← Reports Help

Performance and Return Metrics

Use these metrics to separate realised trading profit from account funding, measure growth on a comparable basis, and judge whether results persist across days, weeks and months.

September 10, 202610 min read

How to read these metrics

Start with net profit for the monetary result, then use flow-adjusted returns for fair comparison. Review period consistency only after confirming that the selected window contains enough active days.

Reports applies the selected account or portfolio, date range, timezone and supported filters before requesting values from Analytics v2. An unavailable value is not zero: it means the selected data cannot support a reliable result.

Returns

Profit and return across the selected period.

Net profit

Live

The realised profit or loss after trading costs in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Gross trading P&L − commissions − fees − swaps.
Why it is useful
Shows what trading actually added to or removed from the account.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Gross profit

Live

Gross profit summarizes profit and return across the selected period for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Gross loss

Live

Gross loss summarizes profit and return across the selected period for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Total return

Live

The percentage change in account value after adjusting for external cash flows.

Formula or calculation
Modified Dietz: (ending equity − starting equity − external flows) ÷ (starting equity + time-weighted external flows) × 100.
Why it is useful
Makes performance easier to compare across accounts of different sizes.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Time-weighted return

Live

Compounded performance with deposits and withdrawals removed from each return period.

Formula or calculation
Product of (1 + each flow-adjusted period return) − 1.
Why it is useful
Separates trading performance from the timing and size of account funding.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Annualised return

Live

Annualised return summarizes profit and return across the selected period for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Average daily return

Live

Average daily return is the arithmetic mean for eligible observations in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Sum of valid observed values ÷ number of valid observations.
Why it is useful
Summarises the typical level of daily return while reviewing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Average weekly return

Live

Average weekly return is the arithmetic mean for eligible observations in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Sum of valid observed values ÷ number of valid observations.
Why it is useful
Summarises the typical level of weekly return while reviewing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Average monthly return

Live

Average monthly return is the arithmetic mean for eligible observations in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Sum of valid observed values ÷ number of valid observations.
Why it is useful
Summarises the typical level of monthly return while reviewing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Average daily P&L

Live

The average realised P&L across local dates on which eligible trades closed.

Formula or calculation
Sum of daily realised P&L ÷ trading-day count; inactive dates are excluded.
Why it is useful
Shows the average monetary result of an active trading day without presenting it as an investment return.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Median daily P&L

Live

The middle realised trading-day P&L after active local dates are ordered.

Formula or calculation
Median of daily realised P&L; for an even sample, mean of the two central active days.
Why it is useful
Shows a typical active-day result that is less distorted by one exceptional day.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Daily P&L standard deviation

Live

The sample variability of realised P&L between active trading days.

Formula or calculation
Unbiased sample standard deviation of daily realised P&L; requires at least two trading days.
Why it is useful
Shows monetary day-to-day dispersion, but is not account volatility because it has no capital denominator.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Average weekly P&L

Live

Average weekly P&L is the arithmetic mean for eligible observations in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Sum of valid observed values ÷ number of valid observations.
Why it is useful
Summarises the typical level of weekly p&l while reviewing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Average monthly P&L

Live

Average monthly P&L is the arithmetic mean for eligible observations in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Sum of valid observed values ÷ number of valid observations.
Why it is useful
Summarises the typical level of monthly p&l while reviewing profit and return across the selected period.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Best day P&L

Live

The highest combined realised P&L among active local trading dates.

Formula or calculation
Maximum of daily net closed-trade P&L.
Why it is useful
Shows the strongest realised trading day and whether averages may depend on an exceptional result.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Worst day P&L

Live

The lowest combined realised P&L among active local trading dates.

Formula or calculation
Minimum of daily net closed-trade P&L.
Why it is useful
Shows the most damaging realised trading day in the selected period.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Best week P&L

Live

Best week P&L identifies the strongest or largest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Maximum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights the upper extreme and helps identify outsized drivers of the result.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Worst week P&L

Live

Worst week P&L identifies the weakest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Minimum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights adverse extremes that may be hidden by averages.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Best month P&L

Live

Best month P&L identifies the strongest or largest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Maximum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights the upper extreme and helps identify outsized drivers of the result.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Worst month P&L

Live

Worst month P&L identifies the weakest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Minimum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights adverse extremes that may be hidden by averages.
Interpretation note
This identifies the leading returned segment in the selected sample; it does not prove that the segment caused the result. Check its trade count and repeatability.

Capital & cash flow

Balance, equity, and external account flows.

Initial balance

Live

The first funded account balance available in the imported account history.

Formula or calculation
Balance immediately after the opening Balance event; otherwise the first non-zero balance before a real trade.
Why it is useful
Shows the capital the account began trading with without presenting the pre-deposit zero as meaningful capital.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Starting balance

Live

The realised account balance at the effective beginning of the selected period.

Formula or calculation
Latest balance after an event before the selected start; when the range begins before account inception, use the opening funded balance.
Why it is useful
Provides the correct baseline for period balance performance and flow-adjusted balance drawdown.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Current balance

Live

Current balance summarizes balance, equity, and external account flows for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing balance, equity, and external account flows.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Ending balance

Live

Ending balance summarizes balance, equity, and external account flows for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing balance, equity, and external account flows.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Highest balance

Live

Highest balance identifies the strongest or largest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Maximum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights the upper extreme and helps identify outsized drivers of the result.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Starting equity

Live

Starting equity summarizes balance, equity, and external account flows for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing balance, equity, and external account flows.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Current equity

Live

Current equity summarizes balance, equity, and external account flows for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing balance, equity, and external account flows.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Ending equity

Live

Ending equity summarizes balance, equity, and external account flows for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing balance, equity, and external account flows.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Highest equity

Live

Highest equity identifies the strongest or largest eligible observation in the selected scope.

Formula or calculation
Maximum valid observation after applying the selected account, period, and filters.
Why it is useful
Highlights the upper extreme and helps identify outsized drivers of the result.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Net deposits

Live

External deposits remaining after withdrawals in the selected account period.

Formula or calculation
Total deposits − total withdrawals; broker credits and adjustments are excluded.
Why it is useful
Shows the net funding contribution without confusing it with trading P&L.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Total deposits

Live

The total external capital added through positive Balance records.

Formula or calculation
Sum positive profit amounts from Balance rows in the selected half-open date window.
Why it is useful
Shows how much account growth came from added funding rather than trading.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Total withdrawals

Live

The total capital removed through negative Balance or explicit Withdrawal records.

Formula or calculation
Sum absolute negative Balance amounts plus absolute explicit Withdrawal amounts.
Why it is useful
Shows capital removed without treating it as a trading loss.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Net external cash flow

Live

The net amount of external capital added to or removed from the account.

Formula or calculation
Positive Balance deposits − absolute Balance or explicit Withdrawal outflows; credits are separate.
Why it is useful
Separates account funding from realised trading performance.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Credits and adjustments

Live

The signed total of broker credit or adjustment records in the selected period.

Formula or calculation
Sum profit amounts from trade-history rows classified as Credit.
Why it is useful
Prevents broker credits and adjustments from being mistaken for deposits or trading profit.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Deposit count

Live

The number of positive Balance funding records in the selected period.

Formula or calculation
Count Balance rows with profit > 0 inside the half-open account date window.
Why it is useful
Shows how frequently external capital was added.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Withdrawal count

Live

The number of negative Balance or explicit Withdrawal records in the selected period.

Formula or calculation
Count negative Balance rows plus explicit Withdrawal rows.
Why it is useful
Shows how frequently capital was removed from the account.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Credit or adjustment count

Live

The number of broker Credit records in the selected period.

Formula or calculation
Count trade-history rows whose order type is Credit.
Why it is useful
Shows how often non-deposit account adjustments occurred.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Average deposit

Live

The average size of positive external Balance deposits.

Formula or calculation
Total deposits ÷ deposit count.
Why it is useful
Shows the typical account-funding amount.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Average withdrawal

Live

The average absolute size of negative Balance and explicit Withdrawal outflows.

Formula or calculation
Total withdrawals ÷ withdrawal count.
Why it is useful
Shows the typical amount removed per withdrawal event.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Period consistency

How consistently the account produces profitable periods.

Profitable days

Live

The number of active local dates that finished with positive combined realised P&L.

Formula or calculation
Same governed count as winning days: daily realised P&L > 0.
Why it is useful
Provides the profitable-day count used by day-level consistency metrics.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Profitable-day percentage

Live

The share of all trading days whose combined realised P&L was positive.

Formula or calculation
Winning trading days ÷ all trading days × 100, including breakeven days in the denominator.
Why it is useful
Shows how consistently active days finished profitable.
Interpretation note
The value can be unavailable when its denominator is zero or the eligible sample is too small. Compare the same account, period, timezone and filters.

Daily win rate

Live

The percentage of decisive trading days whose combined realised P&L was positive.

Formula or calculation
Winning days ÷ (winning days + losing days) × 100; breakeven days are reported separately.
Why it is useful
Shows day-level hit rate without allowing busy days to count multiple times.
Interpretation note
The value can be unavailable when its denominator is zero or the eligible sample is too small. Compare the same account, period, timezone and filters.

Profitable weeks

Live

Profitable weeks summarizes how consistently the account produces profitable periods for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing how consistently the account produces profitable periods.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Profitable months

Live

Profitable months summarizes how consistently the account produces profitable periods for the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Calculated from eligible observations using the versioned TraderWaves analytics definition for this metric.
Why it is useful
Adds context when assessing how consistently the account produces profitable periods.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Positive-return days

Live

Positive-return days aggregates eligible records in the selected account, period, and filters.

Formula or calculation
Count of matching eligible observations.
Why it is useful
Provides the sample size or total exposure behind how consistently the account produces profitable periods.
Interpretation note
Requires sufficient account equity or periodic-return history. Some equity metrics are unavailable for portfolio scope or when trade-level filters would make the result inconsistent.

Average winning day

Live

The average realised P&L across active local dates that finished positive.

Formula or calculation
Sum positive daily realised P&L ÷ winning-day count.
Why it is useful
Shows the typical monetary size of a profitable day.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Average losing day

Live

The average realised P&L across active local dates that finished negative.

Formula or calculation
Sum negative daily realised P&L ÷ losing-day count.
Why it is useful
Shows the typical monetary size of a losing day.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Largest winning day contribution

Live

Largest winning day contribution shows how strongly one component influences the combined result.

Formula or calculation
Relevant component result ÷ total comparable portfolio or scoped result × 100.
Why it is useful
Reveals dependence on a small number of trades, days, accounts, symbols, or strategies.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Largest losing day contribution

Live

Largest losing day contribution shows how strongly one component influences the combined result.

Formula or calculation
Relevant component result ÷ total comparable portfolio or scoped result × 100.
Why it is useful
Reveals dependence on a small number of trades, days, accounts, symbols, or strategies.
Interpretation note
Calculated only from eligible imported observations in the selected account, period and filters; missing source data or an insufficient sample can make it unavailable.

Was this article helpful?

Article feedback is not yet available.

Trading Performance and Return Metrics Explained | TraderWaves