Mean Reversion Trading: Indicators and Trading Strategies

In the 19th century, Sir Francis Galton popularized the principle of mean reversion, a groundbreaking discovery in genetics that has since permeated the financial trading industry. Today, mean reversion trading remains a cornerstone concept among trading strategies.

This article provides a comprehensive exploration of mean reversion in trading. You’ll gain insights into:

• The definition and significance of mean reversion in trading.
• How mean reversion trading works.
• A comparison of mean reversion and trend-following approaches.
• A real-time example illustrating a mean reversion trading strategy.
• The pros and cons associated with mean reversion Trading.

What is Mean Reversion in Trading?

Mean reversion in trading is a concept that refers to the assumption that asset prices and historical returns eventually will return to the long-term mean. This concept is rooted in the statistical phenomenon known as regression toward the mean. Traders who use this strategy typically look for opportunities to buy or sell assets when prices deviate significantly from their historical mean in anticipation of their eventual return to it.

The rationale behind the mean reversion theory is that over time, prices that are unusually high or low will tend to normalize to their average values. This normalization can be due to various factors, including changes in market sentiment, economic factors, or simply the random fluctuations that occur in markets.

For example, if a stock’s price has historically oscillated around $50 but suddenly spikes to $80 without any significant change in the company’s fundamentals, a mean reversion trader might see this as an opportunity to sell the stock, expecting the stock price to fall back to its historical norm. Conversely, if the stock drops to $20, the trader might buy it, anticipating a rise back to the $50 level.

And that’s the basic idea of using mean reversion strategies – looking for extreme changes in prices in an asset price with the assumption that prices tend to return to their average prices. 

The Mean Reversion Trading Strategy

Similar to what we’ve mentioned earlier, the mean reversion trading strategy is grounded in the statistical phenomenon that extreme movements in asset prices are likely to be followed by a counter-movement, bringing prices back to their average level over time. So, to effectively employ this strategy, traders must first establish what the ‘mean’ is for their chosen market and time frame.

Now, calculating the mean involves taking an average of the asset’s historical prices over a specific period. This can be done using various tools, such as a simple spreadsheet to calculate the average manually, a mean reversion indicator that automates the process, or by visually inspecting a chart to identify the average price level around which the price has tended to fluctuate.

Once the mean price is established, traders can then watch for significant deviations from this average. Day traders typically look for intraday price movements away from the mean to capitalize on quick reversals. In contrast, swing traders and long-term investors may seek out more pronounced price extremes that occur over days, weeks, or months, anticipating a more significant move back toward the mean.

From the Nikkei Chart below, using the Bollinger Bands indicator, we can see how mean reversion works in trading. We use the upper Bollinger bands to represent the overbought price level, the middle Bollinger Bands to represent the mean, and the lower Bollinger Bands to represent the oversold level.

As you can see, most of the time, when the price moves towards the overbought or oversold level, it reverses back to the mean, and as we will see later in this article, these are where our trading opportunities lie.

Best 5 Indicators for the Reversion to the Mean Trading Strategy

When it comes to mean reversion trading, the use of indicators is crucial for identifying when prices are deviating from their average and are likely to revert. Here are some of the best indicators used in reversion to the mean trading strategy.

1. Bollinger Bands

Bollinger Bands are among the most popular indicators for mean reversion traders. Created by John Bollinger in the 1980s, these bands consist of a middle band in a simple moving average (SMA) and two outer bands that are standard deviations away from the SMA. The standard setting is a 20-day SMA with the outer bands set at two standard deviations above and below. 

Technically, when the price touches or crosses one of the Bollinger Bands, traders may consider it an extreme deviation from the mean, signaling a potential reversal point. The closer the price moves to the outer band, the more overbought or oversold it is considered, hence the higher the chance of reversion.

2. Relative Strength Index (RSI)

The Relative Strength Index is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements. Typically, an RSI reading above 70 indicates that an asset is becoming overbought, while an RSI reading below 30 suggests an oversold condition. Mean reversion traders can use these extreme RSI levels to look for reversal opportunities, buying when the market is oversold and selling when it is overbought.

3. Moving Averages

Moving averages are clearly among the best indicators to identify indications for mean reversion. They serve as a smoothed representation of an asset’s typical price over a chosen timeframe and are a foundational tool for identifying mean reversion trends.

Traders watch for deviations from this average: when prices rise significantly above the moving average, reaching into overbought territory, it suggests an expectation that prices will drop back to the mean. Similarly, prices that fall below the moving average to a level considered oversold indicate a potential rebound to the average price. 

4. Standard Deviation

Standard deviation is a statistical measurement that sheds light on historical volatility. By measuring how much the price deviates from its mean, this indicator can help traders understand the typical magnitude of price movements.

When the standard deviation of an asset is high, it suggests that the price movement is more volatile and, hence, may revert to the mean more significantly.

5. Mean Reversion Indicator

Some indicators are designed explicitly for mean reversion trading. These include the Mean Reversion Indicator (MRI), which can help traders identify the point at which an asset’s price has deviated significantly from its historical mean price.

This indicator can be handy in stable markets where prices exhibit consistent patterns of fluctuation. However, since this indicator is not built-in on popular platforms like MT4, it requires manually downloading and installing the indicator on MT4/5.

Mean Reversion VS Trend Following

When exploring different trading strategies, two prominent approaches stand out: mean reversion and trend following. Each strategy is based on a unique understanding of market behavior and offers distinct pathways to profitability.

Mean reversion is predicated on the idea that prices that reach an extreme will revert to their average. This strategy is best suited for traders who monitor for significant deviations from historical averages, anticipating a reversal to the norm.

These traders often respond to market overreactions to news or events, which can result in short-term pricing anomalies. For execution, mean reversion strategies typically involve tight stop losses and quick profit-taking to exploit these short-term movements. This approach tends to be more effective in range-bound or sideways-moving markets, appealing to those seeking quick, short-term profits.

In contrast, trend following assumes that prices will persist in the direction they have been moving. Trend followers look to capitalize on the continuation of existing trends, whether upward or downward, without concern for a stock’s intrinsic value.

They often employ wider stop losses and are prepared to hold positions for more extended periods, benefiting from significant shifts in price. Trend-following strategies are particularly successful in markets with clear bullish or bearish trends, making them suitable for traders with a patient outlook and a longer investment horizon.

If you are still confused, the table below summarizes the key aspects of these two trading strategies:

Aspect	Mean Reversion	Trend Following
Core Theory	Prices revert to the mean after extremes	Prices continue to move in the current trend
Strategy	Capitalize on temporary price extremes	Ride out long-term trends
Market Reaction	Overreaction to news/events	Persistence of price movements
Price Valuation	Looks for deviation from the historical average	Focus on trend continuation, not value
Trade Execution	Tight stop losses, quick profit-taking	Wider stop losses, longer position hold
Risk Management	Capture short-term movements	Benefit from significant price shifts
Performance	Works well in range-bound markets	Excels in markets with sustained trends
Suitability	Short-term, quick profit seekers	Patient traders, long-term investment
Market Outlook	Sideways, oscillating markets	Bullish or bearish sustained markets

In sum, the distinction between mean reversion and trend following is not merely theoretical; it has practical implications for trade execution, risk management, and portfolio construction. Ultimately, the choice between the two strategies may hinge more on a trader’s personal risk tolerance, investment horizon, and market perspective than on the inherent superiority of one strategy over the other.

How to Use Mean Reversion in Trading?

Now, let’s take a look at an example of how to trade financial assets using the mean reversion strategy. For this mean reversion trade example, we will use the intraday mean reversion strategy.

The difference between the intraday mean reversion strategy and longer-term strategies is seen in the period of the moving averages used and the selected timeframe. So, if intraday trading isn’t your thing, feel free to tweak the settings to suit your trading style. Nonetheless, the technique works pretty much the same for any chosen timeframe.

With that said, we will be using the 50 EMA and the RSI on the hourly time frame in this example.

Here’s a breakdown of how to use this strategy:

• Firstly, we use the moving average to determine the mean value of the asset. When the price is above the moving average, we expect the price to reverse to the moving average line and vice versa.

• After this, we use the RSI as a confluence trading tool to indicate where the price is truly overbought or oversold. In that case, if the price is above the 50 exponential moving average and at the same time it is overbought on the RSI, we can quickly enter a sell position and set our profit target at the moving average.

Let’s see what this looks like on a chart:

As you can see from the chart above, based on the mean reversion trading strategy, we assume that the price will reverse back to its mean reversion; hence, the price returns to trade closely to the moving average indicator’s line.

About risk management – With these trade opportunities, we always aim to set our profit targets at the moving average. Also, we can always place our stop loss slightly above the high when we are selling and below the low when entering a long position.

Pros and Cons of Mean Reversion Trading

Mean reversion trading is a strategy that can be both rewarding and challenging, offering unique advantages and potential drawbacks. Let’s quickly see some of the pros and cons of this strategy.

Is the Mean Reversion a Profitable Trading Strategy? 

So, can mean reversion trading strategies help you generate profitable trades? From the backtesting results, if done correctly, you can expect to have win rates between 66% to over 80%. This level of success rate shows the potential profitability of mean reversion trading, especially when executed with discipline and proper risk management.

However, while it offers a lesser risk-reward ratio compared to trend trading, that shouldn’t be a deal breaker, especially if you’re a day trader. It simply means that you won’t have to worry about the effect of overnight market movements on your position.

Nonetheless, to answer the question simply: is the mean reversion a profitable trading strategy? Yes! However, as with any trading approach, a well-considered trading plan is critical to reaping the benefits that reversion has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mean Reversion

Here are some of the frequently asked questions on mean reversion trading strategy:

What does mean reversion mean in trading?

Mean reversion in trading is a financial theory suggesting that asset prices and historical returns eventually revert to the long-term mean or average level. This mean level represents the equilibrium price of the asset, and the theory posits that prices fluctuate around this mean, presenting trading opportunities when they deviate significantly.

What is the best timeframe for mean reversion?

The best timeframe for mean reversion trading can vary depending on the market and the specific asset. However, it is commonly applied to shorter timeframes such as daily or hourly charts. This is because mean reversion seeks to exploit short-term fluctuations in price, and these periods are long enough to establish a reliable mean but short enough to allow for frequent trading opportunities. Furthermore, upon using the mean reversion strategy, it is advisable to utilize multiple timeframe analyses.

What are the best indicators for mean reversion trading?

The best indicators for mean reversion trading include Bollinger Bands, Moving Averages, the Relative Strength Index (RSI), and standard deviation. These indicators help identify when an asset’s price has deviated significantly from its average and is likely to revert to that mean.

What are the limitations of the mean reversion strategy?

The limitations of the mean reversion strategy include its potential ineffectiveness during trending solid markets, where prices may not revert to the mean as expected. Additionally, significant market events can cause prices to deviate from the mean for extended periods, leading to large drawdowns. The strategy also requires active management and can be psychologically challenging, as it often involves going against the prevailing market sentiment.