RSI(14) Mean Reversion vs RSI(2) Dip Snapback
Two rule sets, 59 ETFs, one engine and one window.
| RSI mean reversion | RSI(2) snapback | |
|---|---|---|
| Median CAGR (59 ETFs) | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Median max drawdown | −24.6% | −17.5% |
| ETFs won (by CAGR) | 8 | 51 |
| Style | assets that trend up over time but overshoot on the way, such as broad index ETFs | liquid index ETFs with strong long-term drift; turnover is high so per-trade edges are small |
Where the gap was biggest
| ETF | RSI mean reversion | RSI(2) snapback | gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| TQQQ | 12.1% | 39.3% | 27.2% |
| SOXL | 14.4% | 39.2% | 24.8% |
| SOXS | −53.7% | −29.9% | 23.8% |
| TMF | −25.0% | −4.0% | 21.0% |
| SPUU | 5.4% | 24.1% | 18.7% |
| UVXY | −48.5% | −30.3% | 18.3% |
| QLD | 8.8% | 26.2% | 17.4% |
| SSO | 7.4% | 24.6% | 17.2% |
| SQQQ | −23.6% | −9.7% | 13.8% |
| CLSE | 3.8% | 16.6% | 12.8% |
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better: RSI mean reversion or RSI(2) snapback?
On this 2021-01-04 to 2026-10-02 window, RSI(2) snapback produced the higher CAGR on 51 of 59 ETFs. Median CAGR: RSI mean reversion 3.0% vs RSI(2) snapback 4.7%; median max drawdown: 24.6% vs 17.5%. Which is better depends on the asset and what you optimize for. The per-ETF table shows where each wins.
Dig deeper
Backtests are hypothetical, computed by DeployQuant's engine on minute-resolution consolidated US market data (2021-01-04 to 2026-10-02, $10,000 starting capital, no margin, no fees or slippage in the headline run; buy-and-hold puts 98% of the account in at the first open, as the templates do) and do not guarantee future results. Nothing on this page is investment advice. Live trading involves risk of loss.