Posts Tagged ‘nicholas darvas’
Darvas Method - Pure Madness But It Works
Monday, February 8th, 2010
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Nicholas Darvas created what he coined the “Darvas Method.” Darvas disagreed with old the Wall Street adage “buy low, sell high.” These words of wisdom are based on buying stocks because of their valuation. A stock with a low price and a high valuation is, theoretically, supposed to rise to what it is valued at. However Darvas believed that in order to make a profit, a trader had to “buy high, sell higher.” This concept went strongly against most traders’ view of choosing stocks, which is often done by judging stocks on their value. Unfortunately the valuation method is very difficult and complex, and is often incorrect.
A trader who uses the valuation method is essentially to pick a stock that looks more valuable than it actually is. Traders who use this method are often highly educated individuals who have lots of time in which to analyze stocks and their indicators. Darvas’ method, on the other hand, requires minimal knowledge and a minimal time commitment.
The objective of the Darvas box method is to buy high and sell higher. This does not mean it is a strategy of buying new highs. Simply buying new highs is sure way to lose an investment. The Darvas method first confirms that each new high is part of a bullish trend, and not simply part of an unsupported, short lived rally. The volatility range that is createdby each box helps to indicate the stock’s strength or weakness.
When a stock is strong, it will break out of the top of the box. When the stock is weak, it will fall out of the bottom.
One of the more common criticisms of Darvas box method is that he designed it for the market that existed in the 1950s. But today’s market still operates on the same principles as it did in the past. Traders still buy and sell with the same herd mentality no matter what year it is. The biggest difference between the markets of today and the markets of Darvas’ time is the technology that drives trading.
During Darvas’ time, all trading was done with paper orders or on the telephone. Stockbrokers were the only ones who could trade stock on the market. Today trading is done almost entirely electronically, and anyone with an Internet connection can place an order with an online broker. That same order can be executed almost instantly. Now thousands more trades can take place in day than could happen in Darvas’ time. With more trades taking place, the market has become more volatile. In addition, technology has made the stock market open to more people, resulting in even more trades than in Darvas’ time.
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