Skip to content
SuperMoney logo
SuperMoney logo

Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD): A Beginner’s Guide

Last updated 03/07/2024 by

SuperMoney Team

Edited by

Fact checked by

Summary:
Moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) is a technical analysis tool used by traders to identify trends and potential trading opportunities in the market. You can use MACD to identify trend direction, potential buying and selling opportunities, and divergences between the MACD and the price of an asset.
Regardless of how experienced you are as an investor, it’s always best to acknowledge as many analysis tools as possible. Developed by Gerald Appel in the late 1970s, the moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) has become one of the most widely used indicators in technical analysis. While the name may sound intimidating, MACD is actually a relatively simple tool that can provide valuable insights into market trends and potential trade signals.
In this post, we’ll provide a beginner-friendly introduction to MACD, including an explanation of what it is, how it’s calculated, and how it’s used by traders. We’ll also discuss the limitations of MACD and how it can be used in combination with other technical indicators and analysis techniques.

Compare Investment Advisors

Compare the services, fees, and features of the leading investment advisors. Find the best firm for your portfolio.
Compare Investment Advisors

What is moving average convergence / divergence?

Moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) is a technical analysis tool used to identify trends and potential trading opportunities in the market. You can calculate the value by subtracting the 26-period exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA. The resulting line is known as the MACD line. Afterward, plot a 9-period EMA of the MACD line, which is known as the signal line. Then, plot the MACD and signal line on a chart, which you can use to identify trend direction and potential trading opportunities.
In other words, MACD is a momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of an asset’s price. By analyzing the differences between the two moving averages, traders can gain insights into the direction and strength of a trend. The MACD can also be used to identify potential buying and selling opportunities in the market, as well as divergences between the MACD and the price of an asset.

Pro Tip

An exponential moving average (EMA) is a type of moving average that gives more weight to the most recent data points. Unlike a simple moving average, which calculates the average price of a security over a specified period of time, an EMA places more significance on recent prices, making it a more responsive indicator.
The calculation of an EMA involves applying a weight to each price in the data series, with the most recent prices receiving the highest weight. The weight decreases exponentially as you move further back in time, hence the name exponential moving average.

How can you use MACD?

Investors can use MACD in several ways to identify potential trading opportunities and trends in the market. Here are a few ways that investors commonly use moving average convergence/divergence:
  1. Identifying trend direction. The MACD can be used to determine the direction of a trend by analyzing the crossovers between the MACD line and the signal line. When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it’s considered a bullish signal, indicating that the trend could turn positive. Conversely, when the MACD line crosses below the signal line, it’s considered a bearish signal, indicating that the trend may turn negative.
  2. Identifying potential buying and selling opportunities. Traders can use MACD to identify potential buying and selling opportunities by looking for crossovers between the MACD and signal lines. When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it may be a signal to buy, while a cross below the signal line may be a signal to sell.
  3. Identifying divergences. Investors can use MACD to identify divergences between the MACD and the price of an asset. When the price of an asset is trending higher but the MACD line is trending lower, it may indicate that the trend is weakening and a reversal may be imminent. On the other hand, when the price of an asset trends lower but the MACD line trends higher, it may indicate that the trend will reverse.
It’s worth noting that MACD is just one tool in a trader’s toolbox and is best used in combination with other technical indicators and analysis techniques. It’s also important to remember that no indicator or tool is foolproof and that market conditions can change rapidly. Because of that, it’s crucial for traders to stay updated on market developments and practice sound risk management techniques.

Limitations of MACD

While moving average convergence/divergence can be a useful tool for identifying trends and potential trading opportunities, it also has some limitations that traders should be aware of.
  1. Lagging indicator. The MACD is a lagging indicator, which means it uses past data to calculate trends and potential signals. As a result, there can be a delay between the identification of a potential opportunity and the execution of a trade, which may lead to missed opportunities or delayed exits.
  2. Whipsaws. Like other technical analysis tools, MACD can generate false signals, especially in choppy or volatile market conditions. This can lead to whipsaws, where a trader enters or exits a trade based on a MACD signal, only to see the trend reverse shortly thereafter.
  3. Overreliance on MACD. It’s important for traders to use MACD in conjunction with other technical analysis tools and analysis techniques. Relying solely on MACD may result in missed opportunities or a narrow view of the market.
  4. Limited application. MACD is most effective in trending markets and may not be as effective in ranging or sideways markets.
It’s important to keep these limitations in mind when using MACD as a trading tool. Traders should use MACD in combination with other technical analysis tools and stay up-to-date on market developments to make informed trading decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Moving average convergence/divergence is a popular technical analysis tool used by traders to identify trends and potential trading opportunities in the market.
  • You can calculate MACD by subtracting the 26-period EMA from the 12-period EMA and plotting a 9-period EMA of the MACD line to create the signal line.
  • Investors use MACD to identify trend direction, potential buying and selling opportunities, and divergences between the MACD and the price of an asset.
  • However, MACD is a lagging indicator and can generate false signals, which can lead to missed opportunities or delayed exits.
  • With these limitations in mind, make sure you use MACD in conjunction with other technical analysis tools and analysis techniques.

SuperMoney may receive compensation from some or all of the companies featured, and the order of results are influenced by advertising bids, with exception for mortgage and home lending related products. Learn more

Loading results ...

Share this post:

You might also like