Funds Management • Risk-Adjusted Metrics & Alpha • Intermediate Level

Sharpe Ratio

Definition: A foundational metric measuring excess investment return per unit of total risk (standard deviation volatility).

Comprehensive Institutional Breakdown

Developed by Nobel laureate William Sharpe, this ratio quantifies how much excess return an investor receives for holding a risky asset compared to a risk-free rate (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills). Ratios above 1.0 are considered good; above 2.0 are institutional grade.

Algorithmic Formula / Notation
Sharpe Ratio = (R_portfolio - R_free) ÷ σ_total
Institutional Scenario Example
A portfolio returning 14% with 8% standard deviation when risk-free rate is 4% has a Sharpe ratio of (14 - 4) / 8 = 1.25.
Cross-Market & Execution Note
Sharpe penalizes upside volatility, making the Sortino ratio a better fit for asymmetric trend runners.