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3-Month Momentum Switch vs RSI(2) Dip Snapback

Two rule sets, 59 ETFs, one engine and window — a genuinely like-for-like comparison.

Head-to-head: RSI(2) snapback won on 51 of 59 ETFs by CAGR. Median CAGR — 3-month momentum: 0.1% · RSI(2) snapback: 4.4%. Median max drawdown — 26.8% vs 19.5%.
3-month momentumRSI(2) snapback
Median CAGR (59 ETFs)0.1%4.4%
Median max drawdown−26.8%−19.5%
ETFs won (by CAGR)851
Styleassets with long, persistent cycles — index, sector, and even managed-futures ETFsliquid index ETFs with strong long-term drift; turnover is high so per-trade edges are small

Where the gap was biggest

ETF3-month momentumRSI(2) snapbackgap
CLSE 12.8%6.3793117942596455e+31% 6.3793117942596455e+31%
KMLM 0.1%−100.0% 100.1%
UST −100.0%−0.6% 99.4%
EEV −8.9%−100.0% 91.1%
TQQQ 10.8%39.2% 28.4%
TECL 6.8%29.4% 22.6%
SOXL 23.1%41.8% 18.7%
FAS 1.0%19.3% 18.3%
UVXY −44.2%−27.0% 17.2%
SSO 8.9%25.7% 16.8%
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Frequently asked questions

Which is better: 3-month momentum or RSI(2) snapback?

On this 2021-01-04–2026-07-17 window, RSI(2) snapback produced the higher CAGR on 51 of 59 ETFs. Median CAGR: 3-month momentum 0.1% vs RSI(2) snapback 4.4%; median max drawdown: 26.8% vs 19.5%. "Better" depends on the asset and what you optimize — the per-ETF table shows where each wins.

Dig deeper

3-Month Momentum Switchrules + all 59 ETF results RSI(2) Dip Snapbackrules + all 59 ETF results

Backtests are hypothetical, computed by DeployQuant's engine on minute-resolution consolidated US market data (2021-01-04 to 2026-07-17, $10,000 starting capital, no margin, fees and slippage not modeled) and do not guarantee future results. Nothing on this page is investment advice. Live trading involves risk of loss.