Trailing Stops
Once a trade is profitable, trailing stops protect your gains while letting winners run.
Prerequisites
No dependencies required. Provide entry, current price, and ATR manually. Enhanced with Groww MCP (live ATR, candles, MAs) or yfinance.
Data Needed
- Entry price and current price: Known or from
get_quotes_and_depth - ATR(14):
get_historical_technical_indicatorsfrom Groww, or user-provided - Recent swing lows/highs:
fetch_historical_candle_data(daily) - Moving averages: SMA20, EMA50 from indicators
- Initial risk (1R): Entry - original stop-loss
The Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
This progressive system adapts as the trade matures:
| Trade Stage | Profit Level | Trailing Method |
|---|---|---|
| Just entered | 0 to 1R | Fixed stop — don't trail yet, use initial stop-loss |
| Early profit | 1R gained | Move to breakeven — stop at entry price (eliminates risk) |
| Building profit | 2R gained | ATR trail — highest close minus ATR(14) × 1.5 |
| Strong runner | 3R+ gained | Structure trail — below most recent swing low |
This works because:
- Below 1R: Moving stop too early gets you shaken out on noise
- At 1R: Breakeven means you can't lose money — psychological freedom to hold
- At 2R: ATR trail gives the stock room to breathe while protecting most profit
- At 3R+: Structure trail is tighter, appropriate when you have a large cushion
Individual Methods
ATR Trail
Trailing stop = Highest close since entry - ATR(14) × multiplier
Multiplier: 1.5 (tight), 2.0 (standard), 3.0 (loose)Recalculate daily at market close. Only move stop up, never down.
Structure Trail
Trailing stop = Below the most recent higher lowIdentify swing lows on the daily chart. Each new higher low becomes the new stop reference. Best for stocks making clear stair-step patterns.
Moving Average Trail
Aggressive: Trail below SMA20 (for fast trends)
Moderate: Trail below EMA50 (for steady trends)
Conservative: Trail below SMA200 (for long-term holds)Use closing price vs MA — if daily close is below the MA, exit next day.
Chandelier Exit
Trailing stop = Highest high since entry - ATR(14) × 3.0More aggressive than standard ATR trail. Good for volatile runners where you want to ride big swings.
Trailing Stop Rules
- Only move up, never down — a trailing stop is a ratchet
- Check daily at market close — don't adjust intraday (noise)
- Use closing prices for triggers — ignore intraday wicks
- When stop is hit: exit at next day's open, no exceptions
- Don't overtighten: If you're trailing too tight, you'll get stopped out on normal pullbacks. Give the stock room proportional to its ATR.
Choosing Your Method
| Stock Behavior | Best Trail Method |
|---|---|
| Strong uptrend, clear swing lows | Structure trail |
| Trending but volatile | ATR trail (2.0×) or Chandelier |
| Steady grinder, low volatility | MA trail (EMA50) |
| Explosive mover, unsure of top | Chandelier exit (3.0× ATR) |
| Long-term investment | MA trail (SMA200) |