Newsletter editor and seasonal market timer

Sy Harding

Sy Harding was an American market analyst who founded Asset Management Research Corp. in 1988 and edited the Street Smart Report newsletter. His books include Riding the Bear: How to Prosper in the Coming Bear Market (Adams Media, 1999) and Beat the Market the Easy Way! (Wheatmark, 2007). In 1999 he introduced a Seasonal Timing Strategy that adds MACD signals to the market's favourable winter season.

What they argue

The best average days to enter and exit the market's favourable season are around October 16 and April 20.
Timing those entries and exits with MACD works better than fixed calendar dates: wait for a MACD buy signal if it is not already on one by October 16, and for a MACD sell signal if it is still bullish on April 20.
In 1999 he forecast a coming bear market, and one followed in 2000–02.

Sources

Stocks & Commodities interview: Seasonality With Sy Harding (V.30:5)MoneyShow: Harding on the Oct 16 / Apr 20 MACD rules (2013)CXO Advisory: Simple test of Sy Harding's Seasonal Timing Strategy

Summaries are Be The Puck's paraphrase of public material. Be The Puck has no affiliation with the people listed.

Books and papers

Riding the Bear: How to Prosper in the Coming Bear Market (1999)
Beat the Market the Easy Way! (2007)

The full reading list

Sy Harding's Seasonal Timing Strategy

Rule and full record

Calendar · daily

Enter around October 16 and exit around April 20, but let MACD shift each date: wait for a buy signal if it isn't on one, and hold for a sell signal if it isn't.

Calls right54%13,320 closed calls on 377 stocks.

Beat buy and hold (Sharpe)95 of 375On raw return: 88 of 375.

In right now0 of 377As of the Oct 13, 2026 close.

Best risk-adjusted results against buy and hold:

STHHOUT CRWVOUT NPCEOUT TFPMOUT HTZOUT QUTXOUT NAMMOUT DMLOUT CCAOUT AAUCOUT ATSOUT OROUT All 377 stocks →