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What if there were a way to effectively, and easily, evaluate risk-and-reward for the next month or year? A new risk-reward heat map, also known as RRHM, is designed to do just that.
The RRHM is essentially a sophisticated “pros and cons” list that visually expresses whether risk or reward will dominate over a specific time frame.
How it works
In order for the RRHM to be predictive, I turn past events in into quantifiable, forward-looking indicators. Using the coronavirus as an example, here is how it’s done:
1. Identify original event: Coronavirus.
2. Identify comparable events, such as: SARS, H1N1, H7N9, Ebola.
3. Calculate how the S&P 500 Index SPX, +0.24% performed one, two, three, six, nine and 12 months after comparable events.
4. Categorize forward performance of comparable events as risk (red column) or reward (green column).
For example, 2, 3, and 6 months after the SARS, H1N1, H7N9 and Ebola outbreaks, the S&P 500 was higher 100% of the time.
In the RRHM, this study is included as a bullish factor for March, April and July 2020.
Here’s another development on investors’ mind: Crude oil CL.1, +0.16% prices dropped as much as 25% and closed lower 14 of the past 20 days. Is that bearish for the S&P 500?
When oil suffered a similar fate in the past, the S&P 500 traded higher six and 12 months later 90% of the time. In the RRHM, this study is included as a bullish factor for August 2020 and February 2021. (A detailed description of the methodology used and the type of events — i.e., technical breakouts, economic indicators, unique events, etc. — that are captured is available here.)
Year-to-date, 56 events have been turned into studies that were categorized as either bullish or bearish for a certain time frame.
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Is it reliable?
The RRHM is still young and hasn’t established a long track record yet, but here is what’s available for review:
I published the RRHM, below, in the Jan. 15 Profit Radar Report along with the following assessment: “Based on the risk-reward heat map, we are approaching a period of increased risk with an initial emphasis on late January.”
Four days later, the S&P 500, Nasdaq COMP, +0.53%, Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.15% and Russell 2000 RUT, -0.14% suffered the biggest drawdown since October 2019. The same was true for the corresponding ETFs: SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY, +0.24%, Invesco QQQ Trust QQQ, +0.67%, SPDR DJIA ETF Trust DIA, +0.16%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF IWM, -0.16%.
‘Flash in the pan’ risk
Just as the RRHM shows increased risk for January-February, it also shows decreasing risk and increasing reward for the remainder of the year, with a clearly bullish tilt for the fourth quarter.
Since the RRHM projected increased risk for January and February, and we got a “big” (at least compared with recent price action) pullback already, the question is:
Will there be another risk event in February or has risk already been flushed out and it’s clear sailing from here on?
There are two key components to market forecasting: Time and price. The RRHM addresses time, and based on time, February still looks choppy.
Chart analysis and technical analysis can be used to identify resistance levels in terms of price.
The next resistance for the S&P 500 is around 3,336 points. Higher prices are likely if, and as long, as the S&P 500 stays above 3,336, but we should be aware that risk could return any day.
A more detailed S&P 500 forecast based on investor sentiment and technical analysis is available here.
Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and publisher of the Profit Radar Report.
