Does SMA 20/50 cross actually work on GOOGL? We tested it
We ran SMA 20/50 cross on GOOGL through walk-forward testing and a 100-run random-entry gauntlet. 4 of 4 unseen periods positive. Beat 96 of 100 random-entry runs.
You gave up raw return for a higher win rate and a shallower drawdown. This setup is about timing and staying out of trouble, not beating the index.
Equity curve over Aug 2016 to Jul 2026. Hover any point for its value. Turn on buy and hold to compare.
The same rules, tested on 28 tickers. Edge held on 9. We ship it on those.
Show every ticker we tested
This strategy made a strong profit of 376.66% over its life, but the ride was very lumpy, not smooth. The worst stretch was a brutal 38.12% drawdown that lasted from September 2021 to February 2023, which is where the strategy hurt the most. The result is not driven by just a few lucky trades, as the win rate is a solid 62.50% and the average trade returned 8.14%. The entry timing carries the result, because real entries beat 96% of random entry runs, meaning the signal to buy is the main source of edge rather than how you exit. The edge is also consistent, as the strategy was profitable in all four walk-forward test periods, so the profit did not come from just one lucky stretch.
Every verdict on this page comes from the same process. How we test.
Sign up free. EdgeStacker runs a fresh backtest for you, then alerts you on the Today screen when the setup fires.