ETF Top Traders: Weekly Triple-Digit Gains Q4

Last week on the ETF space delivered a compact set of spectacular one-week outcomes: a couple of accounts produced triple-digit returns while others posted high double-digit gains. These headline figures are eye-catching, but beneath them lies a mix of concentrated bets, thin follower bases, and very different multi-year trajectories. Reading the leaderboard with nuance is essential for anyone considering copying a strategy.

Who ran the table this week

Two traders dominated the week’s return rankings. JGBellini topped the list with a remarkable +224.24% one-week return, closely followed by Hdowntow3792 at +209.92%. Both of these names, however, have minimal social proof: each shows just a single copier. That combination—huge weekly swings and tiny following—often signals either a low-capacity account exploiting a short-lived move or a highly concentrated, high-volatility approach that may not scale.

High upside, thin footprints

Not far behind the leaders, CMBearne delivered +71.87% for the week and carries greater social validation with 11 copiers. CMBearne’s longer-term stats are also notable: a five-year return north of +1,400% and a year-to-date performance in the +500% range, which suggests this week could be part of a sustained trend rather than a one-off spike.

Context matters: multi-year performance and copier counts

One-week returns alone can mislead. A number of big weekly winners have negative long-run records, pointing to episodic risk-taking rather than consistent compounding. For example, asan25 returned +49.5% for the week but sits deep in the red over five years (around −92%). SonyZeta and MikelIru show similar patterns: short-lived gains paired with poor multi-year performance. Conversely, names like popovicicosmin20 (+15.83% this week and a five-year return exceeding +2,500%) and MikeDeRebel (+18.6% this week, ~+398% over five years) demonstrate how weekly strength can align with durable outperformance.

Strategy mix and risk signatures

The leaderboard also highlights a diversity of approaches. Momentum-focused traders such as BenjAshley posted mid-teens to low-double-digit weekly returns, while market-neutral players like DennisDu showed moderate positive returns with a different risk profile. Those distinctions matter: momentum can produce explosive weekly gains but also violent reversals; hedged or neutral approaches may deliver steadier outcomes that attract more copiers over time.

Participation patterns are another critical signal. Many of the top weekly performers have fewer than ten copiers, amplifying the probability that their numbers reflect idiosyncratic trades or small-cap positions. In contrast, onyinvestments registered a modest +6.95% for the week yet maintains 100+ copiers and a solid five-year return (~+231%), underscoring how steadier compounders can build broader followings.

Bottom line: The latest leaderboard was dominated by volatility and concentration. For prospective copiers, the prudent path is to treat headline weekly gains as hypotheses to test—cross-check copier counts, multi-year returns, and strategy descriptions before allocating capital. Where short-term heat coincides with strong long-term records and growing adoption, the edge looks more credible; where it doesn’t, the gains may be transitory.