Understanding the Equity Stability Score (ESS)
In trading, profitability alone does not tell the full story. What truly separates disciplined traders from short term performers is consistency.
To measure this, Top One Trader uses the Equity Stability Score (ESS).
ESS evaluates not just how much profit you generate, but how balanced and stable your trading performance is over time.
What Is the Equity Stability Score (ESS)
The Equity Stability Score (ESS) is a percentage that reflects how concentrated your trading results are.
It considers:
Your largest winning day
Your largest losing day (calculated as a positive number. -350 would be 350)
Your total net profit
A lower ESS indicates stable, consistent trading.
A higher ESS suggests profits rely too heavily on one or two outsized trading days.
ESS Formula
ESS =
[ Largest Winning Day + Largest Losing Day (absolute value) ] ÷ Total Profit × 100
Definitions
Largest Winning Day
Your single most profitable trading day.
Largest Losing Day
Your single largest losing trading day, counted as a positive value.
Total Profit
Your overall closed net profit.
ESS Requirement for NOVA Accounts
Account Stage | ESS Rule |
Evaluation | Not applicable |
Funded | 20% ESS or lower required for payout |
Qualification
If ESS is 20% or lower → Payout eligible
If ESS is above 20% → Continue trading to improve score
All other payout rules must also be satisfied.
Examples of ESS in Action
✅ Example 1 — ESS Meets Requirement
Largest winning day: $400
Largest losing day: –$350 (calculated as a positive number.)
Total profit: $3,750
Calculation:
400 + 350 = 750
750 ÷ 3,750 = 0.20 × 100 = 20% ESS
Result → Qualified
✅ Example 2 — ESS Meets Requirement
Largest winning day: $1,200
Largest losing day: –$800 (calculated as a positive number.)
Total profit: $11,000
Calculation:
1,200 + 800 = 2,000
2,000 ÷ 11,000 = 0.67 × 100 = 18% ESS
Result → Qualified (below 20%)
❌ Example 3 — Small Profit Base
Largest winning day: $500
Largest losing day: –$400 (calculated as a positive number.)
Total profit: $1,200
Calculation:
500 + 400 = 900
900 ÷ 1,200 = 0.75 × 100 = 75% ESS
Result → Not qualified (higher than 20%)
How to Maintain a Healthy ESS
To keep ESS within limits:
Balance profitable and losing days
Avoid oversized trades
Build steady profit growth
Focus on consistency rather than spikes
If ESS is too high, increasing total profit gradually without creating new extreme days will naturally improve the score.