SPY / QQQ vs. individual stocks

[Jdesey]

I appears from my trading records going back 7 years that SPY and QQQ have not been as good for me as have options on individual stocks. Is is just too crowded on SPY and QQQ to have any edge? It sure seems to be.. opinions please

 

[danw]

I appears from my trading records going back 7 years that SPY and QQQ have not been as good for me as have options on individual stocks. Is is just too crowded on SPY and QQQ to have any edge? It sure seems to be.. opinions please

Seems obvious to me, but having a larger universe ie all stocks gives your system a chance to pick the best instrument where you have a trade signal.

If you're only on SPY & QQQ and there are no good trade opportunities for that week, what do you do? Even if there was a signal, if you had access to say 30+ futures markets isn't there a chance there was a better opportunity in another market?

Since you mentioned options, an example of above could be volatility. If you're selling but the IV on SPY is muted and not worth risking a short option, then maybe there's a stock out there that does have the IV in your favour.

 

[ironchef]

I appears from my trading records going back 7 years that SPY and QQQ have not been as good for me as have options on individual stocks. Is is just too crowded on SPY and QQQ to have any edge? It sure seems to be.. opinions please

My guess is names you traded have higher beta, or better, higher idiosyncratic volatility which if correctly timed, should give a better outcome.

 

[nitrene]

I'm pretty sure this is the same thread as this:

https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/spy-and-qqq-waste-of-time.380402/unread

 

[ironchef]

I'm pretty sure this is the same thread as this:

https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/spy-and-qqq-waste-of-time.380402/unread

Good catch.