How to Choose the Best Traders to Copy: 7 Key Metrics

Key Overviews

• Trader selection determines roughly 80% of your copy trading results
• Always check track record, ROI, drawdown, win rate, profit factor, and trading styl, and leverage before copying
• Spreading your money across 3–5 different traders lowers your risk. Never put more than 20% of your capital on one single trader.
• A 100% win rate is a red flag — it usually means the trader is hiding open losing trades.
• Copy 3 to 5 different traders to spread your risk across strategies and markets.
• With PU Prime, you can start copy trading with as little as $25, with no subscription fees.

The best traders to copy have a track record of at least 6-12 months, a maximum drawdown of 20–30%, a profit factor above 1.5, consistent monthly returns rather than volatile spikes, and a trading style that fits your risk comfort level.

Picking the right trader is the single biggest decision you will make in copy trading.

Get it right, and you set yourself up for steadier results.

Get it wrong, and you could lose money fast — even if the market is doing well overall.

This guide walks you through the exact numbers to look for, the warning signs to avoid, and how to compare traders on PU Prime’s platform.

Whether you are brand new or already copying someone, these seven metrics will help you make smarter choices. For a full overview of how copy trading works, see our Copy Trading Guide.

Why Does Picking the Right Trader Matter So Much?

Your trader choice controls most of your results in copy trading.

Think of it this way: in regular investing, you pick stocks or assets.

In copy trading, you are really picking a person.

Their decisions — when to buy, when to sell, how much to risk — all directly affect your money.

A skilled trader with a disciplined approach can deliver modest but steady returns over months and years.

On the other hand, a reckless trader might show big gains one week, then wipe out half the account the next.

The difference between a good and a bad choice is not luck. It comes down to the numbers.

That is why experienced copy traders always evaluate performance data before clicking “Copy.”

They do not go by gut feeling or how many followers someone has.

They check hard numbers — and so should you.

If you’re still weighing whether copy trading is worth it, our profitability guide covers the honest pros and cons.

What Are the 7 Key Metrics to Check Before Copying a Trader?

Every signal provider on a copy-trading platform displays performance data. 

The trick is knowing which numbers actually matter. 

Here are the seven metrics that separate strong traders from risky ones.

1. Track Record Length

Look for traders with at least 6 to 12 months of documented results across different market conditions. 

Anyone can have a good week. 

A trader who performs well over 6 months, including through rough patches, has proven they can handle both winning and losing streaks. 

Short track records (under 3 months) are unreliable because they might just be riding a lucky streak in a trending market.

This is the first number you should check, because everything else is meaningless without enough data behind it.

2. Return on Investment (ROI)

A realistic annual ROI for a good signal provider is above 10%, delivered consistently month to month. 

However, huge numbers usually come with huge risk. 

What you want is a performance graph that climbs gradually, like a staircase — not one that looks like a rollercoaster. 

Steady beats flashy every time

3. Maximum Drawdown

Maximum drawdown measures the biggest peak-to-trough loss a trader has experienced. A drawdown under 20–30% usually signals disciplined risk management. 

In plain terms, if a trader’s account went from $10,000 down to $7,000 before recovering, that is a 30% drawdown. 

Anything above 40% means you could face the same gut-wrenching drop. Always check this number before you check profits.

A trader who earns 50% but once lost 45% is far riskier than one who earns 15% with a maximum 12% drawdown.

For a deeper look at managing this risk, our risk management strategies guide covers the specifics.

4. Win Rate vs. Payoff Ratio

A win rate above 55% is solid, but only if you also check the size of wins versus losses. 

Some traders win 80% of their trades, but their losses are five times as large as their wins. 

Others win just 40% of the time, but each winning trade is three times as big as a loss. 

You need both numbers together to see the real picture. 

A trader who wins small but loses big will slowly drain your account.

5. Profit Factor

Profit factor equals total profits divided by total losses. A profit factor above 1.5 means the trader earns significantly more than they lose. 

If a trader has a profit factor of 2.0, it means for every $1 lost, they earned $2. 

Anything below 1.0 means the trader is losing money overall. 

This is one of the most reliable single numbers for judging whether a trader is actually profitable over time.

Our metrics and red flags guide breaks down how to read these numbers in even more detail.

6. Trading Frequency and Style

Traders fall into different styles: scalpers make many small trades per day, swing traders hold positions for days or weeks, and position traders hold for weeks or months. 

None of these is better or worse — but you should pick a style that matches your own comfort. 

A scalper’s account will show many small ups and downs every day. 

A swing trader’s account will look calmer but have bigger moves when they happen. 

Think about which rollercoaster ride you can stomach.

For strategies on combining different trader styles, our copy trading strategies guide goes deeper.

7. Leverage and Position Sizing

High leverage multiplies both profits and losses. Traders who use extreme leverage (above 1:100) are taking on much more risk than most copiers realize. 

Check how large each trade is compared to the trader’s total account. 

If one single trade uses more than 10–15% of their balance, that is a sign of aggressive risk-taking. 

You want a trader who spreads their risk across multiple smaller positions, not one who bets big on a single trade.

What Are the Red Flags That Mean You Should Not Copy a Trader?

Not every signal provider is worth following. 

Some profiles look good on the surface but hide serious problems underneath. 

Here are five warning signs that should make you scroll past a trader’s profile.

1.    A 100% or near-perfect win rate.

This almost always means the trader is holding losing positions open instead of closing them.

The losses are there — they are just hidden in the open trades. 

When those trades finally close, the crash can be sudden and severe.

2.    No stop-losses on trades. 

A trader who does not set stop-losses is willing to let losses grow without any limit.

About 90% of traders skip stop-losses, and it is one of the top reasons accounts get wiped out.

3.    Sudden changes in trading style.

If a trader was doing steady swing trading for months and suddenly starts scalping aggressively, something has changed.

Strategy shifts often happen after losses and can signal desperation.

4.    Returns that spike out of nowhere.

A calm, consistent graph that suddenly shoots up usually means the trader took a huge gamble that paid off.

Next time, it might not.

5.    Trading only with a demo account.

If available, check whether the trader uses real money.

Someone risking their own funds tends to be more careful than someone trading with play money.

How Do You Build a Diversified Copy Trading Portfolio?

Copy 3 to 5 traders with different strategies and across different markets to reduce your risk.

Putting all your money behind one trader, no matter how good their numbers look, is dangerous.

Even the best traders have bad months.

Spreading your capital across several providers means one bad run will not wreck your whole account.

Here is a simple way to think about allocation:

Trader Type	Allocation	Markets	Goal
Conservative trader	30-40%	Major forex pairs	Capital protection
Growth trader	25-35%	Indices and commodities	Steady returns
Aggressive trader	10-20%	Volatile pairs or crypto CFDs	Higher risk, higher potential
Swing trader	15-25%	Mixed markets	Medium-term gains

The key rule: never put more than 20% of your total copy trading capital behind any single trader. This way, if one underperforms, the others can help balance things out.

For proven strategies on how to combine traders, see our Copy Trading Strategies guide.

What Does a Strong Trader Profile Look Like vs. a Risky One?

The quickest way to evaluate any trader is to compare their numbers side by side against known benchmarks. 

Here is what a solid profile looks like next to a risky one.

How Do You Evaluate Traders on PU Prime’s Platform

PU Prime’s copy trading app gives you full access to every trader’s performance data, including ROI, drawdown, trade history, and risk level. 

If you’re new to the platform, our step-by-step beginner guide walks you through setting up your account.

Here is a step-by-step process to find strong traders on PU Prime.

1.    Open the Copy Trading section in the PU Prime app and browse available signal providers. You can filter by returns, risk level, market traded, and the time period.

2.    Check the performance graph first. Look for a smooth, upward-climbing line. Skip anyone with a zigzag or steep drops.

3.    Look at the drawdown number. PU Prime displays maximum drawdown clearly. Stick to traders under 20–30%.

4.    Check trade history and frequency. See what assets they trade, how often, and how long they hold positions. Make sure their style matches your preferences.

5.    Set your allocation and risk controls. PU Prime lets you set equity stop-loss limits and control the amount of capital each trader receives. Use these tools — they are there to protect you.

6.    Start small, then scale. Begin with a smaller allocation. Watch how the trader performs with your money for 2 to 4 weeks before increasing your investment.

Pro Tip: Use PU Prime’s filters to shortlist traders, then manually check each one’s performance graph and drawdown. Filters are a starting point, not a final answer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many traders should I copy at once?

Most experienced copy traders follow 3 to 5 signal providers at once. 

This spreads your risk across different strategies and markets. 

If one trader hits a rough patch, the others can help cushion the impact.

With PU Prime, you can split your capital across multiple traders with as little as $50 total to start.

Should I always pick the trader with the highest returns?

No. Chasing the biggest returns is one of the most common mistakes in copy trading. 

High returns often come with high drawdowns and extreme risk. 

A trader with steady 15% annual gains and low drawdowns is generally a safer choice than one showing 300%, who may crash next month. 

Always check risk metrics before looking at returns.

How often should I review the traders I am copying?

Check your copied traders at least once a week. 

Look at whether their drawdown is growing, if their win rate is changing, or if they have shifted their trading style. 

If a trader starts behaving differently from when you first copied them, it may be time to pause or stop copying. 

PU Prime lets you stop copying any trader instantly, with no penalty.

Can I copy trade forex, stocks, and commodities on PU Prime?

Yes. PU Prime offers copy trading across 800+ CFD instruments, including major and minor forex pairs, global stock indices, commodities like gold and oil, and cryptocurrency CFDs. 

You can choose signal providers who trade in the specific markets you are interested in, or diversify across traders who cover different asset classes.

What happens if the trader I am copying starts losing money?

You have full control. On PU Prime, you can pause or stop copying a trader at any time.

 You can also set an equity stop-loss that automatically stops copying when your losses reach a specified level. 

This feature protects your capital even if you are not watching the screen. 

For more on protecting your investment, see our Copy Trading Risk Management guide.

What is a good risk score for copy trading?

Most copy trading platforms assign risk scores on a scale from 1 to 10. A risk score between 1 and 5 generally indicates a more conservative, stable approach.

Scores above 7 usually mean the trader is taking aggressive risks.

Match the risk score to your own comfort level — if you’re newer to copy trading, stick to traders in the 1–4 range until you’re more comfortable reading the numbers.

Risk Disclaimer: Trading CFDs carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk.