risks related to concentrated sector bets and rapid regime changes.

Concentration risk — only 3 positions at any time
Momentum crashes when trends reverse suddenly
High turnover during choppy, trendless markets
Sector/commodity correlation during market stress

Risk Mitigation

The strategy incorporates several features to manage risk across positions.

Diversification across 3 positions from different sectors
Rotation-only rebalancing reduces unnecessary turnover
Equal weighting limits single-position exposure
R² trend quality filter avoids noisy, unreliable trends
4

Trade Execution

T+1 Execution Model

All scoring and ranking happens at market close (Day T) and trades execute at the next day's open (Day T+1). This ensures realistic backtesting without look-ahead bias.

1

End of Day T: Score & Rank

After market close, compute the 2-factor trend quality score for all 19 ETFs. Rank by composite score to identify the top 3 holdings.

2

Generate Trade Signals

Compare current holdings against the new top 3. Generate exit orders for positions that fell out of the top 3 and entry orders for new top 3 ETFs.

3

Day T+1 Open: Execute Trades

At market open, execute all generated orders. Exits first, then entries, then rebalances. Each position targets ~33% of portfolio value.

Important Disclaimer

All performance figures are based on historical backtesting and are hypothetical. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The strategy is long-only but involves concentrated sector and commodity bets. The backtest assumes perfect execution at open prices with no slippage. Transaction costs are not factored into results — real-world returns will be lower. This is educational content, not investment advice.