This one trade would have doubled your investment in less than four months.
And all it took was following a proven system — no guessing, no hype.
In this case study, we’ll break down how TurtleSignals delivered a +118% return on United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) in just 15 weeks.
This trade followed the exact risk-managed, trend-following principles made famous by the original Turtle traders in the 1980s.
Whether you’re already familiar with the Turtle Trading System or just discovering it, this trade shows what’s possible when you combine time-tested rules with modern execution and a capable screener.
Let’s dive into the details.
The Breakout Signal — Entry Triggered on August 30
On August 30th, 2024, TurtleSignals generated a new long signal for UAL after the stock broke out of its 20-day high. The entry price was $43.66, and the initial stop loss was placed at $40.55. This signal was delivered to subscribers via our private Telegram channel.
The system had automatically detected the System 1 breakout based on the classic Turtle trading system setup.
We entered the trade, set our stop, and prepared to pyramid in.
Adding to a Winner — Pyramiding with Precision
As the price moved favorably, the system began signaling additional entries for scaling in.
On September 5th, with UAL climbing to $45.85, TurtleSignals sent out a message to add 3 more units and adjust the stop loss to $42.93.
Just a few days later, on September 9th, the final unit was added at $46.65, bringing the total position to full size. At this point, the stop was raised to breakeven territory at $43.65.
After just 10 days in the trade, UAL was already up over 7%, and our stops were in break-even territory — but this move was only just getting started.
The Power of Patience — Sit Tight and Let the System Work
Once the position was fully built, we did… absolutely nothing.
This is one of the hardest things for discretionary traders to do — but it’s one of the greatest strengths of rules-based systems like TurtleSignals. No second-guessing, no manually tweaking the stop, no emotional profit-taking.
We simply let the trade run — for 15 full weeks — as UAL exploded to the upside.
During this run, the system made no changes. The trend was intact, the rules were clear. We held steady.
Exit Triggered — December 13 at $95.29
On December 13th, UAL finally broke its 10-day low (the System 1 close signal), triggering a sell signal at $95.29.
This closed out the position after 15 weeks, locking in a +118.3% return.
No HODLing. No diamond hands. Just precise execution of a classic breakout and trend-following strategy.
What This Trade Shows Us
This wasn’t a one-off lucky call. It was a textbook application of the Turtle Trading System:
- Disciplined Entry: Breakout confirmed, stop defined.
- Scaling In: We added units only as the trade proved itself.
- Letting Winners Run: No early exits, no emotional decisions.
- Rules-Based Exit: Let the trend tell us when it was over.
It’s worth noting this trade is just one of many high-performing signals. At the time, this UAL trade was the highest returning trade:
Ready to Catch the Next Turtle Trade?
If you’re tired of guessing and want to trade a consistent, tested strategy with real results — then you need TurtleSignals.
We deliver clean, clear signals based on the same principles used by the original Turtle traders — optimized for today’s markets, and delivered the minute it happens to our private Telegram channels.
Click here for more details:
Want to Learn More About the System?
We cover the foundational principles behind the Turtle strategy here.
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