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Benchmarks

Benchmarks let you compare your portfolio's performance against market indices. This helps you understand whether your investment decisions are outperforming or underperforming the broader market.

What Is a Benchmark?​

A benchmark is a market index used as a reference point. Common examples:

  • S&P 500 -- Tracks the 500 largest US companies
  • ASX 200 -- Tracks the 200 largest Australian companies
  • FTSE 100 -- Tracks the 100 largest UK companies
  • NASDAQ Composite -- Tracks all stocks listed on the NASDAQ exchange

By comparing your portfolio returns to a benchmark, you can answer: "Would I have been better off just investing in an index fund?"

Adding Benchmarks​

You can add up to 3 benchmarks per portfolio.

  1. Navigate to your portfolio page.
  2. Go to Portfolio Settings or the Benchmark section.
  3. Click Add Benchmark.
  4. Search for the index by name or ticker (e.g., "S&P 500", "^GSPC", "ASX 200", "^AXJO").
  5. Select the index from the search results.
  6. Click Save.

Add benchmark dialog

RegionBenchmarkTicker
AustraliaS&P/ASX 200^AXJO
United StatesS&P 500^GSPC
United StatesNASDAQ Composite^IXIC
United KingdomFTSE 100^FTSE
GlobalMSCI WorldURTH
tip

Choose a benchmark that matches the type of investments in your portfolio. If your portfolio is mostly Australian shares, the ASX 200 is the most relevant comparison. If you hold a mix of global stocks, consider a global index.

Viewing Benchmark Comparison​

Once you have added at least one benchmark, navigate to Performance > Benchmark Comparison from the sidebar. This page shows:

Summary Cards​

  • Portfolio Return -- Your portfolio's total return over the selected period
  • Benchmark Return -- The benchmark's return over the same period
  • Alpha -- The difference between your return and the benchmark (positive alpha means you outperformed)

Performance Chart​

An overlay chart showing your portfolio value and the benchmark index over time, normalised to the same starting point for fair comparison.

Period Returns Table​

A table comparing returns across different time periods:

  • Daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual returns
  • Side-by-side portfolio vs benchmark for each period

Risk Metrics​

  • Volatility -- How much your portfolio's returns fluctuate (lower is more stable)
  • Sharpe Ratio -- Risk-adjusted return (higher is better; above 1.0 is generally good)
  • Max Drawdown -- The largest peak-to-trough decline (smaller is better)

Drawdown Chart​

A visual showing the depth and duration of drawdowns over time for both your portfolio and the benchmark.

Benchmark comparison page

Removing a Benchmark​

  1. Go to Portfolio Settings.
  2. Find the benchmark you want to remove.
  3. Click the Remove button next to it.
  4. Confirm the removal.

How Benchmark Data Works​

Metrifly automatically fetches historical price data for your benchmarks. The data is collected daily and used to calculate comparison metrics. Benchmark data starts from the date of your earliest transaction in the portfolio.

note

Benchmark data may take a few minutes to populate after you first add a benchmark. If the comparison page appears empty, wait and refresh.