Contents of this article:
- Portfolio Hub
- Portfolio Snowflake
- Performance VS Market
- Portfolio Holdings
- Returns
- Updates
- Dividends
- Portfolio Analysis
Portfolio Hub
The Portfolio Hub is a convenient feature that displays a list of all your portfolios in one place. It provides you with a comprehensive overview of the value, returns, and analysis of all your portfolios. This feature is an extension of the Dashboard widget and allows you to have a closer look at all your portfolios as an aggregate.
You can easily access all the portfolios that you own by navigating through the drop-down menu. This way, you can also view each portfolio in detail.
Portfolio Snowflake
The Portfolio Snowflake provides a comprehensive overview of your entire investment portfolio, offering a consolidated snapshot of the combined fundamental health of the companies within it. It is a visual representation derived from aggregating the individual Snowflakes of the companies in your portfolio.
Risks & Rewards
Under the portfolio snowflake, you can find the Risk (!) & Rewards (★)⋆section which displays the total number of risks and rewards associated with all the holdings in the portfolio. Our system performs risk checks on every company, and if any checks fail, we flag them as potential investment risks. These are then collectively presented in your portfolio to give you a quick overview.
Performance VS Market
The Performance vs. Market chart provides a comparison between the performance of your current holdings and the broader market over a specific period of time. You can view the specific dates by navigating through the chart. This metric is useful in understanding how well the companies you hold have performed in comparison to the overall market.
You can change your portfolio's benchmark to compare its performance against major global indexes like the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq.
You also have the option to change the market for a more relevant comparison. This is useful if you invest in companies from multiple markets, as it allows you to compare your portfolio against the index of the primary market you're focused on.
Note: There are two types of portfolios: Holdings and Transactions Portfolio. You can find more details about each portfolio here. The summary table below provides a quick comparison of the calculations, which is further explained in the following sections.
How to: Calculating Portfolio Performance Metrics
Summary Table:
| Terminology | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Transactions Portfolio | Holdings Portfolio | |
| Value | Current share price x No. of shares | Current share price x No. of shares |
| Cost Basis | Total Cost Basis – Cost Basis of Shares Sold (FIFO) | Average price × No. of shares |
| Unrealised Returns | (Current Price – Average Buy Price) × Shares Held | NA |
| Realised Gains/Losses | Proceeds from Sold Shares – Their Cost Basis | NA |
| Dividends | Total Dividends Received | NA |
| Currency Returns | Impact of exchange rate changes on your returns | NA |
| Estimated Dividends | Annual Dividend Per Share x No. of Shares | Annual Dividend Per Share x No. of Shares |
Other Important Calculations and Adjustments
When adding transactions to your portfolio, please make sure to enter the original stock price using the stock’s listing currency. Our platform automatically handles the foreign exchange (FX) conversion in the Returns Report, which is the source used for your portfolio performance and analysis reports.
If your portfolio’s base currency is different from the currency of your holdings, all return calculations must still be based on a consistent currency.
What to Do:
- Always enter the original transaction price in the stock’s listing currency (e.g., USD for U.S.-listed stocks, GBP for U.K.-listed stocks).
- If you are performing your own manual calculations outside the platform, convert all stock prices and financial metrics into your portfolio’s base currency before running those calculations.
Funds or ETFs are included in portfolio analysis, but only when data is available.
Key Considerations:
- For example, if an ETF or fund has no earnings per share (EPS) data, it will not be included in calculations that require EPS (e.g., PE Ratio, EPS Growth).
- These holdings will still be counted in the total portfolio value and other general calculations.
Stock splits are automatically recognized and adjusted in the New Transactions Portfolio
What to Do:
Enter pre-split or original data correctly to ensure accurate calculations.
Portfolio Holdings
The Portfolio Holdings section gives you a detailed overview of all the stocks currently in your portfolio, excluding any that have been liquidated. This is where you can monitor performance, track value, and analyze your holdings using different data views.
You can analyze your holdings from different perspectives by switching between table views. The original layout is now the Default View, but several other options are available depending on what you want to focus on:
- Default View - Displays general information and overall performance metrics.
- Income View - Highlights dividend data
- Growth View - Focuses on growth-related metrics and future potential.
- Value View - Centers on valuation insights and fair value comparisons.
- Snowflake View - Shows the Simply Wall St Snowflake analysis scores for a quick company overview.
- Fundamentals View - Displays key financial indicators like earnings, revenue, and ratios.
To switch between views, click the dropdown menu at the top-right corner of your Portfolio Holdings table. From there, select the view you’d like to display, and your portfolio data will automatically refresh to match your chosen layout.
Custom View
The Custom View lets users build a personalized portfolio dashboard by selecting and combining data points across multiple categories. Users can choose exactly which metrics they want to see, making it easier to focus on what matters most to their strategy.
You can easily sort the stocks in your portfolio to organize and analyze your holdings more effectively. When you switch between different views in the Portfolio Holdings table, the column headers will also change to match the selected view, except for Symbol, Last Price, and Fair Value, which remain visible across all views.
To understand what each column represents, simply hover over a column header to see a short definition of that data field. Once you’re familiar with the columns, you can sort your holdings by clicking on any header.
Returns
The Returns Report provides accurate and detailed returns at both the portfolio and holdings levels. It also automatically adjusts for stock splits, generates dividend transactions.
There are 2 charts in this report that let you quickly see how your investments are contributing to your overall returns.
a. Returns Breakdown
The Returns Breakdown or the waterfall chart shows the different components that make up your total return, helping you understand exactly where your performance is coming from.
b. Contributors to Returns
The Contributor to Returns chart highlights the biggest positive and negative contributors to your return over the selected period, so you can easily identify which holdings have driven the most impact.
Below are discussions on how returns are calculated. Please note that all return percentages are based on your Cumulative Capital Invested (the total amount you've invested over time).
Note: The Returns Report in the Holdings and Linked Portfolio is limited. If you want to have a Detailed Returns Analysis, Annualized Returns, and Easier Tax & Reporting, you may create a Transactions portfolio.
The Current Value is the market value of shares held at the end of the selected period.
Formula: Value = Current share price x No. of shares
Illustration and Calculations:
Value = Current share price x No. of shares
= US$68.76 x 1.2809
= US$88.08
The Cost Basis is the total purchase cost at the end of the selected period.
Transaction Portfolio
The Transactions portfolio tracks individual transactions and adjusts for shares sold based on the FIFO (First-In-First-Out) method. Unlike the Holdings portfolio, this considers each trade separately and dynamically updates the cost basis over time.
Formula: Cost Basis of Remaining Shares = Total Cost Basis – Cost Basis of Shares Sold (FIFO)
Where:
Total Cost Basis = Total Purchase Cost
Cost Basis of Shares Sold (FIFO) = Sum of the cost basis of the oldest shares that were sold.
Illustration and Calculations:
Cost Basis of Remaining Shares = Total Cost Basis – Cost Basis of Shares Sold (FIFO)
= US$497 - US$417.54
= US$79.46
Total Cost Basis = Sum of all purchase costs.
= US$417.54 + US$79.46
= US$497
Cost Basis of Shares Sold (FIFO) = Sum of the cost basis of the oldest shares that were sold.
- Buy 3 shares at US$139.18 each → Total Cost Basis = US$417.54
- Buy 0.57 shares at US$139.18 each → Total Cost Basis = US$79.46
- Sell 3 shares → FIFO applies, meaning the first 3 shares sold are from the first purchase at $139.18 each.
- Cost Basis of Shares Sold = 3 × $139.18 = US$417.54
Holdings Portfolio
The Cost Basis is calculated by using the following formula:
Formula: Cost Basis = Average price x No. of shares
Illustration and Calculations:
Cost Basis = Average price x No. of shares
= US$200 x 5
= US$1,000
Unrealised Returns are gains and losses on unsold shares based on their value at the end of the selected period.
Formula: Unrealised Returns $ = (Current Price – Average Buy Price) × Shares Held
Unrealised Returns % = Unrealised Gain/Loss $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
Where:
Current Price = Market price of each stock
Cost Basis per Share = The average price paid per share
Shares Held = Number of shares currently owned
Cumulative Capital Invested = The total amount you've invested over time
Illustration and Calculations:
Unrealised Returns $ = (Current Price – Average Buy Price) × Shares Held
= (US$130.53 - US$149.87) x 1.6481
= -US$31.87
Unrealised Returns % = Unrealised Gain/Loss $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
= -US$31.87 / 247
= 0.1290 or 12.9%
Realised Returns are gain/loss from sold shares during the selected period. It depends on which shares are sold first using the FIFO Method.
Formula: Realised Returns $ = Proceeds from Sold Shares – Their Cost Basis
Realised Returns % = Realised Gain/Loss $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
Illustration and Calculations:
Realised Returns = Proceeds from Sold Shares – Their Cost Basis
= (US$180 x 4) - (US$77.76 x 4)
= US$720 - US$311.04
= US$408.96
Realised Returns = Realised Gain/Loss $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
= US$408.96 / US$1,094.01
= 0.3738 or 37.4%
Note: This metric is only available for transaction portfolios. Create a transaction portfolio to see your true returns
Dividends Returns are the income earned from dividend payouts. Only shares held before the ex-dividend date qualify for dividends.
Formula: Dividends Returns $ = Total Dividends Received
Dividend Returns % = Dividends Received $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
Illustration and Calculations:
In the example above, the 3.28 shares that were purchased and held past the ex-dividend date qualify for dividends. After selling 2 shares, you are left with 1.28 shares that remain eligible for dividends: (3 - 2) + 0.28 = 1.28 shares. The total dividends received for NYSE: EL amount to US$10.40.
Dividend Returns $ = Total Dividends Received
= US$10.40
Dividend Returns % = Dividends Received $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
= US$10.40 / US$497
= 0.0209 or 2.1%
Note: This metric is only available for transaction portfolios. Create a transaction portfolio to see your true returns.
The Currency Returns is the foreign exchange gain/loss from sold shares during the selected period.
Formula: Currency Return $ = Impact of exchange rate changes on your returns
Currency Returns % = Currency Gain/Loss $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
Illustration and Calculations:
Note: This metric is only available for transaction portfolios. Create a transaction portfolio to see your true returns.
Total Returns - the overall gains/losses, including realised, unrealised, dividends, and currency effects in the selected period.
Formula: Total Return $ = Unrealised + Realised + Dividends + Currency
Total Returns % = Total Return $ / Cumulative Capital Invested
Illustration and Calculations:
Total Return $ = Unrealised + Realised + Dividends + Currency
= 4,062.60 + 2,538.18 + 15.83 + (-232.31)
= 6,384.29
Annualized Return Rate is the annualized return rate for the selected period, calculated using the Internal Rate of Return (IRR).
IRR (Internal Rate of Return) is a key financial metric used to measure the profitability of an investment. It shows the annual rate of return that makes the Net Present Value (NPV) of all expected cash flows equal to zero. In simple terms, IRR helps you understand how much return you can expect to earn from a holding over time.
Note: IRR requires both the position's holding period and the selected period to be 90+ days. This metric is only available for transaction portfolios. Create a transaction portfolio to see your true returns.
Why Your Portfolio Returns Don't Match
It can be confusing when you see different performance numbers for your Simply Wall St portfolio compared to various reports or platforms. Let's break down the most common reasons for these differences so you can understand your returns better.
Timing of Data and Pricing
Our portfolio only updates once a day and uses the end-of-day closing price, while your broker might pull data in real-time, which can lead to small differences.
What's Included in Your Portfolio
Our current analysis focuses exclusively on equities. This means we don't include other types of assets you might hold, even if they are in the same account.
Assets that are not available on our platform are:
- Cash balances
- Cryptocurrencies
- Derivatives and Options
- Mutual Funds
What to Do: If your total portfolio value on our platform doesn't match your brokerage report, first check to see if you hold assets other than equities. This is the most likely reason for the discrepancy.
Portfolio Type & Return Calculation
The way your portfolio is set up on our platform directly affects how your returns are calculated.
All returns for Linked and Manual Holdings portfolios are currently based on the average price of your holdings. We use this method because we don't have access to the full history of every single buy and sell transaction.
Since we don't have the exact date and price of each transaction, we can't calculate your returns based on the exact timing of your purchases. Instead, your total cost is determined by multiplying the average price of a stock by the number of units you own.
This gives you a reliable estimate of your returns, but it may not show you the exact return you'd get from a transaction-by-transaction analysis. You can learn more about this here.
What to Do: For a more precise analysis, consider creating a Transactions portfolio that can track your full transaction history.
Corporate Actions (Splits and Dividends)
Our platform automatically recognizes and accounts for corporate actions like stock splits and dividends. When a stock split occurs, our system will automatically adjust the number of shares in your portfolio so your analysis remains accurate. Similarly, any dividends you receive on your stocks will be included in your calculations.
What to Do: When manually adding transactions for stocks that have split, enter the information exactly as it was before the split occurred. Do not enter post-split transactions or manually add split and dividend transactions. Our system handles these events automatically to ensure your portfolio's performance is correctly reflected.
How to Export the Returns Report of Your Portfolio
You can easily export your portfolio’s Returns Report into a CSV file for further analysis or record keeping. Here are the steps:
- Go to your Portfolio.
- Open the Returns tab.
- Scroll down and click the “Download as CSV” button.
- Your returns report will be downloaded in CSV format.
Note: The CSV download option is available only for Transactions portfolios. It is not supported for Holdings portfolios or linked portfolios, as these do not include transaction-level data (such as individual buy and sell records).
Updates
We’ve just made it easier to track what’s happening in your portfolio. Head over to the Updates tab, where you’ll now find a clearer, more organized view of your investment news and updates.
Updates are grouped into 7 sections to help you focus on what matters most:
- Earnings – Get the latest on quarterly and annual financial results.
- Valuation – See updates that affect how a company is priced or perceived in the market.
- Narrative – Discover what others are saying about the company.
- Dividends – Track dividend announcements, increases, cuts, and payment dates.
- People – Follow changes in leadership, board members, and key personnel moves.
- Risk & Legal – Be aware of lawsuits, investigations, and regulatory developments.
- Other – Everything else that’s worth noting but doesn’t fit neatly into the above.
You can filter updates by type to focus on what matters most to you. Plus, new updates are marked, so you’ll never miss them.
Dividends
Dividends are a key part of investing for income. Whether you’re planning to reinvest or rely on steady payouts, understanding a company’s dividend behavior can help you make better decisions. This section gives you a clear look at:
This section displays the quality and forecast of your portfolio's dividends. The table outlines projected dividend payments for the next 3 years, starting from the current month. It includes any dividends already paid this month and provides a detailed view of what to expect in the future.
How Are Dividend Amounts Forecasted?
Forecasting dividend amounts relies on a tiered system of actual announcements, past payment trends, and analyst estimates. Here's how each method works:
1. Announced Upcoming Dividends
If a company has officially announced a future dividend, that number is used, including the pay date provided by our data provider. These are the most reliable because they’re coming straight from the company.
2. Past Dividend Payments
If a dividend isn’t officially announced, the system looks at past regular dividend payments, specifically those from the last year. It matches payment patterns to avoid projecting the same dividend twice.
Note: Special dividends are also shown, but they’re not used to forecast future amounts since they’re not regular.
3. Analyst Estimates
- Future dividends covered by analyst forecasts are based on consensus estimates from multiple analysts about how much a company will pay in dividends per share. Only estimates for the same security are used, and if a company has multiple listings, the one with the most analyst coverage is selected.
- Forecasts can be quarterly, semi-annual, or annual, and each estimate is linked to all projected dividend dates within that period (e.g., all projected payment dates falling within a company's Q2 2025 will be associated with the consensus estimate for that period). If a company makes multiple payments during the same period, the consensus amount is split evenly (for regular dividends) or proportionally based on past payments.
- If a dividend has already been paid or announced, that amount is subtracted from the forecast, and the rest is divided among the remaining expected payments. If estimates from multiple period types overlap, the one covering the fewest payments is used, and the analyst count breaks any ties. High and low estimates follow the same method.
The Estimated Future Payments chart shows the monthly dividend forecast for 3 years, with declared vs estimated payments and company-level breakdowns.
How Are Dividend Dates Forecasted?
To forecast dividend dates, the system uses a mix of past payments and future announcements. Here’s how it works:
- Calendar Based on Past Payments - If the company has been paying regular dividends for a year or more, a calendar is built based on the actual dates from the last 12 months. This helps predict when future payments might happen.
-
Less Than a Year of History - If a company has paid dividends for less than a year, estimated dates are filled in using standard payment intervals:
- Monthly dividend - Estimated every month.
- Quarterly - Estimated every 3 months.
- Semi-annual - Estimated every 6 months.
- Carried Forward Over Time - Once a pattern is built, it’s repeated into future years on the same dates.
- No Weekend Adjustments - Dates are based purely on the calendar. That means they don’t adjust for weekends or holidays. So, actual pay dates could shift slightly.
- Dividend Suspensions Excluded - If a company has suspended its dividends since the last announcement, it’s excluded from the forecast. This helps keep the data accurate.
What Happens If There Are No Analyst Forecasts?
Not every company has analysts tracking their dividend payments. In that case, the system uses the last known payment as a placeholder for the future. Here’s how it works:
-
Regular Schedule - If the company has a pattern (like paying every quarter), the last known payment of that same period is carried forward.
Example: March dividend gets copied for June, September, etc. -
Irregular Dividend Payouts - If a company only pays twice a year, the system looks at the last payment for that specific calendar period.
Example: April 2024 payment is used again in April 2025. - No Dividend Growth Assumed - These forecasts don’t assume any increase or decrease. The exact dollar amount from the last known payment is reused.
Portfolio Analysis
The Portfolio Analysis tab is composed of two sub-sections, the Key Metrics & Benchmarks then the Portfolio Diversification.
Note: If your portfolio exceeds your subscription plan's limits, you'll face restrictions on excess holdings. These holdings won't be included in your portfolio's overall value, returns, or analytical insights. Click here for more information.
Key Analysis Metrics & Benchmarks
This sub-section of the portfolio analysis shows the weighted version of the 5 key analysis sections that we are also reflecting in the Snowflake - namely, the Valuation, Future, Past Performance, Financial Health, and Dividends.
Fair Value
Determines the intrinsic value of your portfolio using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method, which forecasts future cash flows of each stock. Please refer here to learn more about the Discounted Cash Flow model.
Calculations:
Portfolio Price = Sum of (No. of Shares × Current Share Price)
Portfolio Fair Value = Sum of (No. of Shares × Fair Value
Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio
The Portfolio Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio measures how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in the portfolio. Useful for mature, profitable companies.
Calculations:
PE Ratio = Total (No. of Shares × Current Share Price) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Earnings Per Share)
Price-to-Sales (PS) Ratio
The Portfolio Price-to-Sales (PS) Ratio evaluates the portfolio's valuation based on revenue instead of earnings. Useful for growth companies or unprofitable stocks.
Calculations:
PS Ratio = Total (No. of Shares × Current Share Price) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Revenue Per Share)
Note: Holdings with negative revenues are excluded
Price-to-Expected Growth (PEG) Ratio
The Portfolio Price-to-Expected Growth (PEG) Ratio adjusts the PE Ratio by considering future earnings growth, making it valuable for growth-focused investors.
Calculations:
PEG Ratio = Weighted Average of Individual Stock PEG Ratios
Note: Holdings with negative revenues are excluded
Price-to-Book (PB) Ratio
The Portfolio Price-to-Book (PB) Ratio compares the portfolio’s market value to its book value. This metric is useful for portfolios with capital-intensive companies (e.g., banks, REITs, manufacturers). Lower PB Ratio = Possible undervaluation, Higher PB Ratio = Potential overvaluation.
Calculations:
PB Ratio = Total (No. of Shares × Current Share Price) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Book Value Per Share)
Annual Earnings Growth vs Market
The Annual Earnings Growth vs. Market bar chart compares the portfolio’s annual earnings growth rate to the market over 3-year periods. It shows if your portfolio is outperforming, matching, or lagging behind the market.
Calculations:
Past Average = Weighted Average of Annual Past Earnings Growth %
Future Average = Weighted Average of Annual Projected Earnings Growth %
Annual Revenue Growth vs Market
The Annual Revenue Growth vs Market bar chart measures revenue growth in your portfolio relative to the broader market. It helps assess whether your investments are growing faster or slower than the market.
Calculations:
Past Average = Weighted Average of Annual Past Revenue Growth %
Future Average = Weighted Average of Annual Projected Revenue Growth %
EPS Growth vs Market
The EPS Growth vs Market bar chart tracks how your portfolio’s EPS growth compares to the market over 3-year periods.
Calculations:
Past Average = Weighted Average of Annual Past EPS Growth %
Future Average = Weighted Average of Annual Projected EPS Growth %
Return on Equity (ROE)
The Return on Equity (ROE) chart measures how efficiently companies in the portfolio generate profits from shareholders' equity. Higher ROE = More efficient use of equity
Calculations:
ROE = Total (No. of Shares × Earnings Per Share) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Equity Per Share)
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)
The Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) chart evaluates how well companies use invested capital to generate profits. A higher ROCE means more effective capital usage.
Calculations:
ROCE = Total (No. of Shares × EBIT Per Share) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Capital Employed Per Share)
Return on Assets (ROA)
The Return on Assets (ROA) chart assesses how efficiently a company’s assets generate earnings. Higher ROA = More efficient asset utilization.
Calculations:
ROA = Total (No. of Shares × (Earnings Per Share - Net Interest Expense Per Share)) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Total Assets Per Share)
Net Debt to Equity vs Market
The Net Debt to Equity vs Market chart compares the portfolio’s leverage (net debt) to shareholders’ equity, providing insight into financial risk. Higher ratio = More leverage and risk; Lower ratio = More financial stability.
Calculations:
Net Debt to Equity = Total of (no. of shares x Debt per share) ÷ Total of (no. of shares x Equity per share)
Portfolio Dividend Yield
The Dividend Yield chart measures the expected annual income from dividends relative to the portfolio’s total value. Higher yield means greater dividend income.
Calculations:
Dividend Yield = Total (No. of Shares × Dividend Per Share) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Current Share
Dividend Growth Rate
The Dividend Growth Rate chart tracks how fast dividends have grown over time compared to the market. Higher growth indicates increasing payouts over time.
Calculations:
Dividend Growth Rate = Weighted Average of All Dividend Growth Rates
Payout Ratio
The Payout Ratio chart measures the percentage of earnings paid out as dividends, indicating how much profit is returned to investors. Higher ratio = More focus on income; Lower ratio = More reinvestment in business growth
Calculations:
Payout Ratio = Total (No. of Shares × Dividend Per Share) ÷ Total (No. of Shares × Earnings Per Share)
Note: Stocks that don’t pay dividends are excluded from this calculation.
Diversification
Diversification is essential for managing risk and optimizing returns by spreading investments across different industries, holdings, and geographical regions. This section helps assess whether your portfolio is well-balanced or overly concentrated in specific areas.
The Diversification across Industries chart shows the breakdown of your portfolio by sector and industry, helping you identify industry concentrations and inform diversification strategies.
Why It Matters:
- Reduces risk by avoiding overexposure to a single sector.
- Ensures a balanced portfolio, especially during market fluctuations
- Helps align investments with economic trends and sector performance.
The Diversification Across Holdings chart displays the proportional weight of each holding in your portfolio. It helps you determine the balance of your investments, identify major assets, and guide effective portfolio rebalancing.
Why It Matters:
- Helps identify overconcentrated positions that may increase risk.
- Provides insights into whether your portfolio is balanced or dominated by a few major stocks.
- Assists in portfolio rebalancing strategies to maintain desired asset allocation.
The Geographic Exposure chart shows how your portfolio spans globally with this geographical revenue breakdown. This chart is key for assessing regional market exposure, helping in making informed decisions for a more resilient and diversified investment strategy.
Why It Matters:
- Reduces risk tied to a single economy (e.g., U.S. market downturn).
- Takes advantage of global growth opportunities in emerging markets.
- Helps align investments with regional economic trends and geopolitical stability.
Still have questions or need further assistance?
Don't hesitate to contact our support team through our support contact form or email us directly at support@simplywallst.com. We're here to ensure you have the best experience possible.