NOVA Accounts - 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
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
All other payout rules must also be satisfied.
Examples of ESS in Action
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Largest winning day | $400 |
| Largest losing day (calculated as a positive number.) | –$350 |
| Total profit | $3,750 |
Calculation:
750 ÷ 3,750 = 0.20 × 100 = 20% ESS
Result → Qualified
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Largest winning day | $1,200 |
| Largest losing day (calculated as a positive number.) | –$800 |
| Total profit | $11,000 |
Calculation:
2,000 ÷ 11,000 = 0.18 × 100 = 18% ESS
Result → Qualified (below 20%)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Largest winning day | $500 |
| Largest losing day (calculated as a positive number.) | –$400 |
| Total profit | $1,200 |
Calculation:
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.