GDR Model Review: Q1 2026
Built for the trend. Patient through the noise.
Most of the time, doing nothing feels wrong. Especially in markets.
Prices move, headlines scream, and there’s this constant pressure to act—to do something.
But Q1 was a reminder that restraint is part of the process. January and February were noisy, directionless, and difficult for a trend-following strategy. The GDR Model stayed measured, protected capital, and waited.
Then March arrived. The trend showed up—and the model did what it’s built to do.
The GDR Model returned 3.26% vs the S&P 500’s Total Return of -4.33%, outperforming the index by 759 basis points in Q1 2026.
This was a strong quarter in the context of choppy markets and a challenging geopolitical backdrop.
February in particular highlighted the limits of a trend-following strategy: when there is no trend, there is little to capture.
When a trend finally emerged in March, the GDR Model responded by outperforming the market by 892 basis points in that month alone.
Not only does Q1 2026 show that the model is working as expected, if anything it validates its value: preserve capital in noise, and take advantage when conditions (finally) become favorable.
