Collection: NinjaTrader Trend Indicator: Stay on the Right Side of the Market

Why identifying the trend matters in trading?

In trading, the trend is your friend. Before deciding when to enter, exit, or manage risk, the first and most crucial step is to determine the current state of the market:

  • Uptrend: prices make higher highs and higher lows
  • Downtrend: prices make lower lows and lower highs
  • Range-bound: prices move sideways within a defined zone

Misjudging the trend can lead to costly mistakes, such as buying at the top, selling at the bottom, or falling for fake breakouts.

That’s why successful traders start by identifying the trend before making any decisions.
A reliable NinjaTrader trend indicator helps you do exactly that.

What is a trend indicator?

A trend indicator, is a technical tool designed to help traders determine the direction and, in some cases, the strength of a market trend.

These indicators work by smoothing out price action to highlight the underlying trend and filter out short-term noise.

It’s important to understand that not all indicators are trend indicators. While oscillators and volume-based tools provide different types of information, trend indicators specifically focus on showing whether the market is trending up, down, or sideways.

In short:
"A trend indicator doesn’t tell you exactly when to enter or exit — it tells you whether you should even be looking for buys or sells."

Types of trend indicators

There are many types of trend indicators available for NinjaTrader. Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • Moving Averages: Simple, exponential, or weighted moving averages smooth price data over a set period to show the overall direction of the trend. Fast-moving averages respond quickly to changes, while longer-period averages provide a more stable view.
  • Trend Lines and Channels: These tools connect swing highs or lows to form visual guides for trend direction and potential breakout points. Some indicators automatically draw these for you.
  • ADX (Average Directional Index): The ADX measures the strength of a trend, helping you distinguish between trending and ranging conditions.

Benefits of using a NinjaTrader trend indicator

Here’s why trend indicators are an essential part of any trading system:

  • Trade with the market, not against it: Avoid the common mistake of fighting the prevailing trend.
  • Filter out noise: Identify clean setups and avoid overtrading in choppy conditions.
  • Add structure and discipline: Stick to objective criteria rather than relying on gut feeling.
  • Improve risk/reward: Aligning with the trend often leads to more favorable trade setups.

By helping you stay aligned with the market’s direction, a good trend indicator increases your chances of success.

Our best-selling trend indicators

Here you’ll find our best-selling trend indicators, built to help you spot, follow, and stay aligned with the trend.

Every NinjaTrader trend indicator in this collection works seamlessly with NinjaTrader 8, includes lifetime support, and reflects years of trading expertise.