The Value of Using Targets in 2026
Previously I wrote an article about the detrimental effect of using stop-loss. What happens if we reverse it? Does using a profit target create any value? When trading it’s mentally very hard to see a nice gain turn around into a loss. It’s easy to kick yourself for not having used a target. But in the long term, does it have any real value?
What is a target?
First, let’s define what we mean by a target. Target is a predefined level in which you sell (or cover) at a profit. Let’s say you bought SPY at 100 and have established a target of 2% in your strategy. Then you sell if SPY reaches 102. Quite simple. It’s the opposite of a stop-loss.
Now, if you want to use a target you have to consider the following: First, you can’t trust the data you’re testing on.
Open and close have a bigger chance of being correct than high and low. High and low quotes have a lot more bad data into them. And high and low needs to be used when using targets (at least intraday, but we can also use targets in swing trading).
Second, we have the aspect of curve fitting. Some strategies work a lot better with targets, others don’t. Hence, be careful so as not to overfit the data.
Three, and this is the main reason, the strategies perform better with other exits. A simple time exit is a lot better. You’re simply cutting winners short by using target. In some strategies, just the best 5% of the trades are the main source of good returns. Looking at the distribution of the returns you can have an idea if the target is good or not. But be very careful!
I always test a strategy with and without a target, but it’s usually 40/60 if it improves performance or not (more likely the strategy is better without a target).
Another point to bear in mind is that targets are not very efficient if trading for example oversold strategies. On these occasions, there are often some terrific bounces that are cut too short if using a target.
The best advice is to test strategies both with and without a target. Then you can get look at your own numbers and draw your own conclusions.
FAQ:
– Do profit targets have real value in trading?
The value of profit targets in trading can vary. While they may provide psychological comfort, their long-term effectiveness depends on various factors.
– Why is trusting data important when using profit targets?
Trusting your data is crucial when implementing profit targets. Open and close prices are more reliable than high and low prices, which tend to have more inaccuracies.
– When is it advisable to use profit targets in trading?
The effectiveness of profit targets depends on the specific trading strategy. They may be more suitable for certain strategies while less effective for others. It’s advisable to test strategies both with and without profit targets.