All-Time High and All-Time LowATH
An all-time high (ATH) is the highest price an asset has ever traded at; an all-time low (ATL) is the lowest. A retest of the ATH is a return to that level.
An all-time high is the highest price an asset has ever traded; an all-time low is the lowest. Both are reference points traders watch, but neither says on its own what happens next.
- Category
- Market Language and Slang
- Reading time
- 3 min
- Also called
- Record high, Record low
- Updated
ATH and ATL in plain words
An all-time high (ATH) is the highest price an asset has ever traded at; the term is used for crypto, stocks and indices alike.1
An all-time low (ATL) is the opposite: the lowest price in the asset's whole trading history.1
A new record high is not, on its own, a sign that a fall is coming.2
How traders work with all-time highs
Check the data
Confirm the high on a reliable source and note intraday vs closing.
Mark the level
Draw the prior ATH as a horizontal level.
Watch the break
Price above the old ATH has no overhead resistance from past buyers.
Watch the retest
A pullback to the old high that holds can turn it into support.
Measure drawdowns
Measure any pullback as a percentage below the all-time high.1
Keep perspective
Keep in mind that what happened after past highs tells you nothing certain about what happens next.3
Worked examples
Example 1 — Breakout and retest
Retest heldA hypothetical stock’s old ATH is 150; it rises to 162, then dips to 151 and bounces.
| Old ATH | 150 |
| Retest | 151 |
Repeated new peaks are known as “forming higher highs,”1 and the held retest supports the trend.
Example 2 — Distance from ATH
Deep drawdownA hypothetical token’s ATH is 10 and it now trades at 4.
| Drawdown | −60% |
| Gain to recover | +150% |
Its correction is measured from the all-time high; recovering needs a 150% rise.1
Example 3 — Fear of highs
Context, not a signalA hypothetical investor delays buying an index at an ATH of 5,000.
| Index | 5,000 |
Historically, buying at a record high has led to slightly better 1-, 3- and 5-year returns than buying at other times — but history is no promise.3
All-time high vs 52-week high
| Aspect | All-time high | 52-week high |
|---|---|---|
| Look-back | Entire history | One year |
| Overhead supply | None above | Possibly older highs |
| Frequency | Rarer | More common |
| Use | Long-term context | Recent strength |
Where ATH and ATL are used
Breakout trading
Trade a Breakout above the old high.
Support and resistance
Old highs and lows act as Support and Resistance.
Risk measurement
Track Drawdown from the peak.
Market mood
Gauge Bull Market or Bear Market phases.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Simple, objective reference points.
- Widely watched levels.
- Helps measure drawdowns.
- Gives market context.
Disadvantages
- Says nothing alone about future prices.
- Data sources can differ.
- Can trigger emotional decisions.
- False breakouts happen.
Going deeper
Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.
Common but not typical
Beginner
Record highs are fairly common yet still unusual — fewer than one trading day in ten — and they can make some investors nervous.3
Forward returns
Intermediate
Over 1, 3 and 5 years, returns after a record high have historically been a little better than average, though that pattern may not repeat.3
Cycles
Advanced
After all, markets don't go up forever, so ATH breakouts still need stops and position sizing.2
Common mistakes
Selling just because it is an ATH
Highs alone are not a sell signal.
Chasing without a plan
Set stops first.
Ignoring data differences
Intraday and closing highs differ.
Expecting a fast return to ATH after crashes
Recovery math is harsh.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Key points to remember
- ATH is the highest price ever; ATL the lowest.
- Old highs can become support after a breakout.
- Drawdowns are measured from the ATH.
- Highs alone are not a sell signal.
- Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is ATL?
Is buying at an ATH bad?
What is a retest?
Further learning
- Breakout
Trading above an old high.
- Drawdown
Measuring declines from peaks.
- Support and Resistance
Why old highs matter.
- Bull Market
When ATHs cluster.
Sources
This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.
- CoinMarketCap Academy. All-Time-High (ATH) glossary (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- Fidelity. Can the stock market keep reaching all-time highs? (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- Vanguard. U.S. equities set all-time highs 1 out of every 3 days this quarter (opens in a new tab) Checked .
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. We are not affiliated with any publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.