Random Portfolio benchmarks

Published in Stock Trends

The S&P 500 index is a size factor-based index that is not a good benchmark for measuring alpha (market intelligence). Naive portfolios generated by random sampling provide a better alpha benchmark.

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I have had the good fortune to be reasonably successful and enjoy the investment process. Your process would be recommended for both experts and those who are new to investing.
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Stock Trends information is part of the base information I review before making a trade.
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I am just writing to tell you of my appreciation of your service! It makes so much sense to me. You seem to be an oasis of stability and sensibility in a stockmarket jungle.
Adrian S., Subscriber
Stock Trends analysis quantifies nicely the movement of individual stocks. I’ve found that if the technicals are out of synch with fundamental analysis, it is a wake-up call to make a decision. The Stock Trends Bull/Bear Ratio is useful in identifying major market bottoms and tops. It has always presented a good buying or selling opportunity.
Charles G., Subscriber
I've followed a number of Stock Trends picks, and the methodology is solid.
Doug B., Subscriber
I very much like the systematic approach to analyzing stock data, it fits my approach.
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An admitted cynic, it's obviously very high praise when he says he likes StockTrends because of its "simplicity, utility, openness, [and] honesty," and in addition to having "no hidden agenda" is "understandably documented [and] historically verifiable." And, he adds, "It lets me see a lot of things without doing a lot of work." Globe and Mail
Paul W., Subscriber
There is a lot to be gained from comparing trends of how individual stocks are doing within a sector, as well as how the sector is performing relative to the broad market.
Dudley R., Subscriber
I use Stock Trends to help direct my stock picks. Also, following the advice of Stock Trends I have religiously used stop-loss orders and have avoided hanging on to losing stocks for emotional reasons.
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You have created and maintained an amazing, highly educational program and I am grateful for your part in getting our retirement funds to the good place they are.
Karin M., Subscriber
I've followed your recommendations since reading your columns in the Globe & Mail, and finding they published Stock Trends arrows in their financial listings. I do find them a guide to the general market and what I should be avoiding for declining chart trends.
Has probably saved me the subscription by not rushing into hot stocks!
Anthony D., Subscriber
Thank you for your excellent work and kind approach to your customers.
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I want to thank you for posting such an excellent guide to technical analysis on the web. You have provided a great service to all of us novice investors.
Michael C., Stock Trends user
Your report is an impressive, excellent tool and I have recommmended it to friends.
Colin E., Subscriber
Hence, anyone who had followed the "Stock Trends" line should have sold their Bre-X shares and, with the windfall, paid for a lifetime subscription to The Globe and Mail and more. Talk about return on investment!
Muni P., Subscriber
Stock Trends Weekly Reporter is an easy way to pick up equities that represent an upward trend.
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I am fascinated with your service and methodology - it is very impressive. [...] Over the years I have concluded that there are many ways to approach stock investing, but once one has chosen a path, one is better off sticking to it.
Bob E., Subscriber
I find your website and research very helpful in my stock trading. I have subscribed to several related services in the past and none present their work with “just the facts” as you. Please keep up the great work so that I can continue to learn!
Bryan E., Subscriber
I am something of a momentum investor. I find Stock Trends useful as I can look at my portfolio as a “watch list” and quickly see where trends are declining in strength or reversing, so it is particularly useful as a tool in portfolio management regarding sales.
William C., Subscriber
Just thought I'd call to thank you, Skot. Stock Trends Weekly Reporter helped pay for my daughter's education!
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Stock Trends Editorial

Long and strong - Bullish trends in specialized retailers
Amidst a market still digesting the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut in nine months, one theme stands out in the latest Stock Trends dataset: the remarkable resilience of retail leaders. While thousands of common stocks across NYSE, Nasdaq, and TSX are posting Strong Bullish signals, three consumer-facing companies — TJX Companies, O’Reilly Automotive, and Dollarama — hold the longest uninterrupted Bullish runs on their exchanges.…

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From Banks to Bytes to Uranium: Strong Bulls Align with ST-IM Signals
On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate cut in nine months, lowering the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a new target range of 4.00%–4.25%. This was a response to clear signs of a cooling labor market—slower job growth, shorter workweeks, and rising unemployment in several cohorts. Although inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, policymakers signaled…

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Money management and trading psychology: building a resilient trading plan that integrates with the Stock Trends decision-tree framework
Financial markets are unpredictable. Even when a trading strategy has a positive expectancy, a few bad trades can wipe out an account if position sizes are too large or emotions override discipline. Academic studies show that how much capital is allocated per trade is more influential on long‑term returns than the specific trading system used. For example, research cited by position‑sizing specialist Van Tharp found that…

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Stock Trends: The Human Side of Market Trends
Markets don’t move on math alone—they move on people. The screens light up because millions of humans react to news, stories, and each other. Behavioral economics is the field that studies those reactions. This article introduces the big ideas, then brings the story up to date with automated bots and AI trading—and explains how the Stock Trends framework helps you navigate it all.

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