Average Day Trader Return: Opportunity and Reality

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The average day trader return can be a tough nut to crack. According to research, a study of 23,000 day traders found that only about 3% of them were profitable over a 12-month period.

Most day traders struggle to make a profit, with a study showing that 71% of day traders lose money within the first year of trading. This is likely due to the high level of risk involved in day trading, where even small mistakes can result in significant losses.

The reality of day trading is often far from the glamorous depiction in movies and TV shows. In fact, the majority of day traders are individual investors, and the average day trader return is often a negative number.

What to Expect

Day trading profits can be enormous, but they're not the norm. In fact, even professionals tend to end up with annual returns ranging from 40% to 60%.

A realistic day trading income for successful traders should be around one to four percent per month. This may not sound like a lot, but it can add up to a good income over time.

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The majority of traders make huge losses, so it's more important to trade successfully than to make a day trading profit. This is a harsh reality, but it's essential to understand before starting your day trading journey.

Here's a rough idea of what to expect from day trading returns:

Opportunity

Opportunity is a crucial determinant of the returns you'll get from trading. If your trading strategy is right 85% of the time but trades too seldom, you won't get the type of returns you want.

Trading a lot of markets can help mitigate this issue. There are hundreds of stocks to choose from, and thousands if you consider smaller corporations.

It's impossible to predict what types of returns you'll get or how often you'll have signals to trade. Every trader uses a unique trading system, position sizing, and risk management techniques.

Trading too seldom can make it hard for profits to amass quickly. You may find yourself lacking signals at regular intervals, even with many stocks to choose from.

In a Nutshell

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Day trading profits can be enormous, but they're not the norm.

A realistic day trading income for successful traders is around 1-4% per month.

The majority of traders make huge losses, so it's more important to trade successfully than to make a day trading profit.

To give you a better idea, here are some key statistics:

  • Annual returns can range from negative to 100%+, but even pros tend to end around 40-60%.
  • Day traders can make one to four percent per month with successful trading.

At the end of the month, a good income from day trading should add up from manageable but recurring profits.

Factors Affecting Returns

Day trading is a complex and challenging endeavor, and understanding the factors that affect returns is crucial for success.

The average return for a day trader varies greatly due to numerous factors, including the time invested, trading strategy, and available starting capital.

Day trading is a full-time job that requires focus and dedication, and positive results are often achieved by traders who concentrate fully on the activity.

Your personal suitability also plays a significant role in determining your day trading returns. If you're new to the financial markets, emotional, or prone to making quick decisions, it's best to avoid day trading.

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Here are some key factors that impact day trading returns:

  • Time invested: Day trading requires a significant amount of time and dedication.
  • Trading strategy: The effectiveness of your trading strategy can greatly impact your returns.
  • Available starting capital: The amount of capital you start with can affect your ability to make trades and generate returns.
  • Brokerage fees: Choosing a broker with favorable conditions can save you thousands of euros per month.
  • Taxes: Day trading taxes, including settlement tax and solidarity surcharge, can significantly impact your profits.
  • Other expenses: Other expenses, such as computer and internet costs, can also affect your returns.

By understanding these factors and taking steps to mitigate their impact, you can increase your potential returns and achieve success in day trading.

Calculating Returns

Calculating returns for day traders can be a complex task, as numerous factors come into play. The average return for a day trader varies, and it's not a guaranteed way to generate income, as it involves significant risk.

Understanding your investment capacity is key to improving your average returns. Day trading can be profitable, but it requires a dedicated approach, a robust strategy, and continuous learning.

A day trader's return can range from negative to 100%+ a year, even for professionals, who tend to end up around 40%-60% on an annual basis. This wide range is due to the significant risk involved.

To give you a better idea, a successful trader can expect between 1 and 4% per month, which corresponds to daily earnings of 0.033 to 0.13 percent. This translates to a daily profit of €33 to €130 for a trader with €100,000 in assets.

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Here's a rough estimate of the day trading earnings for a successful trader with €100,000 in assets:

Keep in mind that these gains are made possible by the use of leveraged products, which amplify profits and losses by a factor of X. However, the choice of leveraged financial products is extremely limited with some brokers, making effective day trading virtually impossible.

Realistic Earnings

Realistic earnings for day traders can vary, but it's essential to understand that returns comparable to those of broad market indices are the most plausible. Most beginning traders expect to make high returns, such as 10% per month, but this isn't realistic or typical.

Consistently achieving returns that outperform the market is rare and demands a high degree of skill, experience, and meticulous risk management. According to experts, the general failure rate for day traders is around 95 percent.

Only about 4.5 percent of day traders are successful, meaning they generate significant profit. If success is defined simply as not losing money, the success rate only climbs to around 6 percent. Other sources put the success rate even lower, at 1 percent, especially for men.

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The average return for a day trader varies, but it's essential to remember that day trading is a risky endeavor that requires a dedicated approach, a robust strategy, and continuous learning. While day trading can be profitable, it's not a guaranteed way to generate income and involves significant risk.

Here's a rough estimate of the returns you can expect from day trading:

Keep in mind that these estimates are based on expert opinions and may vary depending on individual circumstances. It's essential to understand your investment capacity, refine your trading strategy, and learn to navigate the market to improve your average returns.

Challenges and Considerations

Making a living from day trading is possible, but it's only achievable for a very small proportion of traders. They must achieve significant day trading profits per day/month in the long term, which is not an easy feat.

Only a tiny percentage of traders succeed in making a living from day trading, and even they often have to deal with heavy losses. This makes it clear that day trading is not a reliable source of income for most people.

People with higher starting capital, such as 100,000 euros or more, have better opportunities to make a living from day trading. They can focus fully on day trading and increase their day trading profit per day, thanks to their solid financial reserves.

Drawbacks

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Day trading requires a significant amount of capital, with most recommendations suggesting at least $10,000 and preferably more like $30,000, for a total starting capital of $55,000.

The math skills needed for day trading can be a challenge, especially for those without a background in finance or analysis. Day traders typically need to be familiar with mathematics and analysis or have access to software that can do the analysis for them.

The odds of beating the market are not in your favor, with a 95 percent failure rate and an average return rate of 10 percent for day traders. This is compared to the average rate of return for the stock market, which has historically been 9.8 percent.

Day trading can be seen as a form of betting, with most people failing at it due to the high risk involved.

Profit Difficult to Determine

Determining the average return for a day trader is a tricky task, as it varies greatly.

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The truth is, day trading is a risky endeavour that requires a dedicated approach, a robust strategy, and continuous learning.

While day trading can be profitable, it's not a guaranteed way to generate income and involves significant risk.

Day trading earnings fluctuate greatly, with losses occurring in a very short space of time, followed by substantial profits just minutes later.

This is because not everything always goes smoothly with this form of active trading: Losses will inevitably occur, but should be offset by higher and more frequent successes.

An average of 0.033 percent - which corresponds to one percent per month - is generally regarded as the lower end of the day trading profit scale.

There are no real limits at the top, but more than ten percent per month is considered very difficult to achieve.

Here's a rough estimate of the different day trading profit levels:

Most day traders do not make a profit per day, but a considerable loss.

Costs

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Day trading involves various costs that can eat into profits. One of the most significant expenses is brokerage fees, which can add up quickly, especially with high-frequency trading.

CapTrader offers a more favorable option, with trading costs as low as $2 per share, which can save you a substantial amount of money.

Brokerage fees can quickly add up to several thousand euros per month, significantly influencing your day trading profits.

You'll also need to consider tax expenses, including a 25% settlement tax, solidarity surcharge, and potentially even church tax, depending on your personal situation.

A favorable review from the tax office can help you avoid the flat-rate withholding tax, but this is not guaranteed.

In addition to these costs, you'll also need to factor in expenses for a computer and internet connection, as well as potential license fees for professional trading software.

Making a Living from This

Making a living from day trading is possible, but it's only achievable for a very small percentage of traders.

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A single person made a profit of 30 million US dollars in just one day, but this is an exceptional case.

Successful traders can earn between 0.033 to 0.13 percent per day, which translates to 33 to 130 euros per day if you have 100,000 euros available for day trading.

To make a living from day trading, you need to be in this lucky group that achieves significant profits per day and month in the long term.

People with higher starting capital, such as 100,000 euros and more, have better opportunities to make a living from day trading.

A solid day trading profit per day ensures sufficient income, and these traders have the necessary reserves to concentrate fully on day trading.

Getting Started

Day trading can be a thrilling way to invest, but it's essential to start with a solid understanding of the basics.

The average day trader return is around 2-5% per month, which may not seem like a lot, but it's a realistic goal for beginners.

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To succeed, you'll need to learn about technical analysis, which involves studying charts and patterns to predict market trends.

According to our research, 70% of day traders lose money within the first year of trading.

It's crucial to develop a trading plan and stick to it, rather than making impulsive decisions based on emotions.

A well-structured trading plan can help you avoid common mistakes and stay focused on your goals.

As a beginner, it's best to start with a small account and gradually increase your investment as you gain experience and confidence.

Remember, even the best traders have losing days, so it's essential to stay calm and patient during market fluctuations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average profit of a day trader?

The average profit of a day trader is not well-defined, as figures vary widely depending on experience and trading style. However, excluding prop firm traders, the average annual profit is likely much lower, around $50,000 or less.

Tasha Kautzer

Senior Writer

Tasha Kautzer is a versatile and accomplished writer with a diverse portfolio of articles. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she has successfully covered a wide range of topics, from the lives of notable individuals to the achievements of esteemed institutions. Her work spans the globe, delving into the realms of Norwegian billionaires, the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, and the experiences of Norwegian emigrants to the United States.

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