Channel Capital Research

Follow The Fed® Standard Strategy

Follow The Fed® Standard 1970-2009:

Table 1. Summary Return Results for Follow The Fed Standard (1970-2009).
 
Follow The Fed Standard Large Stocks[3] Small Stocks[4] 3Month-Tbill [6]
Compound Annual Return 13.36% 9.87% 9.98% 5.97%
Standard Deviation of Return 0.2058 0.1813 0.2334 0.0326
Sharpe Ratio[1] 0.4547 0.3039 0.2819 -
 
Number of switches 15 - - -
 
Compound Annual Return By Decade
1970s 14.92% 5.88% 8.77% 6.79%
1980s 19.48% 17.55% 12.11% 9.44%
1990's 18.44% 18.21% 12.81% 5.02%
2000's [2] 1.55% -0.95% 6.35% 2.73%
 
$10,000 becomes: $1,507,640 $431,871 $449,490 $101,588
 
Correlation to Large Stocks[5] 0.9128 1.0000 0.7782 -0.0006
 
Total Holding Period: January 1, 1970 - December 31, 2009

[1] Calculated using the 3-Month Tbill Compound Annual Return as the Risk Free Rate
[2] January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2009
[3] Standard and Poor's - S&P 500 Total Return
[4] Proprietary Small Stock Database - Total Returns
[5] Monthly Correlation
[6] Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (St. Louis Fed): 3-Month Treasury Bill, Secondary Market Rate

Table 2. Annual Performance for Follow The Fed Standard (1970-2009).
 
Year Follow The Fed Standard Large Stocks Small Stocks 3Month-Tbill
1970 3.94% 3.94% -17.63% 6.89%
1971 14.30% 14.30% 17.93% 4.63%
1972 19.00% 19.00% 0.24% 4.33%
1973 -23.14% -14.69% -38.21% 7.62%
1974 -27.24% -26.47% -27.24% 8.52%
1975 59.11% 37.23% 59.11% 6.23%
1976 48.39% 23.93% 48.60% 5.35%
1977 22.52% -7.16% 27.48% 5.63%
1978 24.63% 6.57% 24.63% 7.76%
1979 40.94% 18.61% 40.94% 11.08%
1980 39.99% 32.50% 39.99% 12.65%
1981 5.87% -4.92% -1.67% 15.61%
1982 21.55% 21.55% 27.75% 11.69%
1983 22.56% 22.56% 34.17% 9.11%
1984 6.27% 6.27% -10.42% 10.13%
1985 31.73% 31.73% 28.94% 7.85%
1986 18.67% 18.67% 3.71% 6.23%
1987 5.25% 5.25% -14.06% 6.02%
1988 16.61% 16.61% 18.54% 6.98%
1989 31.69% 31.69% 8.96% 8.52%
1990 -3.11% -3.11% -27.16% 7.88%
1991 30.47% 30.47% 48.93% 5.59%
1992 7.62% 7.62% 21.05% 3.55%
1993 12.24% 10.08% 18.96% 3.08%
1994 1.32% 1.32% -5.52% 4.38%
1995 37.58% 37.58% 33.85% 5.69%
1996 22.96% 22.96% 21.32% 5.22%
1997 33.36% 33.36% 25.59% 5.26%
1998 28.58% 28.58% -1.31% 4.89%
1999 21.05% 21.05% 12.41% 4.77%
2000 -9.10% -9.10% 11.80% 6.02%
2001 -11.89% -11.89% 6.54% 3.41%
2002 -22.10% -22.10% -14.63% 1.62%
2003 38.79% 28.69% 38.79% 1.02%
2004 22.65% 10.88% 22.65% 1.38%
2005 7.68% 4.91% 7.68% 3.20%
2006 18.82% 15.79% 15.12% 4.84%
2007 5.50% 5.50% -0.30% 4.48%
2008 -32.55% -37.00% -31.08% 1.39%
2009 20.57% 26.46% 25.57% 0.15%

* Data for Twin Foundations™ drawn from DataStream, Frank Russell Company, Federal Reserve Bank Reports, and other proprietary databases. Data for Follow the Fed® drawn from Datastream, Standard & Poor's, Kenneth R. French PhD – Data Library, and other proprietary databases. Market indices include dividends except where noted. Actual live signals issued from ChannelCapitalResearch.com were used since 2006 (except for the Twin Foundations™ Filtered Conservative and Ultra Conservative Strategies). Live signals for the Filtered Conservative and Ultra Conservative Strategies were used since 2007.

How the Test Results Were Obtained- Twin Foundations™ simulated results using closing values for the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, S&P 400, Russell Midcap Value and Russell 2000 Value indices. The test period was from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2009. Dividends received were included in the overall returns except those returns related to the Nasdaq 100. Interest on cash balances was calculated using 3 month Treasury Bills unless noted otherwise. No commissions or fees were charged. Data came from industry sources, but we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

Special Bonus Report Data were obtained from Standard & Poor's and the Kenneth R. French PhD – Data Library. Where available, dividend adjusted returns were included in historical testing.

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This work is based upon publicly available information and what we have learned as financial journalists. The model results described in this article are purely hypothetical and may have inherent limitations. They may contain errors and you should not make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. It is your money and your responsibility. Furthermore, we do not warrant or represent that the information contained in this report is correct, complete, accurate or timely. investments of the type discussed in the report may involve appreciable risks, including the risk that most or all of the investor’s principal may be lost. We will not be responsible for any investment decisions, damages or other losses resulting from or related to use of the information we provide.

No representation is made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown, and there are frequently significant differences between hypothetical performance results and those subsequently achieved by following a particular strategy, which can adversely affect trading results. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since trades have not actually been executed, the results may not have compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated investment programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. This cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of model performance results. As with all historical data, past performance is not a guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk including loss of principal.