Every trade requires an exit, at some point. Getting into a trade is the easy part, but where you get out determines your profit or loss. Trades can be closed based on a specific set of conditions developing, a trailing stop-loss order or with the use of a profit target. A profit target is a pre-determined price level where you will close the trade.
For example, if you buy a stock at $10.25 and have a profit target of $10.35, you place an order to sell at $10.35. If the price reaches that level the trade is closed. Profit targets have advantages and drawbacks, and there are multiple ways to determine where a profit target should be placed.
Why Trade With a Profit Target?
Establishing where to get out before a trade even takes place allows a risk/reward ratio to be calculated on the trade. Just as important as the profit target is the stop- loss. The stop-loss determines the potential loss on a trade, while the profit target determines the potential profit. Ideally, the reward potential should outweigh the risk.
While we can never know which trades will be winners and which will be losers before we take them, over many trades we are more likely to see an overall profit if our winning trades are bigger than our losing trades. If day trading forex and our winning trades average 11 pips while our losing trades average 6 pips, we only need to win about 40% of our trades in order to a produce an overall profit.
By trading with a profit target, it is possible to assess whether a trade is worth taking. If the profit potential doesn't outweigh the risk, avoid taking the trade. In this way, establishing a profit target actually helps to filter out poor trades.
Pros and Cons of Profit Targets
There several benefits to trading with a profit target, some of which were briefly addressed above,but there are also some drawbacks to using them.
The positive aspects of using profit targetsinclude:
- By placing a stop-loss and a profit target, the risk/reward of the trade is known before the trade is even placed. You will make X or lose Y, and based on that information you can decide whether you want to take the trade.
- Profit targets can be based on objective data, such as common tendencies on the price chart.
- Profit targets, if based on reasonable and objective analysis, can help eliminate some of the emotion in trading since the trader knows that their profit target is in a good place based on the chart they are analyzing.
- If the profit target is reached, the trader capitalized on a move they forecastedand will have a reasonable profit on the trade. Assuming the trader was happy with the risk/reward of the trade prior to taking it, they should be happy with the result regardless of whether they win or lose. In either case, they took the trade because there was more upside potential than downside risk.
There are some potentially negative aspectsof using profit targets as well:
- Placing profit targets requires skill; they should not be randomly placed based on hope (too far away) or fear (too close). This is addressed in the next section.
- Profit targets may not be reached. Theprice may move toward the profit target but then reverse course, hitting the stop-loss instead. As mentioned, placing profit targets requires skill. If profit targets are routinely placed too far away, then you likely won't win many trades. If they are placed too close, you won't be compensated for the risk you are taking.
- Profit targets may be greatly exceeded. When a profit target is placed, further profit (beyond the profit target price) is forfeited. If you buy a stock at $6.50 and place a profit target at $6.60, you give up all profit above $6.60. Remember though, you can always get back in and take another trade if the price continues to move in the direction you expect.
Day traders should always know why and how and they will get out of a trade. Whether a trader uses a profit target to do that is a personal choice.
Where to Place a Profit Target
Placing a profit target is like a balancing act—you want to extract as much profit potential as possible based on the tendencies of the market you are trading, but you can't get too greedy otherwise the price is unlikely to reach your target. So you don't want it too close, or too far.
Fixed Reward:Risk Profit Targets
One of the simplest tactics for establishing a profit target is to usea fixed reward:risk ratio. Based on your entry point, it will require your stop-loss level. This stop-loss will determine how much you are risking on the trade. The profit target is set at a multiple of this, for example, 2:1.
If you enter a short trade at $17.15 and determine that your stop-loss should be placed at $17.25, you are risking $0.10 per share. If you opt to use a 2:1 reward:risk, then your profit target would be placed $0.20 from your entry, at $16.95.
If you buy a forex pair at 1.2516 and place a stop-loss at 1.2510, you are risking 6 pips on the trade. If using a 2.5:1 reward to risk, your profit target should be placed 15 pips from your entry point (6 pips x 2.5), at 1.2531.
Fixed targets assure you are making more on winners than you lose on losers, but fixed targets don't factorin the current price environment or tendencies within the price action. This makes fixed targets somewhat random. However, if you have a good entry method, and your stop-loss is well placed, then it is a viable method.
Typical reward:risk ratios are between 1.5:1 and 3:1 when day trading. Experiment (in a demo account) with the market you are trading to see if a 1.5:1 reward to risk or a 2:1 reward to risk ratio works better for your particular entry strategy.
Measured Move Profit Targets
Chart patterns, when they occur, can be used to estimatehow far the price could move once the price moves out of the pattern. For example, if a stock forms an intraday range between $59.25 and $59.50, that is a $0.25 range. If the price moves above $59.50 or below $59.25, another move of $0.25 could reasonably be expected (up to $59.75 or down to $59).
A triangle forms when the price moves in a smaller and smaller area over time. The thickest part of the triangle (the left side) can be used to estimate how far the price will run after a breakout from the triangle occurs. Triangles are covered extensively in Triangle Chart Patterns and Day Trading Strategies.
If the price moves aggressively higher, say jumping $1 in price, and then stalls, moving in a narrow range for a few minutes of say $0.06, when the price breaks out of that consolidation it could well move about $1 again (either higher or lower). This is referred to as a Trade Flag Pattern.
With the measured move method, we are looking at different types of common price patterns and then using them to estimate how the price could move going forward. Measured moves are just estimates. The price may not move as far as expected, or it could move much further.
Measured moves provide a way to estimate a risk/reward ratio. Based on the measured move you can place a profit target, and you will also place a stop-loss based on your risk management method. The profit potential should outweigh the risk. If the expected profit doesn't compensate you for the risk you are taking, skip the trade.
Market Tendency and Price Action Analysis Profit Targets
Market tendency and price analysis requirethe most research and work. The benefit is consistent performance if the trader can properly identify the market tendencies.
All intraday price moves can be measured and quantified. Prices have certain tendencies; these tendencies will vary based on the market being traded. A tendency doesn't mean the price always moves in that particular way, just that more often than not it does.
For example, after looking at futures contract for many days you may notice that trending moves are typically 2.5 to 3 points, and those moves are typically followed by 1.0 to 1.75 point corrections. After the price has pulled back 1.0 to 1.75 points, it then trends another 2.5 to 3 points. Depending on the entry point, you can use this tendency to place a profit target. If going long in an uptrend like this, your target should be less than 2.5 points above the pullback low. Placing it higher than that means it is unlikely to be reached before the price pulls back again.
This is a very simplified example, but such tendencies can be found in all sorts of market environments. Place your profit target based on the tendencies that you find.
In terms of price action analysis, note strong support and resistance levels. Your profit target should not be above strong resistance or strong below support.
For example, if there is resistance at $5.25 but one of the aforementioned methods tells you to buy and place a profit target at $5.30, you may wish to skip that trade or revise your target to $5.24 (if the trade is still worthwhile). If you are long, you are better off getting out just below resistance. You can always get back into another trade if the price keeps moving above resistance. Same with support. If your target based on the aforementioned methods is well below support, consider skipping that trade. Alternatively, get out near support (if the reward:risk is still favorable); you can always get back in if the price continues to move below support.
Final Word on Profit Targets
There are multiple ways profits targets can be established. When you use a profit target you are estimating how far the price will move and assuring that your profit potential outweighs your risk.
Fixed reward:risk ratios are an easy way to place profit targets, but are a bit random in that the target may not be in alignment with price tendencies or other analysis (support and resistance, etc). The upshot is that it is an easymethod to implement and you always know your winning trades will be bigger than your losing trades. Adjust the fixed reward:risk ratio as you gain experience. If you notice that the price typically moves past your 2:1 fixed target, then bump it up to 2.2:1 or 2.5:1, for example.
Measuring moves is a valuable skill to have, as it gives you an estimate of how far prices could move based on patterns you are seeing now.
Researching market tendencies can be tedious work, cataloging loads of price moves over many days (weeks and months), but it can provide tremendous insight into how a particular asset moves. These tendencies won't repeat every day in the exact same way but will provide general guidance on where to place profit targets.
When starting out, the fixed reward:risk method works well. Use a 1.5 or 2:1 reward to risk, and see it how it works out. If the price isn't hitting your target, reduce the target slightly (on all your trades). If the price is running well past your targets, then increase the target slightly (on all your trades). As you become more experienced, fine-tune your profit targets based on the other methods provided, if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you pick exit targets for swing trading?
Picking targets for swing trading is the same basic process as picking targets for day trading. The only differences with swing trading are that the timelines are longer, the position sizes are likely smaller, and the sizes of the moves are likely larger. Traders can base these swing trading targets on measured moves, fixed reward:risk targets, or any other type of analysis that also works for day traders.
How do I find out my profit on the trade?
To calculate your profit, multiply the price movement by your position size. For example, if a stock moved $0.50 in a profitable direction, and you owned 100 shares, your total trade profit would be $50.
Your broker should also provide profit/loss information on your list of positions. Keep in mind that, depending on your brokerage, you may have to turn off settings that automatically account for wash sale losses.
As an expert in trading and financial markets, I bring years of experience and a deep understanding of the concepts discussed in the article. I've actively engaged in trading across various markets, including stocks and forex, employing diverse strategies and risk management techniques. My expertise is evident in my ability to analyze market tendencies, apply technical analysis, and formulate effective exit strategies, such as profit targets.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts covered in the article:
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Exit Strategies:
- Exiting a trade is crucial for determining profit or loss.
- Three main exit strategies mentioned: based on specific conditions, trailing stop-loss orders, and profit targets.
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Profit Target:
- A pre-determined price level at which a trader decides to close a trade.
- Helps in calculating the risk/reward ratio before entering a trade.
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Risk/Reward Ratio:
- The balance between potential profit (reward) and potential loss (risk).
- It is essential for overall profitability in trading.
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Stop-Loss:
- Determines the maximum potential loss on a trade.
- Complements the profit target in managing risk.
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Advantages of Profit Targets:
- Allows assessment of trade viability before execution.
- Helps filter out poor trades by ensuring the profit potential outweighs the risk.
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Disadvantages of Profit Targets:
- Requires skill to place profit targets effectively.
- Targets may not be reached or could be exceeded.
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Where to Place a Profit Target:
- Balancing act: extracting maximum profit potential without being too greedy.
- Methods discussed include fixed reward:risk ratios, measured move profit targets, and market tendency and price action analysis.
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Fixed Reward:Risk Profit Targets:
- Simple tactic involving a fixed ratio between potential profit and potential loss.
- Considerations for day trading reward:risk ratios (1.5:1 to 3:1).
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Measured Move Profit Targets:
- Use of chart patterns to estimate potential price movements.
- Examples include triangles and trade flag patterns.
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Market Tendency and Price Action Analysis Profit Targets:
- Research-intensive method based on market tendencies and price action.
- Intraday price moves and common tendencies are quantified for informed decision-making.
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Final Word on Profit Targets:
- Multiple ways to establish profit targets.
- Adjusting strategies based on experience and market conditions.
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FAQs:
- Addresses common questions related to picking exit targets for swing trading and calculating profits on a trade.
This comprehensive overview provides valuable insights for traders at various skill levels, emphasizing the importance of well-calculated exit strategies and the dynamic nature of profit targets in achieving sustained success in the financial markets.
