Benchmarks

A benchmark is a market reference you overlay on your performance chart, so you can see whether your portfolio is keeping pace with the market. The default benchmark is the S&P 500, tracked through SPY, and you can add others. This page explains what the overlay shows, how to read each comparison, and how the benchmark figures are computed. Benchmarks are available on the Free, Pro Lite, and Pro plans.

Before you begin

Sign in on a plan that allows portfolios. Benchmarks are available on Free, Pro Lite, and Pro.
Build a portfolio with at least one deposit and one buy first. For the steps, see Build your first portfolio.
Open the Performance tab, where the benchmark overlay appears. See Performance and returns.

Quickstart

Open the Performance tab
Go to the Performance tab and select your portfolio.
Add a benchmark
Select Add benchmark, then enter a ticker symbol and a name. The default is SPY for the S&P 500.
Compare the returns
Read the benchmark line on the chart and the benchmark returns summary to see whether your portfolio beat or trailed the reference over each window.

What it shows

A benchmark line on the performance chart, indexed to the same starting point as your portfolio.
A benchmark returns summary covering 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, 10Y, total return, and CAGR.
Controls to add, remove, or clear benchmarks. You can track several at once, each color-coded.

Inputs

Add benchmark: a ticker symbol and a name. The default is SPY for the S&P 500.
Remove benchmark and Clear all to manage the set.
Benchmarks can be set per portfolio or for the combined view.

Outputs and how to read them

Benchmark return over each window: how the benchmark moved over that period, so you can judge whether your portfolio beat or trailed it.
Growth comparison on the chart: the benchmark line shows what the same starting amount would have done in the benchmark.

How it is calculated

Three figures describe a benchmark: its return over each named window, its total return and annualized return since your inception, and the capital value of a starting amount.

Benchmark period return

A period return measures how much the benchmark moved over a window, using dividend-adjusted and split-adjusted prices.

return = (latest adjusted close − adjusted close at window start) / adjusted close at window start × 100

In this formula, latest adjusted close and adjusted close at window start are the split-adjusted and dividend-adjusted closing prices in US dollars, and the result is rounded to two decimals. For example, a latest price of 500 and a price one year ago of 450 give (500 minus 450) divided by 450, times 100, which is 11.11%. The window start uses the first available price on or after that calendar date, so an exact boundary can shift to the next trading day.

Benchmark total return and annualized return

The total return and annualized return measure how the benchmark did over your exact holding period.

total return = (latest − inception price) / inception price × 100; CAGR = ((latest / inception price) ^ (1 / years held) − 1) × 100

In this formula, latest is the most recent adjusted close in US dollars, inception price is the benchmark's adjusted close on or after your portfolio's start date in US dollars, and years held is the days between those two dates divided by 365.25. For example, an inception price of 100 and a latest price of 158 over 3.50 years give a total return of 58.0% and a CAGR of about 13.95%. The inception price is the first available on or after your portfolio's start date, so an exact same-day match is not guaranteed.

Benchmark capital value

Capital value shows what a chosen starting amount would have grown to in the benchmark.

capital value = inception value × (latest / inception price)

In this formula, inception value is the chosen starting amount in US dollars (the default is 10,000). For example, a starting amount of 10,000 with a latest price of 158 and an inception price of 100 gives 10,000 times (158 divided by 100), which is 15,800. This assumes a single lump sum invested at inception with no further deposits.

Data and timing

Benchmark prices are end-of-day adjusted closes from AlphaVantage (Nasdaq and exchange quotes delivered through AlphaVantage). They refresh on the daily price update.

Use cases

See whether your portfolio is beating the S&P 500.
Compare against a sector ETF or a specific stock.
Track several benchmarks at once on the same chart.

Limitations and disclosures

A benchmark is a reference, not a recommendation. Comparisons exclude your own fees and taxes, and the capital-value figure assumes a single lump sum at inception with no further deposits.

GNG Research provides equity research and educational tools, not investment advice. Nothing on the platform is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Do your own research and consider your circumstances before making any investment decision.