Statistics

Sharpe Ratio

Excess return divided by volatility, measuring return per unit of risk.

Scales with sqrt(time) for independent returns: a daily Sharpe of 0.1 annualises to 0.1 times sqrt(252) ≈ 1.6.

Estimation error is the underrated fact: the standard error is roughly 1/sqrt(years). Distinguishing a Sharpe of 1 from zero takes about four years of data, so a six-month track record carries almost no information.

The blind spot. Sharpe cannot see tail shape. Selling far out-of-the-money options produces a superb Sharpe for years followed by a catastrophic loss, and the ratio gives no warning. It also penalises upside volatility, which the Sortino ratio addresses.

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The Sharpe Ratio Explained

Return per unit of risk, how it scales with time, and why it takes so long to measure.

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