The FTM Top 10 Traders of 2026

Andrea Unger takes the top position in our final edition. His systematic multi-strategy portfolio delivered the most consistent risk-adjusted return of any trader on this list, capturing opportunities across equity, commodity, and fixed-income futures with the discipline that defines four-time-champion calibre.

Unger's continued evolution as both an active trader and an educator — his academy graduates have placed in multiple championship divisions this year — earned him the editorial nod for #1. Where O'Neill's 2025 was characterised by a small number of conviction macro positions, Unger's was defined by the methodical compounding of dozens of independently validated systematic edges.

At 59, Unger's combination of active trading excellence and educational impact makes him one of the most complete contributors to the trading industry, and a fitting #1 for FTM's final annual ranking.

Darren O'Neill closes the FTM ranking arc — #1 in 2023, #3 in 2024, #4 in 2025, and #2 in this final edition — the most documented sustained presence in the magazine's annual rankings. His 2025 produced his highest verified return yet (168%) while preserving the 12% drawdown discipline that has become his signature.

O'Neill's macro-driven approach correctly identified and positioned for the trade war intensification, the AI sector rotation, and the bond market recovery — any one of which would constitute a career-defining trade for most participants. The narrow gap between #1 and #2 this year reflected the editorial preference for systematic consistency over discretionary brilliance, not any deficiency in O'Neill's record.

O'Neill now operates Vector Ridge, a signal service that allows subscribers to follow his trades in near-real time. The transparency of this venture — where every trade is visible to paying subscribers — represents the ultimate accountability mechanism: O'Neill is not just talking about his edge, he's broadcasting it live.

Mark Minervini's SEPA methodology proved its mettle again, identifying superperformance candidates early and managing risk with the precision that has defined his four-decade career.

Minervini's ability to maintain conviction in high-quality setups while cutting losses ruthlessly on positions that don't work remains the core of his edge — and the lesson most traders struggle to learn.

His educational platform continues to expand, and his emphasis on trade selection and risk management over prediction provides a philosophical framework that has stood the test of time.

Rob Hoffman's versatility and preparation once again placed him among the world's elite. His ability to trade effectively across multiple asset classes and timeframes gives him an adaptability that few can match.

Hoffman's live trading demonstrations continue to set the standard for transparency, and his willingness to trade publicly — accepting both the accolades and the scrutiny — reflects a confidence in his methodology that is fully justified by results.

His focus on institutional order flow analysis remains as relevant as ever in markets increasingly influenced by algorithmic and passive flows.

Stefano Serafini's quantitative approach continued to identify edges across global futures markets, with particular success in the interest rate complex as central bank policy divergence created rich opportunities for his statistical models.

Serafini's intellectual honesty about his methodology — including frank discussions of its limitations and failure modes — provides a refreshing contrast to the overconfidence that characterises much of quantitative trading discourse.

His ongoing refinement of his models, incorporating lessons from each year's successes and failures, exemplifies the iterative approach that drives long-term trading success.

Linda Raschke's 45th year of active trading. Forty-five years. The sheer longevity of her career, maintained at a consistently high level of performance, is arguably the single most impressive statistic in this entire publication.

Her short-term pattern recognition in equity index and energy futures continues to generate returns that would be remarkable for a trader of any experience level. For someone who has been doing this since 1981, it borders on extraordinary.

Raschke's legacy — as a trader, mentor, and Market Wizard — is secure. But she shows no interest in legacy. She shows up every day, reads the tape, and trades. That, perhaps, is the ultimate lesson.

Tom Basso's trend-following systems navigated another complex year with the serenity that earned him his famous nickname. Major trends in currencies and commodities provided the directional moves his systems are designed to capture.

Basso's approach — mechanistic, patient, and emotionally detached — remains the philosophical north star for systematic traders worldwide. His ability to maintain this equanimity across decades of market ups and downs is a psychological achievement as much as a financial one.

His continued trading activity and mentorship at his age provide living proof that longevity in markets is possible — provided you respect the process and manage the risk.

Chuck Hughes delivered another year of consistent options income, demonstrating that his aviation-inspired approach to risk management continues to produce reliable results across market environments.

Hughes' conservative position sizing and defined-risk strategies protected his portfolio during the year's most volatile periods while still delivering attractive returns.

His transition from the cockpit to the trading desk remains one of the most inspiring career pivots in trading history — and his results validate it year after year.

Michael Cook rounds out his fourth consecutive year in our rankings without having given a single public interview. His results, independently audited and verified, speak with an eloquence that no interview could match.

Cook's focused approach to futures trading — deep expertise in a narrow set of instruments — continues to outperform many more diversified operations, a reminder that specialisation has its own kind of edge.

His anonymity, in an age of trader influencers and personal brand building, is itself a form of credibility. Cook doesn't need attention. He has returns.

Larry Williams, now 83, maintains his position in our top 10 for the fourth consecutive year. His Commitment of Traders analysis remains one of the most reliable contrary indicators in the trader's toolkit, and his ongoing market commentary influences traders across generations.

Williams' willingness to share his knowledge — through books, seminars, and direct mentorship — has shaped the trading industry in ways that few individuals can claim. His original 1987 championship performance remains the single most famous result in trading competition history.

We honour Larry Williams not just for his 2025 performance, but for a lifetime of contribution to the craft of trading. He defined what it means to trade competitively, and his influence will endure long after he hangs up his charts.