One of the hardest decisions in trading is when to sell a winning position. Sell too early and you miss bigger gains. Sell too late and you give back profits. Trailing stops solve this problem by automatically locking in gains as a stock rises while still giving it room to run.
What is a Trailing Stop?
A trailing stop is a dynamic stop loss that automatically adjusts as the stock price moves in your favor. Instead of being set at a fixed price, it trails the stock at a specified distance. If the stock rises, the stop rises with it. If the stock falls, the stop stays in place and triggers when hit.
Think of it like a loyal guard dog: It follows you up the mountain but refuses to go back down. As you climb higher (stock rises), the dog climbs with you. If you fall (stock drops), the dog catches you at the last place it stopped.
How Trailing Stops Work
There are two ways to set a trailing stop: by dollar amount or by percentage.
Dollar-Based Trailing Stop
You set the trailing amount in dollars. The stop always stays a fixed dollar amount below the highest price reached.
Dollar Trailing Stop Example
You buy a stock at $50 and set a $5 trailing stop.
- Initial stop: $45 ($5 below $50)
- Stock rises to $55, stop rises to $50
- Stock rises to $60, stop rises to $55
- Stock pulls back to $58, stop stays at $55
- Stock drops to $55, your stop triggers and you sell
Result: You bought at $50, sold at $55, made $5 per share profit.
Percentage-Based Trailing Stop
You set the trailing amount as a percentage. The stop always stays a fixed percentage below the highest price reached.
Percentage Trailing Stop Example
You buy a stock at $100 and set a 10% trailing stop.
- Initial stop: $90 (10% below $100)
- Stock rises to $120, stop rises to $108 (10% below $120)
- Stock rises to $150, stop rises to $135 (10% below $150)
- Stock drops to $140, stop stays at $135
- Stock drops to $135, your stop triggers
Result: You bought at $100, sold at $135, made 35% profit even though the stock peaked at $150.
Advantages of Trailing Stops
1. Let Winners Run
The biggest advantage is capturing more upside. Instead of selling at a fixed target, you stay in the trade as long as the stock keeps climbing. A $10 target could become a $50 gain if the stock goes parabolic.
2. Lock in Profits Automatically
As the stock rises, your stop rises too. You are guaranteed to keep a portion of your gains without having to watch the screen constantly.
3. Remove Emotional Decisions
Trailing stops take the guesswork out of exit timing. The market decides when to take you out. No more wondering if you should sell or hold.
4. Protection Against Reversals
Stocks can reverse quickly. A trailing stop ensures you exit near the top rather than riding a winner all the way back down.
5. Hands-Off Trading
Once set, trailing stops work automatically. You do not need to manually adjust your stop as the stock climbs.
Disadvantages of Trailing Stops
1. Getting Stopped Out Too Early
If your trailing distance is too tight, normal price fluctuations will stop you out before the real move happens. A stock might dip 3%, stop you out, then rally 20%.
2. Leaving Money on the Table
The stock will always pull back and hit your stop at some point. You will never sell at the exact top. A trailing stop that triggers at $135 means you missed out on selling at $150.
3. Gaps Can Hurt
If a stock gaps down overnight, your trailing stop becomes a market order and sells at the gap-down price, potentially far below your stop level.
4. Not Ideal for All Markets
In choppy, sideways markets, trailing stops can repeatedly stop you out with small losses before any trend develops.
How to Set the Right Trailing Distance
Setting the right trailing distance is crucial. Too tight and you get stopped out prematurely. Too wide and you give back too much profit.
Consider Volatility
More volatile stocks need wider trailing distances. A stock that routinely swings 5% daily should not have a 3% trailing stop. Use the Average True Range (ATR) to gauge normal movement.
Common Trailing Distances
- Day traders: 1-3% or $0.50-$2.00
- Swing traders: 5-10% or ATR-based
- Position traders: 10-25% or based on key support levels
Use Technical Levels
Instead of arbitrary percentages, set your trailing stop below key technical levels like moving averages, trend lines, or recent swing lows.
Technical Trailing Stop
A stock is trending above its 20-day moving average. Instead of a percentage trail, you keep your stop just below the 20-day MA. As the MA rises, so does your stop. This gives the trade room to breathe while protecting against a trend break.
Trailing Stop Strategies
1. Tighten as Profit Grows
Start with a wider trailing stop to give the trade room. As profits grow, tighten the trail to protect gains. Begin at 10%, move to 7% after 20% profit, then 5% after 40% profit.
2. Use Multiple Trailing Stops
Sell half your position with a tighter trail and let the other half run with a wider trail. This locks in some profit while keeping upside potential.
3. Combine with Price Targets
Take partial profit at a predetermined target, then put a trailing stop on the remainder. You get guaranteed profit plus the chance for more.
4. Volatility-Adjusted Trails
Set your trailing stop at 2-3 times the ATR. This automatically accounts for how much the stock normally moves.
Trailing Stop vs Fixed Stop Loss
| Feature | Fixed Stop Loss | Trailing Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusts with price | No | Yes (moves up only) |
| Locks in profit | Only if manually moved | Automatically |
| Best for | Initial risk management | Riding trends |
| Requires adjustment | Yes | No |
Tips for Using Trailing Stops
- Do not set too tight: Give trades room to breathe
- Match to volatility: Wider trails for volatile stocks
- Consider the trend: Use trailing stops in trending markets, not choppy ones
- Review your results: Track how often you get stopped out and adjust
- Combine with other exits: Use partial profit taking with trailing stops
- Account for gaps: Understand overnight risk
Track Your Exit Strategy
Pro Trader Dashboard shows where you exited trades and how much profit you captured. Analyze your trailing stop performance.
Summary
Trailing stops are powerful tools for capturing gains while protecting profits. They automatically follow winning positions up but not down, letting you ride trends without manually adjusting your stop. The key is setting the right trailing distance based on volatility and your trading style. Too tight and you get stopped out early. Too wide and you give back too much profit.
Master the basics first with our guide on stop loss orders, or learn about stop limit orders for more price control on your exits.