Using a Calculator to Calculate Your Sharpe Ratio

In this article

Using a Calculator to Calculate Your Sharpe Ratio

The Sharpe ratio is calculated as (portfolio return minus the risk-free rate) divided by the standard deviation of the portfolio's returns. For example, a portfolio that returned 10% with a 4% risk-free rate and 12% volatility has a Sharpe ratio of (10% - 4%) / 12% = 0.5. A higher Sharpe ratio means more excess return per unit of risk. You can compute it by hand, with an online calculator, or in Excel.

See it in actionMarketXLS video

Try it in your own spreadsheet

Get the free MarketXLS sample workbook (.xlsx).

No account needed. MarketXLS live data requires a paid plan. Preview workbook

Explore more videos
Using a Calculator To Calculate Your Sharpe Ratio - financial analysis guide with MarketXLS Excel add-in

Understanding Sharpe Ratios

The Sharpe Ratio is a measurement used to assess the performance of an investment compared to its risk. It was developed by Nobel laureate William F. Sharpe and is widely used to compare portfolio performance. The Sharpe Ratio is a measure of the excess return of an asset portfolio over the risk-free rate of return, divided by its volatility. It is a measure of risk-adjusted returns, meaning it takes into account the volatility of returns on investments when analyzing overall portfolio performance.

Using Financial Calculators

To calculate your Sharpe Ratio, you need to know the expected return on your portfolio, its volatility, and the risk-free return. Financial calculators can compute the Sharpe Ratio from those inputs, for example on Charles Schwab or in Excel with MarketXLS.

Asset Allocations and Risk-Adjusted Returns

To help you optimize your Sharpe Ratio, you should consider the asset allocations that you make when constructing a portfolio. Different asset combinations can be used to adjust the risk vs. reward, with higher risk portfolios targeting higher returns. You should also take into consideration the expected return and volatility of assets when making asset allocations.

Understanding The Benefits Of Sharpe Ratio

The Sharpe Ratio is an important measurement for any investor or portfolio manager, as it not only provides a measure of risk-adjusted returns, but also allows for a comparison of different portfolio performance. It can be a useful tool for investment analysis as it provides a volatility measurement to compare different portfolios, which can be beneficial for making decisions with regards to risk management.

MarketXLS

MarketXLS is an Excel add-in with portfolio analytics functions, including =SharpeRatio() and =SortinoRatio(), and =QM_GetHistory() to pull the price history you need to calculate returns and volatility yourself.

Relevant blogs that you can read to learn more about the topic

The Basics of Sortino Ratio Calculation
Dividend Payout Ratio – (Top 10 Stocks With Highest Payout In 2017)
Dividend Yield- Tracking Dividend Related Information (With Marketxls)

About the authors
Robin

About Robin

Co-Founder & COO, MarketXLS

Robin is a co-founder and the COO of MarketXLS. He works with Ankur and Anagh on the MarketXLS blog, creating articles together about market data and spreadsheet workflows.

Written collaboratively by Robin, Ankur and Anagh.

Important Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. MarketXLS is a financial data platform and is not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or financial planner. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve substantial risk of loss.

Explore MarketXLS in Excel
Download a free sample workbook (.xlsx). MarketXLS is a paid subscription.

See MarketXLS in action

Bring this workflow into Excel.

Book a demo with our team to see how MarketXLS supports your market research.

Ankur
AnkurFounder & CEO, MarketXLS
Book a demo