SUNDIAL RESEARCH
Strategy · SPX 0DTE · one contract throughout

Defended High

Sells the call at a two-day high that was just attacked and defended — fear premium stranded above a ceiling the market has already respected twice.

$11,461
net profit per year, one contract
$39,367
portfolio margin per trade (TIMS −8%/+6% index stress, computed per trade; Reg-T column also shown)
$161 (0.4%)
average net per trade, as % of its margin — held hours, never overnight
49%
win rate over 166 trades
$210
costs paid per year ($2.95/trade, itemized below)
−$11,131
max drawdown
1 in 19
odds these results are pure luck

Equity curve

Cumulative net profit, this strategy alone, after all costs.

0k10k20k30k202420252026$26,741

Monthly results

2024-06
+1.5k
2024-07
−1.2k
2024-08
+5.5k
2024-09
+2.7k
2024-10
+4.7k
2024-11
−1.2k
2024-12
+1.1k
2025-01
−0.1k
2025-02
−0.1k
2025-03
+3.2k
2025-04
−5.0k
2025-05
−0.2k
2025-06
+1.5k
2025-07
−0.9k
2025-08
−2.8k
2025-09
−3.8k
2025-10
+10.0k
2025-11
+0.2k
2025-12
+2.6k
2026-01
−4.0k
2026-02
+3.8k
2026-03
+5.1k
2026-04
+0.4k
2026-05
−3.8k
2026-06
−2.7k
2026-07
+5.3k
2026-08
+6.6k
2026-09
−1.8k

15 of 28 months positive · mean month $955 · worst month −$4,954

Trade logic, in full

The level. The highest high of the prior two sessions — qualified only if yesterday closed at least 0.15% below it (the market already visited that price and walked away).

Signal. A 15-minute bar whose high comes within 0.1% of the level but which closes back below it: the level was attacked and defended. First qualifying bar of the day only, before 15:00.

Entry, at that bar's close. Sell the call at the strike nearest the level — the premium stranded above a defended ceiling.

Stop — the thesis stop. A 3-minute spot close above the level + 0.18% means the defense has failed; exit immediately at the next option print, whatever the option shows. The stop lives in the signal's domain (price), not the option's.

Exit. 15:48.

Asymmetry. The mirrored trade at defended lows was tested and rejected: US selloffs break support far more often than US rallies break resistance. Only the high side is traded.

Every trade, every leg

The complete record — nothing curated. Each trade sells ONE option. Fired because a two-day high was attacked and defended on a closed 15-minute bar; the exact trigger rule is in the logic section above. Prices are per index point (×$100). Both margin columns are computed per trade from published formulas (see Methodology). Costs = 2 contract-sides × $1.35 + $0.25 regulatory. STOP = premium stop; THESIS = the level broke; EOD = scheduled 15:48 exit. All times New York.

DateIn→OutHowLeg soldSold atBought backGrossCostsNetMargin (PM)Margin (Reg-T)
2024-06-0414:30→15:48EODC 52908.703.50$520−2.95$517$32,186$106,190
2024-06-1114:45→15:48EODC 53703.800.75$305−2.95$302$31,768$106,838
2024-06-1809:45→15:48EODC 54906.900.45$645−2.95$642$32,453$109,158
2024-07-0510:15→11:06THESISC 552020.4028.10−$770−2.95−$773$34,927$112,176
2024-07-0910:30→15:48EODC 556021.2617.90$336−2.95$333$35,486$113,326
2024-07-1009:45→12:15THESISC 557021.6333.30−$1,167−2.95−$1,170$35,742$113,593
2024-07-1213:15→13:45THESISC 562020.8631.77−$1,091−2.95−$1,094$35,827$114,490
2024-07-1510:45→11:18THESISC 564015.6027.70−$1,210−2.95−$1,213$34,494$113,334
2024-07-1611:15→15:48EODC 565013.0212.30$72−2.95$69$33,972$112,910
2024-07-2910:15→15:48EODC 547014.117.02$709−2.95$706$32,397$108,735
2024-07-3009:45→15:48EODC 547019.750.15$1,960−2.95$1,957$34,064$110,547
2024-08-0110:15→15:48EODC 553018.300.05$1,825−2.95$1,822$33,791$111,050
2024-08-0710:30→10:45THESISC 530021.5532.08−$1,053−2.95−$1,056$32,678$106,709
2024-08-0814:15→15:48EODC 532015.494.00$1,149−2.95$1,146$32,632$107,001
2024-08-0909:45→13:12THESISC 532018.5021.80−$330−2.95−$333$30,903$105,004
2024-08-1209:45→11:00THESISC 535010.1322.60−$1,247−2.95−$1,250$30,050$104,545
2024-08-2110:00→15:48EODC 561017.515.00$1,251−2.95$1,248$34,982$113,465
2024-08-2210:15→15:48EODC 562012.100.05$1,205−2.95$1,202$33,541$112,038
2024-08-2310:15→15:48EODC 563020.001.85$1,815−2.95$1,812$35,303$114,060
2024-08-2610:00→15:48EODC 563018.000.10$1,790−2.95$1,787$35,559$114,376
2024-08-2910:15→12:06THESISC 562014.9023.32−$842−2.95−$845$34,447$113,026
2024-09-1209:45→11:12THESISC 555019.6025.00−$540−2.95−$543$34,943$112,601
2024-09-1610:00→15:48EODC 563013.433.60$983−2.95$980$34,816$113,595
2024-09-1814:15→15:48EODC 567013.390.05$1,334−2.95$1,331$32,847$111,895
2024-09-2611:00→15:48EODC 572018.4023.76−$536−2.95−$539$35,047$114,980
2024-09-2710:30→15:48EODC 575014.840.10$1,474−2.95$1,471$34,547$114,857
2024-10-0410:15→12:36THESISC 570027.5026.68$82−2.95$79$36,717$116,486
2024-10-0814:45→15:48EODC 573015.0925.12−$1,003−2.95−$1,006$35,158$115,281
2024-10-1109:45→10:09THESISC 578016.1030.00−$1,390−2.95−$1,393$35,040$115,795
2024-10-1509:45→15:48EODC 585019.200.05$1,915−2.95$1,912$36,479$118,308
2024-10-1709:45→15:48EODC 585018.500.35$1,815−2.95$1,812$36,272$118,082
2024-10-2513:15→15:48EODC 582014.500.60$1,390−2.95$1,387$35,490$116,854
2024-10-3010:15→15:48EODC 583019.500.40$1,910−2.95$1,907$36,633$118,214
2024-11-0511:00→15:48EODC 57609.0015.90−$690−2.95−$693$33,133$113,466
2024-11-0809:45→10:45THESISC 597017.6024.50−$690−2.95−$693$37,071$120,584
2024-11-1109:45→15:48EODC 600014.661.35$1,331−2.95$1,328$36,539$120,416
2024-11-1913:30→15:48EODC 590010.4015.41−$501−2.95−$504$35,868$118,392
2024-11-2210:15→15:48EODC 595017.0014.34$266−2.95$263$36,859$120,088
2024-11-2614:15→15:48EODC 60103.8012.35−$855−2.95−$858$35,189$119,164
2024-12-0609:45→15:48EODC 608017.216.50$1,071−2.95$1,068$38,551$123,387
2024-12-1111:30→15:48EODC 60807.076.99$8−2.95$5$36,625$121,671
2024-12-1610:15→15:48EODC 60705.005.51−$51−2.95−$54$35,828$120,664
2024-12-2611:45→15:48EODC 602024.2623.40$86−2.95$83$38,270$122,514
2025-01-0311:45→14:30THESISC 591025.0234.58−$956−2.95−$959$37,687$120,390
2025-01-1609:45→15:48EODC 594022.409.05$1,335−2.95$1,332$36,841$119,864
2025-01-2110:15→11:06THESISC 599028.8034.90−$610−2.95−$613$39,096$122,732
2025-01-2311:15→15:48EODC 608016.7022.27−$557−2.95−$560$37,291$122,298
2025-01-3010:00→15:24THESISC 605023.8034.89−$1,109−2.95−$1,112$38,286$122,934
2025-01-3113:45→15:48EODC 607018.800.75$1,805−2.95$1,802$37,279$122,125
2025-02-1310:15→10:39THESISC 606019.2031.50−$1,230−2.95−$1,233$37,676$122,436
2025-02-1809:45→15:48EODC 611015.504.00$1,150−2.95$1,147$37,351$122,778
2025-03-1413:15→15:48EODC 563011.904.00$790−2.95$787$34,090$112,794
2025-03-1711:45→12:06THESISC 564014.7021.60−$690−2.95−$693$34,653$113,526
2025-03-2010:45→15:48EODC 571014.500.03$1,447−2.95$1,444$34,915$114,750
2025-03-2509:45→10:39THESISC 575026.7035.10−$840−2.95−$843$36,969$117,442
2025-03-2609:45→15:48EODC 576025.300.03$2,527−2.95$2,524$36,655$117,238
2025-04-0211:45→12:27THESISC 563026.2033.47−$727−2.95−$730$35,732$114,464
2025-04-0913:30→13:30THESISC 525065.6085.50−$1,990−2.95−$1,993$38,601$111,662
2025-04-1412:00→12:33THESISC 536035.9344.50−$857−2.95−$860$35,742$110,781
2025-04-2412:30→14:36THESISC 545026.0832.10−$602−2.95−$605$34,805$111,038
2025-04-2509:45→12:30THESISC 547035.6035.30$30−2.95$27$36,254$112,817
2025-04-2911:00→13:48THESISC 554021.5029.40−$790−2.95−$793$34,425$111,858
2025-05-0210:00→10:12THESISC 564027.7034.60−$690−2.95−$693$35,975$114,851
2025-05-0810:15→11:18THESISC 564026.5032.30−$580−2.95−$583$35,451$114,274
2025-05-1409:45→15:48EODC 589016.801.80$1,500−2.95$1,497$35,589$117,860
2025-05-1511:30→12:57THESISC 589014.7026.12−$1,142−2.95−$1,145$35,856$118,190
2025-05-2709:45→10:18THESISC 587014.7221.84−$712−2.95−$715$35,462$117,480
2025-05-2909:45→15:48EODC 593015.000.25$1,475−2.95$1,472$34,865$117,592
2025-06-0410:15→15:48EODC 597019.807.29$1,251−2.95$1,248$38,049$121,427
2025-06-0509:45→15:48EODC 59809.500.10$940−2.95$937$33,661$116,962
2025-06-0611:30→14:33THESISC 599014.2024.33−$1,013−2.95−$1,016$36,809$120,596
2025-06-0910:45→15:48EODC 60106.203.30$290−2.95$287$34,835$118,732
2025-06-1009:45→13:09THESISC 601013.9021.70−$780−2.95−$783$36,835$120,894
2025-06-1610:00→15:48EODC 604010.900.65$1,025−2.95$1,022$36,535$120,990
2025-06-2510:15→15:48EODC 608022.0010.20$1,180−2.95$1,177$38,002$123,032
2025-06-3010:45→15:21THESISC 616027.1540.52−$1,337−2.95−$1,340$39,537$125,759
2025-07-0114:00→15:48EODC 619020.0018.70$130−2.95$127$38,674$125,272
2025-07-0210:30→15:48EODC 619022.6031.14−$854−2.95−$857$39,077$125,694
2025-07-0910:30→15:48EODC 624017.6020.10−$250−2.95−$253$38,013$125,216
2025-07-1712:00→15:48EODC 628014.9523.00−$805−2.95−$808$38,274$126,075
2025-07-2109:45→09:54THESISC 629031.1034.80−$370−2.95−$373$41,772$129,084
2025-07-2309:45→13:42THESISC 632011.2024.77−$1,357−2.95−$1,360$37,153$125,384
2025-07-2510:00→13:30THESISC 636017.7032.33−$1,463−2.95−$1,466$39,252$128,202
2025-07-2910:00→15:48EODC 638022.400.20$2,220−2.95$2,217$40,488$129,804
2025-07-3109:45→15:48EODC 639018.530.05$1,848−2.95$1,845$38,974$128,273
2025-08-0611:30→15:48EODC 633015.5018.55−$305−2.95−$308$38,640$127,142
2025-08-0810:15→15:48EODC 637014.9412.26$268−2.95$265$38,463$127,478
2025-08-1209:45→11:00THESISC 639020.5429.90−$936−2.95−$939$39,631$128,990
2025-08-1411:00→15:48EODC 646010.6011.10−$50−2.95−$53$38,283$128,520
2025-08-2209:45→10:00THESISC 640031.6249.22−$1,760−2.95−$1,763$41,202$130,754
2025-09-1109:45→10:03THESISC 655010.0022.30−$1,230−2.95−$1,233$39,007$130,536
2025-09-1714:15→15:48EODC 66208.300.45$785−2.95$782$36,458$128,598
2025-09-1809:45→10:03THESISC 662011.5021.70−$1,020−2.95−$1,023$39,344$131,822
2025-09-2210:45→12:39THESISC 665024.0037.98−$1,398−2.95−$1,401$41,876$134,920
2025-09-3015:00→15:48EODC 665021.4030.80−$940−2.95−$943$41,505$134,534
2025-10-0313:30→15:48EODC 671020.6013.90$670−2.95$667$41,631$135,480
2025-10-0613:30→15:48EODC 673015.9712.30$367−2.95$364$40,970$135,057
2025-10-0709:45→15:48EODC 673022.100.07$2,203−2.95$2,200$41,975$136,114
2025-10-0811:30→15:48EODC 673020.6022.00−$140−2.95−$143$41,809$135,946
2025-10-1009:45→15:48EODC 674026.100.05$2,605−2.95$2,602$42,886$137,224
2025-10-1511:45→15:48EODC 666026.4010.20$1,620−2.95$1,617$41,922$135,072
2025-10-2009:45→10:24THESISC 669029.0033.81−$481−2.95−$484$43,008$136,664
2025-10-2313:45→15:48EODC 673015.9811.66$432−2.95$429$41,141$135,250
2025-10-2910:15→15:48EODC 689031.103.10$2,800−2.95$2,797$44,206$140,634
2025-11-0309:45→15:48EODC 686012.800.12$1,268−2.95$1,265$39,546$135,204
2025-11-1011:00→12:39THESISC 677018.4032.60−$1,420−2.95−$1,423$41,273$135,896
2025-11-2011:45→15:48EODC 667023.000.05$2,295−2.95$2,292$39,850$132,904
2025-11-2509:45→11:48THESISC 670012.1027.18−$1,508−2.95−$1,511$37,901$131,238
2025-11-2809:45→12:54THESISC 682016.3020.32−$402−2.95−$405$41,405$136,734
2025-12-0210:15→15:48EODC 684014.602.50$1,210−2.95$1,207$41,557$137,192
2025-12-0311:45→15:48EODC 684011.4017.07−$567−2.95−$570$41,107$136,726
2025-12-0409:45→15:48EODC 685016.000.70$1,530−2.95$1,527$41,534$137,280
2025-12-1014:45→14:57THESISC 687010.1023.00−$1,290−2.95−$1,293$40,333$136,262
2025-12-1113:45→15:48EODC 68908.905.94$296−2.95$293$41,573$137,946
2025-12-1810:45→15:48EODC 681014.380.10$1,428−2.95$1,425$41,609$136,858
2026-01-0510:00→10:30THESISC 687029.5042.13−$1,263−2.95−$1,266$44,096$140,266
2026-01-0611:00→12:33THESISC 689027.5042.15−$1,465−2.95−$1,468$44,101$140,552
2026-01-0910:30→15:48EODC 694020.7433.15−$1,241−2.95−$1,244$42,612$139,626
2026-01-1211:30→15:48EODC 695020.1029.70−$960−2.95−$963$42,968$140,170
2026-01-1512:15→15:48EODC 696015.870.07$1,580−2.95$1,577$42,107$139,383
2026-01-2210:00→11:39THESISC 689020.7034.30−$1,360−2.95−$1,363$41,799$138,046
2026-01-2311:00→15:48EODC 691022.307.10$1,520−2.95$1,517$43,208$139,884
2026-01-2709:45→09:54THESISC 694029.5037.60−$810−2.95−$813$44,908$141,810
2026-02-0212:15→15:48EODC 697016.908.45$845−2.95$842$42,604$140,064
2026-02-0309:45→15:48EODC 697016.100.04$1,606−2.95$1,603$41,591$138,928
2026-02-0910:00→10:36THESISC 692019.7038.35−$1,865−2.95−$1,868$41,847$138,510
2026-02-1009:45→15:48EODC 696014.901.02$1,388−2.95$1,385$40,971$138,110
2026-02-1109:45→15:48EODC 697021.500.03$2,147−2.95$2,144$42,995$140,446
2026-02-1810:00→10:03THESISC 686032.9035.62−$272−2.95−$275$44,938$140,582
2026-03-1014:15→15:48EODC 680018.000.45$1,755−2.95$1,752$41,688$136,768
2026-03-1710:15→15:48EODC 672022.702.85$1,985−2.95$1,982$42,813$136,712
2026-03-2311:15→15:48EODC 663026.160.05$2,611−2.95$2,608$41,389$134,076
2026-03-3110:00→12:39THESISC 643035.9048.60−$1,270−2.95−$1,273$41,905$131,890
2026-04-0210:45→15:48EODC 659023.000.15$2,285−2.95$2,282$38,618$130,452
2026-04-0609:45→15:48EODC 659024.8018.20$660−2.95$657$40,392$132,437
2026-04-0911:30→11:51THESISC 677018.8036.50−$1,770−2.95−$1,773$41,419$136,056
2026-04-1009:45→15:48EODC 681027.173.17$2,400−2.95$2,397$43,323$138,629
2026-04-1312:30→14:51THESISC 682022.0037.00−$1,500−2.95−$1,503$42,558$137,964
2026-04-2210:30→15:48EODC 711023.5019.52$398−2.95$395$44,226$143,662
2026-04-2411:15→11:48THESISC 712026.0039.35−$1,335−2.95−$1,338$44,928$144,556
2026-04-3009:45→11:09THESISC 713033.5040.70−$720−2.95−$723$46,257$145,974
2026-05-0514:00→15:48EODC 725014.5018.36−$386−2.95−$389$43,985$145,358
2026-05-0809:45→12:24THESISC 736025.6037.90−$1,230−2.95−$1,233$46,402$149,400
2026-05-1311:45→13:00THESISC 741015.0635.50−$2,044−2.95−$2,047$44,800$148,386
2026-05-2011:30→15:48EODC 741015.2021.71−$651−2.95−$654$44,496$148,040
2026-05-2612:00→15:39THESISC 749023.7828.76−$498−2.95−$501$47,329$152,180
2026-05-2710:30→15:48EODC 752013.203.00$1,020−2.95$1,017$44,564$149,596
2026-06-0111:45→13:42THESISC 758013.3025.89−$1,259−2.95−$1,262$45,967$151,976
2026-06-0211:00→15:48EODC 760017.4010.00$740−2.95$737$46,958$153,308
2026-06-1209:45→10:54THESISC 740017.9046.21−$2,831−2.95−$2,834$41,211$144,154
2026-06-2509:45→15:48EODC 740010.600.03$1,057−2.95$1,054$38,400$141,068
2026-06-2909:45→13:51THESISC 739040.6544.40−$375−2.95−$378$49,136$152,003
2026-07-0113:00→15:48EODC 748027.9012.50$1,540−2.95$1,537$47,479$152,174
2026-07-0210:30→15:48EODC 749030.900.05$3,085−2.95$3,082$47,468$152,254
2026-07-0611:30→15:48EODC 751025.9037.65−$1,175−2.95−$1,178$47,343$152,442
2026-07-0911:45→15:48EODC 751021.9029.80−$790−2.95−$793$46,418$151,448
2026-07-1510:45→15:48EODC 754022.7021.80$90−2.95$87$46,530$151,960
2026-07-2111:30→15:48EODC 749018.5420.00−$146−2.95−$149$45,575$150,274
2026-07-2709:45→15:48EODC 744027.520.05$2,747−2.95$2,744$47,286$151,432
2026-08-0511:15→15:48EODC 773028.408.00$2,040−2.95$2,037$48,732$156,888
2026-08-1109:45→15:48EODC 775016.500.03$1,647−2.95$1,644$46,018$154,236
2026-08-1209:45→15:48EODC 775014.923.74$1,118−2.95$1,115$45,607$153,792
2026-08-1410:00→15:48EODC 779020.200.30$1,990−2.95$1,987$48,103$157,076
2026-08-2810:00→10:48THESISC 772035.0037.10−$210−2.95−$213$50,657$158,058
2026-09-1110:45→11:24THESISC 764022.0033.80−$1,180−2.95−$1,183$48,220$155,034
2026-09-1709:45→15:42THESISC 762013.1019.70−$660−2.95−$663$45,779$152,294

Sundial Research is a research demonstration by the V6 systematic trading project. All results are backtested on historical exchange data (Jun 2024 – Sep 2026 for SPX), net of modelled commissions, exchange and regulatory fees and half the bid–ask spread. They are not live results, not a solicitation, and not investment advice. Options involve substantial risk of loss.