Understanding the Equity Stability Score (ESS)
When it comes to trading, making profits is only one part of the story. What truly separates a disciplined trader from a lucky one is consistency. At Top One Trader, we introduced the Equity Stability Score (ESS) to measure not just how much you earn, but how steadily you earn it while maintaining your risk and profits at the same time.
What Is the Equity Stability Score (ESS)?
The Equity Stability Score (ESS) is a percentage that reflects how balanced and consistent your trading has been. It considers both your largest winning day and your largest losing day, then compares those to your overall profit.
A lower ESS means your trading results are more stable and sustainable, while a higher ESS suggests that your performance may rely too heavily on just one or two outsized trades.
ESS Formula
ESS = [ Largest Winning Day + Largest Losing Day |Absolute value| ] ÷ Total Profit × 100%
Where:
Largest Winning Day = your single biggest profitable day
Largest Losing Day = your single biggest losing day (counted as a positive number)
Total Profit = your overall net profit
ESS Requirement for Prime Accounts
When you request a payout from a Prime account, your ESS must be 30% or lower.
If your ESS is ≤ 30% → you are qualified for a payout (as long as other rules are also met).
If your ESS is > 30% → you’ll need to continue trading until your score improves.
Examples of ESS in Action
✅ Example 1: ESS Meets Requirement
Largest winning day: $400
Largest losing day: –$350
Total profit: $3,750
Calculation:
Convert the loss → $350
Add → $400 + $350 = $750
Divide → $750 ÷ $3,750 = 0.20 = 20% ESS
Since 20% is below 30%, this trader qualifies for payout.
❌ Example 2: ESS is too High (Above 30%)
Largest winning day: $1,200
Largest losing day: –$800
Total profit: $3,000
Calculation:
Convert the loss → $800
Add → $1,200 + $800 = $2,000
Divide → $2,000 ÷ $3,000 = 0.67 = 67% ESS
This trader does not qualify because the ESS is too high. They’ll need to keep trading and increase total profit steadily (without setting new largest days) until the percentage falls to 30% or lower.
❌ Example 3: Small Profit, Large Day Impact
Largest winning day: $500
Largest losing day: –$400
Total profit: $1,200
Calculation:
Convert the loss → $400
Add → $500 + $400 = $900
Divide → $900 ÷ $1,200 = 0.75 = 75% ESS
Although the trader is profitable overall, the ESS is very high because a few big days dominate their account. They’ll need to build more steady profits until the ratio drops.
❌ Example 4: Break-Even Situation
Largest winning day: $600
Largest losing day: –$550
Total profit: $1,000
Calculation:
Convert the loss → $550
Add → $600 + $550 = $1,150
Divide → $1,150 ÷ $1,000 = 1.15 = 115% ESS
Here, the ESS is way above 30% because the total profit is still too small compared to the largest win/loss days. The trader needs to grow their profit base significantly before requesting payout.
How to Maintain a Healthy ESS
Here are some tips:
Balance wins and losses: Don’t let one day dominate your performance.
Avoid oversized trades: A single big win or loss can distort your ESS.
Grow total profit: If your ESS is too high, building up more steady profits will naturally bring it down.
Stay consistent: Trade steadily, avoid chasing “make-or-break” setups, and let time improve your score.
Why do we use ESS?
At Top One Trader, we don’t just look for big profits, we look for smart and sustainable trading. Traders who grow their accounts steadily, with solid risk management, are more likely to succeed in the long run. ESS helps us reward consistency, not chaos.