Top 3 Sector Momentum Rotation Strategy with Monthly Rebalancing

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Edit and run Quant Buffet Python for Top 3 Sector Momentum Rotation Strategy with Monthly Rebalancing in the browser. Results update live with equity, drawdown, and metrics charts. Allowed: backtest.data, backtest.engine, backtest.metrics, numpy, pandas. Define ASSETS and make_on_day(prices). Shortcut: Ctrl+Enter. API docs →

Ready — edit code, then Run backtest.
IDE · 42 lines
Quant Buffet syntax cheat sheet (copy / insert)

Paste these fragments into the editor. The sandbox rejects QuantConnect, os, and network libraries.

Required imports
Only these libraries are allowed in the sandbox.
from __future__ import annotations

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

from backtest.data import load_daily_prices
from backtest.engine import EngineConfig, PortfolioEngine
from backtest.metrics import compute_metrics
ASSETS list (whitelisted ETFs)
Module-level list. Tickers must be in the Quant Buffet whitelist.
ASSETS = ["SPY", "QQQ", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
make_on_day contract
Must return (on_day, ready). on_day calls engine.set_target_weights.
def make_on_day(prices: pd.DataFrame):
    cols = [c for c in ASSETS if c in prices.columns]
    sma = prices[cols].rolling(200, min_periods=200).mean()
    state = {"last": None}

    def on_day(engine: PortfolioEngine, dt: pd.Timestamp) -> None:
        if sma.loc[dt].isna().all():
            return
        key = (dt.year, dt.month)
        if state["last"] == key:
            return
        state["last"] = key
        long = [
            s for s in cols
            if pd.notna(prices.at[dt, s]) and pd.notna(sma.at[dt, s])
            and prices.at[dt, s] > sma.at[dt, s]
        ]
        weights = {} if not long else {s: 1.0 / len(long) for s in long}
        engine.set_target_weights(dt, weights)

    ready = sma.dropna(how="all").index.min() if sma.notna().any().any() else None
    return on_day, ready
Set target weights
Weights should sum to about 1.0. Empty dict = 100% cash.
engine.set_target_weights(dt, {"SPY": 0.60, "BIL": 0.40})

Live backtest performance

CAGR
6.31%
Sharpe
0.43
Max DD
-53.11%
Vol
18.24%
Sortino
0.66
Beta
0.78
Up days
71%

Showing saved draft baseline until you re-run.

Equity curve (indexed = 100)

Accent = strategy · dashed grey = buy-and-hold benchmark

2000-072026-0782259
Drawdown
Worst -44.2%-44%
Metrics bar chart
CAGRSharpeSortinoVol|DD|Up%Grey = baseline · Accent = live run
Monthly returns
2021-102026-07 · last 24 months

Export to your platform

Transform Quant Buffet lab code (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine) into native classes for a third-party IDE — then copy and paste.

Run in: QuantConnect Cloud or LEAN CLI · QCAlgorithm with Equity securities and monthly rebalance.

Detected pattern: Momentum rotationAssets: SPY, TLT, GLD, BIL
# Generated from Quant Buffet → QuantConnect LEAN
# Strategy: Top 3 Sector Momentum Rotation Strategy with Monthly Rebalancing
# Detected pattern: Momentum rotation
# Source uses Quant Buffet lab APIs (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine).
# Review fees, data, and risk before live trading — educational export only.

from AlgorithmImports import *


class QuantBuffetExport(QCAlgorithm):
    def Initialize(self):
        self.SetStartDate(2010, 1, 1)
        self.SetCash(100000)
        tickers = ["SPY", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
        self.symbols = []
        for t in tickers:
            if "-" in t:  # crypto proxy e.g. BTC-USD
                self.symbols.append(self.AddCrypto(t.replace("-USD", ""), Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
            else:
                self.symbols.append(self.AddEquity(t, Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
        self.Schedule.On(
            self.DateRules.MonthStart(self.symbols[0]),
            self.TimeRules.AfterMarketOpen(self.symbols[0], 30),
            self.Rebalance,
        )
        # Logic: Hold top 3 by 126-day return; monthly.

    def Rebalance(self):
        scores = {}
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            hist = self.History(symbol, 126 + 5, Resolution.Daily)
            if hist.empty: continue
            close = hist["close"]
            if hasattr(close, "unstack"):
                close = close.unstack(level=0).iloc[:, 0]
            if len(close) < 126 + 1: continue
            scores[symbol] = float(close.iloc[-1] / close.iloc[-126 - 1] - 1)
        ranked = sorted(scores.items(), key=lambda kv: kv[1], reverse=True)[:3]
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            self.SetHoldings(symbol, 0)
        if ranked:
            w = 1.0 / len(ranked)
            for symbol, _ in ranked:
                self.SetHoldings(symbol, w)

Exported code uses the platform’s native classes and libraries. Install dependencies in your third-party IDE, then run. Validate before live trading.

Academic paper

Relative Strength Strategies for Investing

AuthorsMeb Faber; Cambria Investment Management

Institute
  • Institut Mines-Télécom Business School
  • ?Cambria Investment Management

Screenshot from the original paper

Screenshot from the original paper

Strategy in a nutshell

Employ a diverse portfolio comprising ten sector ETFs. Identify the top-performing 3 ETFs based on their robust 12-month momentum, allocating equal weights to each. Maintain this allocation for one month before rebalancing. This strategy capitalizes on sectors exhibiting strong performance trends while ensuring risk mitigation through diversification. By regularly reassessing and adjusting the portfolio, investors can adapt to market changes effectively. The approach leverages momentum indicators to guide investment decisions, aligning with prevailing market trends. Through disciplined rebalancing, the portfolio remains agile, potentially enhancing returns by capitalizing on evolving market dynamics.

Economic rationale

The momentum anomaly stems from behavioral biases like herding and confirmation bias. Moskowitz and Grinblatt find industry momentum strategies profitable even after accounting for various factors. Chen, Jiang, and Zhu note the profitability of stock momentum but highlight transaction costs. They also find momentum in sector indexes, which remain profitable after adjusting for costs. Andreu, Swinkels, and Tjong-A-Tjoe demonstrate the effectiveness of ETFs in exploiting country and industry momentum, yielding significant excess returns. Sector rotation based on business cycle sensitivity further enhances profitability by focusing on sectors with high return probabilities and low loss probabilities. This integrated approach underscores the viability of momentum strategies in capturing market inefficiencies and generating substantial returns.

Backtest performance

Annualised return6.31%
Volatility18.24%
Beta0.78
Sharpe ratio0.43
Sortino ratio0.66
Maximum drawdown-53.11%
Win rate71%