When evaluating the performance of an investment fund, it’s important to use the right metrics to assess how well the fund is doing relative to its objectives. This article will explore the key performance indicators (KPIs) investors should track when assessing a fund’s performance.
1. Total Return
The total return measures the overall return of an investment over a given period, including price appreciation, dividends, interest, and other distributions. It reflects the total amount of money made (or lost) on an investment.
- Annualized Total Return: This represents the average return per year over a specified period, typically 1, 3, 5, or 10 years.
- Cumulative Total Return: This measures the total return over a specific period, factoring in the effect of compounding.
2. Alpha
Alpha measures the risk-adjusted performance of a fund relative to a market benchmark or index. A positive alpha indicates that the fund has outperformed the benchmark after adjusting for risk, while a negative alpha shows underperformance.
3. Beta
Beta is a measure of a fund’s volatility compared to the market. A beta of 1 means that the fund moves in line with the market, while a beta greater than 1 indicates higher volatility, and a beta less than 1 suggests less volatility than the overall market.
4. Sharpe Ratio
The Sharpe ratio is a risk-adjusted measure of return. It compares the return of the fund to its volatility (standard deviation). A higher Sharpe ratio indicates that the fund is delivering better returns for the amount of risk taken.
5. Standard Deviation
Standard deviation measures the volatility or risk of a fund’s returns. A higher standard deviation means the returns are more spread out, indicating higher risk. Conversely, a lower standard deviation indicates more consistent returns.
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