Browse Investing

Sharpe, Sortino, and Treynor Ratios

Sharpe, Sortino, and Treynor ratio terms used to compare return with risk taken.

Sharpe, Sortino, and Treynor Ratios terms measure portfolio return, attribution, benchmark-relative results, tracking error, and risk-adjusted performance.

Use this branch when the question depends on how performance was calculated, attributed, benchmarked, or adjusted for risk.

Key Terms in This Branch

TermUse it for
Sharpe RatioReturn calculation, attribution, benchmark, capture ratio, tracking error, alpha, Sharpe, Sortino, Treynor, or risk-adjusted performance terms.
Sortino RatioReturn calculation, attribution, benchmark, capture ratio, tracking error, alpha, Sharpe, Sortino, Treynor, or risk-adjusted performance terms.
Treynor RatioReturn calculation, attribution, benchmark, capture ratio, tracking error, alpha, Sharpe, Sortino, Treynor, or risk-adjusted performance terms.

What to Check

Check the return formula, cash-flow timing, benchmark, fee treatment, reference rate or hurdle rate input, volatility period, attribution model, currency, and whether performance is gross, net, historical, or hypothetical.

Common Mistakes

  • Comparing money-weighted and time-weighted returns as if they were the same.
  • Reading alpha without checking benchmark and risk exposure.
  • Ignoring fees, cash flows, taxes, and survivorship bias.
  • Treating a high ratio as proof a strategy is suitable.

This page is educational and does not recommend a specific portfolio, security, fund, tax treatment, or account choice.

In this section

Choose a subsection first. Deeper term pages live inside each subsection, which keeps large topic hubs readable.

Sharpe Ratio

Risk-adjusted performance measure comparing excess return with total volatility across portfolios or strategies.

Sortino Ratio

The Sortino ratio measures excess return per unit of downside deviation, focusing on harmful volatility rather than total volatility.

Treynor Ratio

The Treynor ratio measures excess return per unit of systematic risk, using beta as the risk measure.

Revised on Sunday, June 21, 2026