TrendCatcher MA Pro
- Experts
- Version: 1.29
- Updated: 24 October 2026
- Activations: 10
TrendCatcher MA Pro is a moving average crossover Expert Advisor with flexible stop loss and take profit modes. The entry rule is deliberately classic - a fast moving average crossing a slow one on a closed bar - while the exit side offers fixed percentage targets, targets anchored to the moving averages and ATR, a two-tier partial take profit, or an ATR trailing stop.
OVERVIEW
- Entry on a confirmed crossover of a fast and a slow moving average (period, method and price adjustable)
- Stop loss: fixed percent of price, or slow MA plus or minus an ATR distance
- Take profit: fixed percent, slow MA plus or minus ATR, or two-tier partial close anchored on the fast and slow MAs
- Optional ATR trailing stop, evaluated once per bar
- Risk-based position size with compounding or fixed initial balance
- Spread filter, one position at a time, decisions on closed bars
- Built-in optimizer scoring system for robust parameter selection
- On-chart dashboard with account drawdown and EA drawdown tracked separately
HOW IT WORKS
Entry: at each new bar the EA compares the fast and slow moving averages on the last two closed bars. A cross of the fast MA above the slow MA opens a buy; a cross below opens a sell. No new trade is opened while a position is open.
Stop loss (InpSL_Mode):
- Fixed percent: InpSL_Pct percent away from the entry price
- MA + ATR: placed at the slow MA minus (buys) or plus (sells) InpSL_ATR_Mult x ATR, so the stop sits behind the trend structure
Take profit (InpTP_Mode):
- Fixed percent: InpTP_Pct percent from the entry
- MA + ATR: slow MA plus or minus InpTP_ATR_Mult x ATR
- Partial 2-tier: when price reaches the fast MA plus InpPartialTier1_ATR_Mult x ATR, InpPartialTier1_Pct percent of the position is closed; the remainder is closed at the slow MA plus InpPartialTier2_ATR_Mult x ATR. Both levels move with the averages and are checked at each new bar
Trailing: with InpUseTrailing enabled, no fixed take profit is set and the stop follows price at InpTrailing_ATR_Mult x ATR, updated once per bar.
Risk: the lot size risks InpRiskPercent percent of the current balance (InpCompounding = true) or of the initial balance (false).
Safety: margin check before every order, full lot normalization including the broker's aggregate volume limit, stop and freeze level checks on entries and modifications, spread filter, automatic filling mode detection. A startup self-test reports whether trading is actually allowed on the chart.
INPUTS
Strategy Moving Averages: InpFastMA, InpSlowMA, InpMAMethod, InpMAPrice
Money Management: InpRiskPercent, InpCompounding
Stop Loss Configuration: InpSL_Mode, InpSL_Pct, InpSL_ATR_Mult
Take Profit Configuration: InpTP_Mode, InpTP_Pct, InpTP_ATR_Mult
Partial TP (2-Tier MA): InpPartialTier1_ATR_Mult, InpPartialTier1_Pct, InpPartialTier2_ATR_Mult
Trailing Stop: InpUseTrailing, InpTrailing_ATR_Mult
ATR Settings: InpATR_Period
Filters: InpMaxSpreadPoints
Identification: Magic_Number, Order_Comment
Optimizer Score: Score_* inputs, see below
OPTIMIZER SCORING SYSTEM
Standard MT5 criteria such as maximum balance or profit factor tend to select parameter sets that fit the past by chance. TrendCatcher MA Pro includes a custom scoring function that ranks each optimization pass on the quality of its equity curve:
- Smoothness of the equity curve (R2 of a linear fit)
- Profit speed (normalized slope)
- Temporal stability (divergence between the first and second half of the test)
- Profit concentration (penalty when a few trades make most of the profit)
- Drawdown depth and duration (Ulcer Index)
- Capital efficiency (MAR ratio)
- Trade count reliability
A pass scores 0 if net profit is negative, or if profit factor, drawdown or number of trades are outside the limits you set. In the MT5 optimizer, set Optimizer Criterion to Custom max.
RECOMMENDED SETUP
- Trending instruments and timeframes
- The default risk is 2 percent per trade; 0.5 to 1.0 percent is a more conservative starting point
- Optimize in two stages: 1 Minute OHLC or Open Prices for the moving average and SL/TP parameters, then Every Tick to confirm the best zone
- VPS for continuous operation
DISCLAIMER
Trading leveraged products involves a high risk of loss. Backtest results do not guarantee future performance. Test on a demo account before trading live.
