Back to Compendium
Professor Mean
8

Professor Mean

The Mathematician

📐 Swing Trader 📅 146 years old (Born 1880)

"Price is a drunk stumbling home. It may wander, but it always returns to the mean."

Impossibly old—a walking artifact from the Victorian era. Bow tie, antique spectacles, chalk dust on his academic robes. His hands shake slightly, but his mind is sharp.

ℹ️ Character descriptions are creative personas representing trading strategy styles. They are not financial advice, promises, or guarantees of performance.

Jul 26, 2024 Jul 26, 2026 (730d)

📊 2 Years Performance: We gave Professor Mean $10,000 and let him trade 102 stock symbols from Dec 31, 2023 to today. 🟢 LIVE

$11,320
Avg Value (per symbol)
Started at: $10,000 (+$1,320)
+13.20%
2-Year ROI
60.9%
Win Rate
30,730
Total Trades

Quick Performance Comparison

Click any period to view detailed stats

+0.0%
1 Month
+4.3%
3 Months
+5.8%
6 Months
+5.8%
YTD
+6.2%
1 Year

Equity Curve (2 Years)

Combined P&L across all 102 symbols

⚙️ Trading Strategy

Trade 2 standard deviation extremes back to mean

When price moves 2 standard deviations from its 20-day average, the move is statistically extreme. Professor Mean profits from the inevitable return to normalcy.

🎯 Best Suited For

Range-bound stocks and ETFs

"Everything reverts to the mean. Everything."

📜 Why This Strategy Works

Markets overreact. Good news pushes prices above fair value; bad news pushes them below. Extremes are by definition unsustainable.

Mathematical Formula

CODE VERIFIED — These formulas are extracted directly from the simulation engine and verified against the source code.
Source: scripts/run-*-simulation.php

📊 Entry Signal

📈 Entry Signal

Z-Score ≤ -2.0 (price is 2+ std devs below mean)
→ BUY at current close price

📉 Exit Rules

• MEAN_REVERSION: Z-Score ≥ 0 (price returned to mean)
• STOP_LOSS: Z-Score ≤ -3.0 OR price ≤ entry × 0.92 (-8%)
• MAX_HOLD: Hold time ≥ 10 days

⚙️ Simulation Parameters

MEAN_PERIOD: 20
ENTRY_STD_DEVS: 2
EXIT_AT_MEAN: 1
STOP_LOSS_STD_DEVS: 3
MAX_HOLD_DAYS: 10

📖 Historical Origin

Origin: Sir Francis Galton's regression to the mean

Sir Francis Galton was a polymath who, in the 1880s, discovered "regression toward mediocrity" while studying hereditary traits. The principle was universal: extreme measurements tend to be followed by less extreme ones.

🏆 Top 10 Performing Symbols (2 Years)

📉 Worst 5 Performing Symbols (2 Years)

📊 All Symbol Results

Click on any row to see detailed trade history with equity curve

📅 2 Years: Jul 26, 2024 Jul 26, 2026 (730 days)
📖 Understanding Score & Momentum columns
📊 Score — Lifetime Quality Score
Measures how well this strategy+symbol combination has performed across the entire simulation history. Based on return, win rate, drawdown control, profit factor, and trade count. Higher is better.
75+ Elite   60+ Good   40+ Fair   <40 Weak
⚡ Mom — 30-Day Momentum Score
Measures performance over the last 30 days only. Same quality model but calibrated for short-term activity. Captures recent regime shifts that the lifetime score may miss.
75+ Hot   60+ Active   40+ Moderate   <40 Quiet
Spread Indicators — Comparing Mom vs Score reveals regime sensitivity:
🔥 Heating Up — Mom is 20+ points above Score. This symbol is performing significantly better recently than its lifetime average. Could indicate a favorable regime shift.
🧊 Cooling Off — Mom is 20+ points below Score. This symbol is underperforming recently despite a strong lifetime track record. Could indicate an unfavorable regime shift.
No icon = Steady — Scores within ±20 points. Consistent performance.
⚠️ Scores are calculated from simulated backtest data and are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice or predict future performance. Full methodology →
Rank Symbol Score Mom Return Start Final Value Trades Win Rate Fees Net Max DD Avg Hold Refunds Last Refund Action
1 SOXL 50 3🧊 +177.79% $10,000 $27,779 293 64% - +$17,779 -43.9% 5.2h -
2 AMC 53 52 +103.84% $10,000 $20,384 312 67% - +$10,384 -18.6% 5.2h -
3 CRWD 52 50 +71.72% $10,000 $17,172 301 63% - +$7,172 -12.6% 6.7h -
4 NVDA 49 3🧊 +59.93% $10,000 $15,993 309 61% - +$5,993 -11.5% 4.4h -
5 GS 66 32🧊 +53.38% $10,000 $15,338 308 62% - +$5,338 -3.9% 6.1h -
6 PLTR 44 5🧊 +53.16% $10,000 $15,316 302 62% - +$5,316 -11.2% 4.9h -
7 RBLX 40 13🧊 +51.43% $10,000 $15,143 302 63% - +$5,143 -18.1% 7.7h -
8 BMY 50 13🧊 +51.26% $10,000 $15,126 297 66% - +$5,126 -10.5% 5.6h -
9 MARA 31 38 +40.71% $10,000 $14,071 305 63% - +$4,071 -29.5% 6.1h -
10 AVGO 38 20 +38.66% $10,000 $13,866 308 61% - +$3,866 -12.8% 5.7h -
11 INTC 31 13 +37.31% $10,000 $13,731 310 60% - +$3,731 -24.3% 6.5h -
12 BLK 54 28🧊 +33.67% $10,000 $13,367 301 66% - +$3,367 -4.0% 4.8h -
13 MRK 43 3🧊 +32.20% $10,000 $13,220 300 64% - +$3,220 -8.0% 4.8h -
14 C 45 6🧊 +30.64% $10,000 $13,064 304 60% - +$3,064 -6.0% 5.3h -
15 NET 31 1🧊 +30.25% $10,000 $13,025 304 59% - +$3,025 -16.9% 6.4h -
16 USO 34 2🧊 +28.07% $10,000 $12,807 294 55% - +$2,807 -11.5% 5.6h -
17 VXX 28 6🧊 +27.59% $10,000 $12,759 299 60% - +$2,759 -19.3% 6.2h -
18 TQQQ 31 29 +26.16% $10,000 $12,616 305 62% - +$2,616 -17.9% 5.9h -
19 HOOD 29 32 +25.42% $10,000 $12,542 301 60% - +$2,542 -26.1% 6.6h -
20 JNJ 46 6🧊 +24.71% $10,000 $12,471 296 66% - +$2,471 -5.7% 5.0h -
21 XLK 36 10🧊 +24.34% $10,000 $12,434 315 65% - +$2,434 -11.6% 6.8h -
22 MU 29 3🧊 +24.32% $10,000 $12,432 286 62% - +$2,432 -23.5% 4.9h -
23 ISRG 31 2🧊 +23.82% $10,000 $12,382 306 61% - +$2,382 -17.0% 4.5h -
24 AMD 28 15 +22.82% $10,000 $12,282 310 60% - +$2,282 -28.5% 6.3h -
25 MS 34 14 +22.69% $10,000 $12,269 312 61% - +$2,269 -9.7% 6.1h -
26 JPM 37 17 +22.59% $10,000 $12,259 304 62% - +$2,259 -7.6% 5.9h -
27 AMZN 30 19 +22.27% $10,000 $12,227 303 59% - +$2,227 -15.2% 5.8h -
28 MCD 40 6🧊 +22.14% $10,000 $12,214 300 60% - +$2,214 -4.1% 5.4h -
29 SCHW 38 20 +21.98% $10,000 $12,198 308 64% - +$2,198 -7.0% 5.7h -
30 VRTX 39 6🧊 +20.96% $10,000 $12,096 303 60% - +$2,096 -5.5% 5.3h -
31 GOOGL 32 26 +20.87% $10,000 $12,087 294 60% - +$2,087 -9.9% 5.7h -
32 REGN 31 2🧊 +20.38% $10,000 $12,038 305 64% - +$2,038 -13.4% 6.7h -
33 BRK-B 43 14🧊 +20.09% $10,000 $12,009 310 63% - +$2,009 -4.6% 6.3h -
34 AMGN 32 11🧊 +18.52% $10,000 $11,853 310 64% - +$1,853 -10.0% 4.5h -
35 CRM 31 12 +18.47% $10,000 $11,847 300 61% - +$1,847 -9.2% 8.0h -
36 SNOW 27 7 +18.25% $10,000 $11,825 304 60% - +$1,825 -17.7% 6.3h -
37 DKNG 28 6🧊 +17.83% $10,000 $11,783 305 62% - +$1,783 -14.0% 5.1h -
38 SPXU 25 39 +16.13% $10,000 $11,613 146 58% - +$1,613 -19.1% 10.6h -
39 AAPL 28 28 +15.80% $10,000 $11,580 304 63% - +$1,580 -13.3% 6.8h -
40 QQQ 37 37 +15.73% $10,000 $11,573 302 64% - +$1,573 -4.4% 6.1h -
41 COIN 23 51🔥 +15.52% $10,000 $11,552 294 57% - +$1,552 -42.7% 6.1h -
42 PG 34 3🧊 +15.45% $10,000 $11,545 306 65% - +$1,545 -7.0% 6.1h -
43 META 32 3🧊 +15.23% $10,000 $11,523 308 60% - +$1,523 -5.9% 5.3h -
44 NFLX 27 3🧊 +15.13% $10,000 $11,513 311 61% - +$1,513 -13.7% 6.8h -
45 ARKK 27 2🧊 +14.54% $10,000 $11,454 303 60% - +$1,454 -16.4% 6.2h -
46 AXP 27 13 +13.31% $10,000 $11,331 311 62% - +$1,331 -12.7% 4.9h -
47 VOO 35 11🧊 +12.97% $10,000 $11,297 302 61% - +$1,297 -5.6% 5.6h -
48 SOFI 25 2🧊 +12.80% $10,000 $11,280 297 61% - +$1,280 -26.0% 5.5h -
49 MA 31 28 +12.16% $10,000 $11,216 307 63% - +$1,216 -5.8% 7.6h -
50 UVXY 22 6 +11.87% $10,000 $11,187 297 62% - +$1,187 -33.5% 6.8h -
51 XLF 30 2🧊 +11.47% $10,000 $11,147 301 59% - +$1,147 -5.4% 6.9h -
52 CVX 29 17 +10.13% $10,000 $11,013 316 62% - +$1,013 -5.5% 6.1h -
53 KO 29 1🧊 +9.84% $10,000 $10,984 292 62% - +$984 -6.2% 5.8h -
54 SPY 31 26 +9.76% $10,000 $10,976 298 63% - +$976 -7.1% 5.9h -
55 GILD 23 38 +8.62% $10,000 $10,862 301 63% - +$862 -18.5% 6.6h -
56 VTI 25 25 +8.23% $10,000 $10,823 298 59% - +$823 -8.8% 6.0h -
57 ARM 20 2 +7.95% $10,000 $10,795 310 57% - +$795 -16.8% 6.3h -
58 BAC 22 7 +7.03% $10,000 $10,703 303 59% - +$703 -7.2% 6.8h -
59 PFE 22 21 +6.85% $10,000 $10,685 304 62% - +$685 -11.8% 6.2h -
60 WMT 25 7 +6.37% $10,000 $10,637 293 64% - +$637 -4.5% 6.2h -
61 IBM 21 13 +5.27% $10,000 $10,527 298 58% - +$527 -9.2% 4.7h -
62 UNH 22 6 +4.02% $10,000 $10,402 311 67% - +$402 -22.2% 5.8h -
63 HD 20 3 +3.92% $10,000 $10,392 304 58% - +$392 -5.1% 3.8h -
64 COST 20 10 +3.45% $10,000 $10,345 307 61% - +$345 -7.2% 5.7h -
65 CSCO 19 18 +2.92% $10,000 $10,292 301 62% - +$292 -10.7% 7.5h -
66 COP 16 3 +2.46% $10,000 $10,246 298 59% - +$246 -18.3% 5.6h -
67 PANW 15 43🔥 +2.25% $10,000 $10,225 302 55% - +$225 -24.6% 6.9h -
68 XOM 18 32 +2.21% $10,000 $10,221 311 62% - +$221 -9.1% 5.5h -
69 IWM 17 16 +2.14% $10,000 $10,214 298 58% - +$214 -14.5% 7.0h -
70 SLV 19 20 +1.77% $10,000 $10,177 303 65% - +$177 -25.0% 4.9h -
71 V 14 12 +0.43% $10,000 $10,043 306 58% - +$43 -5.0% 6.8h -
72 PYPL 13 15 +0.16% $10,000 $10,016 289 60% - +$16 -17.7% 6.3h -
73 TLT 12 10 -0.09% $10,000 $9,991 302 59% - -$9 -6.8% 5.3h -
74 VZ 14 13 -0.93% $10,000 $9,907 296 62% - -$93 -12.7% 5.7h -
75 SLB 12 30 -1.07% $10,000 $9,893 304 63% - -$107 -18.4% 6.7h -
76 ORCL 9 7 -1.82% $10,000 $9,818 308 55% - -$182 -27.9% 6.9h -
77 DIA 12 16 -2.40% $10,000 $9,760 294 58% - -$240 -11.0% 5.4h -
78 ABBV 14 3 -2.49% $10,000 $9,751 300 64% - -$249 -17.6% 6.6h -
79 DIS 11 34🔥 -2.63% $10,000 $9,737 315 57% - -$263 -21.3% 6.2h -
80 PEP 13 3 -2.66% $10,000 $9,734 304 63% - -$266 -12.9% 6.3h -
81 XLE 11 8 -3.13% $10,000 $9,687 307 58% - -$313 -13.3% 5.3h -
82 GLD 10 6 -3.82% $10,000 $9,618 298 60% - -$382 -7.6% 5.1h -
83 RIOT 11 1 -4.24% $10,000 $9,576 297 58% - -$424 -50.0% 7.1h -
84 WFC 12 32 -4.36% $10,000 $9,564 301 62% - -$436 -15.9% 6.5h -
85 TMO 12 2 -4.38% $10,000 $9,562 306 58% - -$438 -13.7% 5.2h -
86 MDT 12 3 -5.68% $10,000 $9,432 298 59% - -$568 -13.7% 4.9h -
87 NIO 12 37🔥 -6.31% $10,000 $9,369 293 60% - -$631 -30.0% 6.6h -
88 PM 12 3 -6.36% $10,000 $9,364 298 59% - -$636 -10.7% 5.3h -
89 BIIB 14 3 -7.07% $10,000 $9,293 306 64% - -$707 -26.8% 4.7h -
90 TSLA 11 26 -7.63% $10,000 $9,237 302 59% - -$763 -25.6% 5.0h -
91 OXY 10 2 -7.82% $10,000 $9,218 303 58% - -$782 -17.0% 6.1h -
92 MSFT 11 0 -8.27% $10,000 $9,173 305 56% - -$827 -10.0% 4.8h -
93 LLY 13 11 -9.86% $10,000 $9,014 305 65% - -$986 -24.9% 5.9h -
94 CMCSA 14 50🔥 -10.70% $10,000 $8,930 306 62% - -$1,070 -19.7% 6.3h -
95 ACN 12 39🔥 -11.22% $10,000 $8,878 312 59% - -$1,122 -15.0% 6.8h -
96 RIVN 11 46🔥 -14.71% $10,000 $8,529 303 59% - -$1,471 -32.4% 7.7h -
97 LCID 10 3 -22.39% $10,000 $7,761 302 60% - -$2,239 -30.7% 5.2h -
98 ADBE 10 2 -22.83% $10,000 $7,717 305 56% - -$2,283 -18.6% 6.8h -
99 GME 13 34🔥 -23.57% $10,000 $7,643 305 62% - -$2,357 -44.4% 6.8h -
100 SMCI 14 7 -29.63% $10,000 $7,037 302 61% - -$2,963 -55.7% 5.3h -
101 MRNA 9 37🔥 -44.61% $10,000 $5,539 299 59% - -$4,461 -31.7% 6.1h -
102 SQQQ 8 2 -45.32% $10,000 $5,468 296 54% - -$4,532 -42.9% 6.3h -

👤 Personality

Speaks in equations. Finds human behavior predictable and slightly disappointing. Gets genuinely excited about standard deviations.