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Tutorial 06 · 6 min

How to read performance metrics

Every pattern comes with statistics that tell you how strong and reliable it is. Understanding these four — Average Return, Win Rate, Std Dev, and Rating — is the key skill.

123
Avg Return
+3.7%
Win Rate
80%
Std Dev (σ)
4.6%
  1. 1Average Return — the typical move (your reward gauge).
  2. 2Win Rate — how often it repeated (your reliability gauge).
  3. 3Std Dev — variability; lower = more consistent.

Real-world example

A pattern shows Avg Return +3.7%, Win Rate 80%, Std Dev 4.6%, Rating ★★★★. That means: over the last 10 years, the stock rose an average of 3.7% in that window, was positive 8 of 10 years, with moderate variability — a strong, dependable pattern.

Step-by-step

  1. 1Average Return: the typical % move over the window, averaged across all years (signed — positive or negative).
  2. 2Win Rate: the % of years the pattern moved in its expected direction (up for bullish, down for bearish).
  3. 3Standard Deviation (σ): how much the yearly results vary — lower means more consistent.
  4. 4Annualized: the return scaled to a full year, so you can compare windows of different lengths.
  5. 5Rating: a 1–5 star score blending win rate, return strength, and consistency.

What to expect & how to read it

High win rate + meaningful average return + low std dev = a high-quality, repeatable pattern (4–5 stars). A high return with a low win rate means one or two big years are doing the work — less reliable.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Chasing the biggest average return while ignoring win rate and std dev.
  • Treating a 100% win rate over only 2–3 years as proof — more years = more confidence.

Tips for beginners

  • Win rate is your reliability gauge; average return is your reward gauge. You want both.
  • Use the Rating to shortlist quickly, then dig into the individual metrics.