"Scaling out" is inferior behavior

Discussion in 'Strategy Building' started by Buy1Sell2, Oct 18, 2006.

Do you scale out of positions?

  1. I always scale out

    113 vote(s)
    14.1%
  2. I scale out most of the time

    228 vote(s)
    28.5%
  3. Most of the time, I do not scale out

    189 vote(s)
    23.6%
  4. I never scale out

    270 vote(s)
    33.8%
  1. Newc2

    Newc2

    Your example is flawed.

    Price has less chance of reaching the full target. So scaling out may result in a lower % gain per trade. However it will results in a higher win %.

    If anything, scaling out is a net zero financial benefit but with greater psychological benefits as well as a smoother equity curve which is very beneficial for those of us trading for income.
     
    #1701     Feb 17, 2023
  2. deaddog

    deaddog

    Not sure I understand 2% wieght by gross. Is this 2% of the total portfolio?
    How does this wieghting work when you are hedging positions?
     
    #1702     Feb 17, 2023
  3. Want to show me your source?

    I understand delta management to replicate the payoff of a call option, but you must define how much weight in your portfolio you’re willing to allocate to any one position in the first place.

    My position thresholds define that, and as portfolio mix ebbs and flows, maintaining a fixed weight means I am adding/reducing based upon what’s happening globally.

    But maybe we’re talking semantics. Adding to winners is good, reducing losers is good. But scaling implies something else, imo.
     
    #1703     Feb 17, 2023
  4. Buy1Sell2

    Buy1Sell2

    The example is not flawed, but I agree with the rest of the statements you made. Scaling in and out is inferior to all in all out methods in terms of actual gain over the long haul.
     
    #1704     Feb 17, 2023
  5. It means the net weight of a single name might be less than 2% depending on what I need to do to hedge. The more volatile the position the more hedging it needs.
     
    #1705     Feb 17, 2023
  6. deaddog

    deaddog

    What's your understanding of scaling.
    Mine is to add to positions that are moving in my favor.
     
    #1706     Feb 17, 2023
  7. Scaling in implied you go smaller first, right? That’s the way I interpret it. E.g. you want a 2% allocation and you start with 0.5%.
     
    #1707     Feb 18, 2023
  8. deaddog

    deaddog

    That's how I see it. We probably disagree on adding to a winning position vs averaging down. I assume that with fundamental analysis if you like a stock you will add if the price drops. (everyone likes a sale). In my case I just take a small loss and wait for another set up.
    Different strokes; no one is wrong.
     
    #1708     Feb 18, 2023
  9. Well if you want to buy a stock I assume you think the price will go up right? Why wouldn’t you buy now?
     
    #1709     Feb 18, 2023
  10. deaddog

    deaddog

    I do. I scale in because I want to limit my risk. If it goes up I'll add, if it goes down I'll take a small loss.
     
    #1710     Feb 18, 2023