Tracking CTAs since 1994
CTA Profiles
Tracking CTAs since 1994
Principal(s): Steve DeCook, Malinda Goldsmith
Strategy: Fundamental / Spreads / Ags & Livestock
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The Hawkeye Spread Program of Four Seasons Commodities Corporation (Hawkeye) employs a discretionary, fundamental-analysis based trading program which trades exclusively in agricultural commodities. The program trades corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean products, livestock and options on each of those commodities futures contracts as listed on domestic futures exchanges. The Hawkeye Spread Program trades primarily in futures spreads or in futures and options spreads. The program seeks to capture profits based on the Advisor's assessment of the relative value of two related agricultural futures or options contracts. The trading method is proprietary, and uses supply and demand analysis and seasonal trend analysis, among other strategies. The Advisor looks at fundamental factors that affect the supply and demand of a particular commodity in order to predict future prices. In addition, the Advisor reviews historical and seasonal patterns which may indicate the direction the market may move in the future.
Hawkeye also looks at certain technical factors such as the price of a commodity in relation to its price during previous periods, open interest, and volume. These factors are generally used by Hawkeye to determine when to liquidate positions. Effective risk management is a crucial aspect of the trading program. With the goal of limiting potential loss, the Advisor uses calculated risk assessment techniques. Account size, margin exposure, volatility of the market traded and the nature of other positions taken are all factors in deciding whether to take a position and determining the amount of equity committed to that position. Trade duration may vary from a few days to several months, although most trades tend to be relatively long-term in nature. Protective stops may, on occasion, be used to control risks.
Stephen K. DeCook, a partner and founder of Four Seasons Commodities Corporation (FSCC) earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State University. Together with Malinda Goldsmith, he founded FSCC in April, 2006. Born and raised on a corn, soybean and hog farm near Leighton, Iowa, he began trading commodities in 1968. He became one of the first commodity pool operators in 1971, when he founded 20/20 Trading. In 1984, he formed Fundamental Futures, Inc., a registered Commodity Trading Advisor, and served as principal until December 2002. A variety of other affiliations are described in detail in the Management Section of the Disclosure Document of FSCC. In addition to his duties with FSCC, Mr. DeCook is an active farmer of corn and soybeans, and is a member of the National Corn Growers Association and the National Soybean Association. Recently he travelled to China where he was a speaker at the International Commodities Industry Conference in Dalian, and also presented at the Chinese Soybean Conference in Harbin.
Mr. DeCook and his affiliated firms have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and futures industry publications. He is primarily responsible for the trading decisions in the Hawkeye Trading Program of FSCC.
Malinda E. Goldsmith, a partner and founder of Four Seasons Commodities Corporation (FSCC), received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma University, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Together with Steve DeCook, she founded FSCC in April, 2006. She began her career in the managed futures industry in 1982, and served as principal and founder of Fundamental Futures, Inc., a registered Commodities Trading Advisor, until December 2002. A variety of other affiliations are described in detail in the Management Section of the FSCC Disclosure Document. Ms. Goldsmith also served as member of the Board of Directors for the National Futures Association from February 1993 to February 2002. She is past president of the Managed Futures Trade Association, and has authored numerous articles on the managed futures industry. She and her affiliated firms have been featured in several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and Better Investing.
Ms. Goldsmith is primarily responsible for the trading decisions in the Lone Star Program of FSCC.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ROR | Max DD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -0.01% | -0.04% | -0.05% | -0.05% | ||||||||||
| 2024 | -0.06% | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.03% | -0.22% | -0.47% | -0.35% | 0.08% | 0.38% | -0.01% | 0.37% | 0.04% | -0.04% | -1.04% |
| 2023 | -0.10% | -0.02% | -0.03% | -0.67% | -0.53% | 0.10% | -0.26% | -0.25% | -0.11% | 0.06% | -0.12% | -0.16% | -2.07% | -2.07% |
| 2022 | 0.40% | 0.67% | 0.51% | 0.11% | 0.16% | -0.09% | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% | 0.17% | 0.25% | 0.09% | 2.79% | -0.09% |
| 2021 | 0.48% | 0.54% | 0.25% | 1.06% | -0.05% | -1.14% | -0.29% | -0.37% | 0.06% | 0.45% | 0.47% | 0.41% | 1.87% | -1.84% |
| 2020 | -0.57% | -0.54% | -0.53% | 0.23% | 0.26% | 0.49% | -0.73% | 1.47% | 0.26% | 0.35% | 1.44% | 2.45% | 4.63% | -1.63% |
| 2019 | -0.02% | -0.07% | -1.29% | 0.25% | 0.76% | -0.12% | -0.81% | -0.28% | 0.33% | -0.16% | 0.16% | 0.56% | -0.72% | -1.59% |
| 2018 | -0.08% | 0.10% | 0.25% | -0.38% | -0.11% | -1.17% | 0.66% | -1.03% | -0.54% | -0.29% | 0.15% | -0.02% | -2.44% | -2.84% |
| 2017 | 0.23% | 0.29% | 1.77% | -0.26% | 0.99% | -0.28% | -0.01% | -0.39% | 0.00% | -0.10% | -0.34% | 0.07% | 1.98% | -1.12% |
| 2016 | 0.36% | -0.23% | 0.34% | 0.23% | -0.19% | 2.71% | -0.93% | -0.61% | -0.43% | 0.77% | -0.34% | -0.44% | 1.2% | -1.98% |
| 2015 | 0.94% | -0.77% | 1.51% | 0.23% | 0.66% | -0.51% | -1.43% | -0.06% | 0.65% | 0.20% | -0.38% | 0.06% | 1.06% | -1.99% |
| 2014 | -0.21% | 0.97% | -0.43% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.77% | 1.02% | 1.45% | 0.74% | -0.85% | -0.21% | 0.32% | 4.95% | -1.06% |
| 2013 | 3.04% | 1.50% | -0.94% | 2.31% | -0.09% | 1.09% | 1.39% | 0.26% | 0.59% | 0.53% | -0.05% | 0.37% | 10.37% | -0.94% |
| 2012 | 0.70% | -0.66% | 1.20% | -2.27% | -4.22% | 6.12% | 8.52% | 4.83% | -3.20% | -0.72% | -1.56% | -0.77% | 7.4% | -6.39% |
| 2011 | 2.57% | 2.02% | 2.08% | 2.63% | 2.23% | -2.32% | 1.28% | 3.14% | -8.61% | 3.08% | -2.96% | 1.03% | 5.63% | -8.61% |
| 2010 | 1.71% | 0.02% | 1.40% | -0.81% | 1.97% | -0.31% | 0.88% | -0.12% | 4.23% | 1.31% | -0.86% | 5.08% | 15.28% | -0.86% |
| 2009 | 0.98% | 0.83% | 0.34% | -0.33% | 1.94% | 0.17% | -0.24% | 0.76% | 0.36% | -1.70% | -0.40% | 0.76% | 3.48% | -2.09% |
| 2008 | 0.99% | 1.15% | -1.83% | 3.99% | 3.96% | 1.83% | -3.28% | -0.46% | -5.08% | 0.23% | 0.26% | -0.44% | 0.94% | -8.61% |
| 2007 | 5.71% | 3.04% | -0.05% | -4.22% | 3.71% | 1.51% | -2.95% | -0.01% | 3.17% | 0.45% | 1.89% | 1.48% | 14.14% | -4.27% |
| 2006 | 3.79% | 3.32% | 3.72% | 4.25% | 5.51% | 3.08% | 0.24% | -6.02% | -0.17% | -2.65% | 5.29% | 3.49% | 25.8% | -8.67% |
| 2005 | -5.05% | 4.72% | 0.71% | 0.55% | 0.57% | 4.47% | 1.15% | 0.72% | 0.33% | 1.09% | 9.31% | -5.05% | ||
| Years | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | 9.31% | 25.80% | 14.14% | 0.94% | 3.48% | 15.28% |
| Max DD | -5.05% | -8.67% | -4.27% | -8.61% | -2.09% | -0.86% |
| Years | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | 5.63% | 7.40% | 10.37% | 4.95% | 1.06% | 1.20% |
| Max DD | -8.61% | -6.39% | -0.94% | -1.06% | -1.99% | -1.98% |
| Years | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | 1.98% | -2.44% | -0.72% | 4.63% | 1.87% | 2.79% |
| Max DD | -1.12% | -2.84% | -1.59% | -1.63% | -1.84% | -0.09% |
| Years | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | -2.07% | -0.04% | -0.05% |
| Max DD | -2.07% | -1.04% | -0.05% |
PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE SUCCESS. IN SOME CASES MANAGED ACCOUNTS ARE CHARGED SUBSTANTIAL COMMISSIONS AND ADVISORY FEES. THOSE ACCOUNTS SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES, MAY NEED TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS JUST TO AVOID DEPLETION OF THEIR ASSETS. EACH COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR ("CTA") IS REQUIRED BY THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION ("CFTC") TO ISSUE TO PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS A RISK DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT OUTLINING THESE FEES, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND OTHER ASSOCIATED RISKS. A HARD COPY OF THESE RISK DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE BY CLICKING ON EACH CTA'S "REQUEST DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT" BUTTON.
THE FULL RISK OF COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS AND FOREX TRADING CAN NOT BE ADDRESSED IN THIS RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. NO CONSIDERATION TO INVEST SHOULD BE MADE WITHOUT THOROUGHLY READING THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT OF EACH OF THE CTAS IN WHICH YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST. REQUESTING A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT PLACES YOU UNDER NO OBLIGATION AND EACH DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED AT NO COST. THE CFTC HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS NOR ON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. OTHER DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED TO YOU BEFORE AN ACCOUNT MAY BE OPENED FOR YOU.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS SHOULD NOT BASE THEIR DECISION ON INVESTING IN THIS TRADING PROGRAM SOLELY ON THE PAST PERFORMANCE PRESENTED. ADDITIONALLY, IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS MUST ALSO RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE PERSON OR ENTITY MAKING THE TRADING DECISIONS AND THE TERMS OF THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED.
AUTUMN GOLD CTA INDEXES ARE NON-INVESTABLE INDEXES COMPRISED OF THE CLIENT PERFORMANCE OF CTA PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN THE AUTUMN GOLD DATABASE AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE COMPLETE UNIVERSE OF CTAS. INVESTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO INVEST IN THESE INDEXES.
