The Treynor ratio, also known as the reward-to-volatility ratio, assesses how much additional return a portfolio generates per unit of risk undertaken. Here, "excess return" indicates the return above what could be earned in a risk-free investment. For instance, consider Portfolio Manager A who achieves an 8% portfolio return in a year when the risk-free rate is 5%, with a portfolio beta of 1.5. In comparison, Portfolio Manager B achieves a 7% portfolio return with a beta of 0.8 during the same period.
Before you decide to invest your hard-earned money in any stock, mutual fund or market-linked asset, you need to assess the true risk-reward proposition it offers. The Treynor ratio is one of the many metrics that can help you with this assessment. It is named after American economist Jack Treynor, who developed this ratio and was renowned for co-creating the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
Let us see what the meaning of the Treynor ratio is and how you can calculate it.
What is the Treynor Ratio?
The Treynor ratio, also known as the reward-to-volatility ratio, measures a portfolio’s performance by evaluating the additional return generated for each unit of risk undertaken. It provides insight into how effectively a portfolio compensates investors for the risks assumed. The ratio uses beta to represent market-related risk, offering a clear perspective on risk-adjusted returns.
Risk-adjusted return, however, refers to the excess return an asset generates beyond the risk-free rate. While no investment is entirely risk-free, Treasury Bills (T-bills) are often considered a benchmark for the risk-free rate in financial calculations. This assumption helps standardise the Treynor ratio, making it a valuable tool for comparing investments under varying risk conditions. Together, these concepts assist investors in aligning their portfolios with their risk tolerance and return expectations.
How the Treynor ratio works
In essence, the Treynor ratio aims to gauge how effectively an investment compensates investors for assuming investment risk. This ratio hinges on the portfolio's beta, which indicates how sensitive the portfolio's returns are to market movements and serves as a measure of risk.
The underlying principle of this ratio is that investors should receive compensation for the inherent risk of the portfolio, which cannot be eliminated through diversification efforts.
Treynor ratio formula
The process of calculating the Treynor ratio in a mutual fund scheme or any other asset is easy as long as you have the required inputs. Check out the formula to compute this ratio:
Treynor Ratio = (Rp — Rf) ÷ βp |
Here, Rp represents the returns from the asset or portfolio, Rf represents the risk-free rate of returns and βp indicates the beta value of the portfolio or asset. The beta measures the volatility in an asset’s price relative to the broad market as a whole. In other words, it tells you about the systematic risk in the asset.
Let us discuss an example of how to calculate the Treynor ratio and interpret it. Say an asset has the following characteristics:
- Annual rate of returns = 20%
- Risk-free rate of returns = 7%
- The beta of the asset = 1.8
A beta of 1.8 means the asset is 80% more volatile than the overall market, which indicates a fairly high level of risk. Substituting these values in the formula for the ratio, we have the following:
Treynor ratio:
= (20% — 7%) ÷ 1.8
= 13% ÷ 1.8
= 7.22%
Interpreting the Treynor ratio
The Treynor ratio effectively tells you the true returns you can expect from an asset after factoring in its systematic risk. In the example discussed above, although the returns from the asset may appear to be 20% at first glance, the Treynor ratio shows you that the risk-adjusted returns dwindle to 7.22%.
The thumb rule to interpret the ratio is simply that the higher it is, the better.
Treynor ratio example
The Treynor Ratio is a key metric for evaluating portfolio performance by assessing the return generated per unit of market risk. It helps investors compare portfolios with varying risk levels to determine which provides a more favourable risk-adjusted return. The formula is as follows:
Treynor Ratio = (Portfolio Return - Risk-Free Rate) / Beta
Example:
Suppose you are comparing two portfolios: a Growth Portfolio and an Income Portfolio. The Growth Portfolio has a total return of 10%, and the Income Portfolio has a total return of 6%. Assume the risk-free rate, proxied by Treasury Bill returns, is 3%. The Beta for the Growth Portfolio is 1.5, and the Beta for the Income Portfolio is 0.8.
Growth Portfolio Treynor Ratio
= (10 - 3) / 1.5
= 4.67
Income Portfolio Treynor Ratio
= (6 - 3) / 0.8
= 3.75
From these calculations, the Growth Portfolio has a higher Treynor Ratio, indicating it delivers better returns for each unit of market risk.
While the Treynor Ratio is useful for risk-return analysis, it is based on historical data and should not be the sole determinant for investment decisions. Combining it with other metrics, like Sharpe Ratio and Alpha, can offer a more comprehensive evaluation.
Uses of the Treynor ratio
The Treynor ratio in mutual funds and other assets can be extremely useful for making investment decisions. One of the most common uses of this ratio is to help investors evaluate the risk-adjusted returns of an asset — and use that information to decide if it is worth investing in the same. Additionally, you can also use the Treynor ratio to compare the risk-adjusted returns of different assets in the same category.
Why is Treynor ratio important?
The Treynor Ratio is important because it helps investors evaluate a portfolio's performance relative to the market risk it assumes, measured by beta. By accounting for systematic risk, it allows investors to assess whether the returns justify the risk exposure. It is particularly useful for comparing portfolios with varying risk levels, guiding informed investment decisions. Additionally, the ratio standardises risk-adjusted performance, enabling investors to identify the most efficient use of capital. However, it is crucial to combine the Treynor Ratio with other metrics for a holistic analysis, as it focuses solely on market risk and excludes unsystematic risks.
Drawbacks of the Treynor ratio
The Treynor ratio is extremely useful, but it also has certain limitations that you must be aware of. Firstly, this ratio is not helpful if the beta of an asset is negative because it makes any comparison meaningless. Additionally, the Treynor ratio depends heavily on historical data, which is not a guarantee of future performance or returns.
Another drawback is that the Treynor ratio is only effective as a decision-making tool if the right benchmark is used to compute the beta. For instance, if you use the Sensex as a benchmark for a portfolio mostly consisting of small-cap stocks alone, the exercise will be futile.
Lastly, the Treynor ratio does not have any specific scale or benchmark to facilitate in-depth comparisons. While you know that an asset or a portfolio with a higher ratio is better, you cannot assess how much better it is than an asset with a lower ratio.
What is a good Treynor ratio?
A good Treynor Ratio depends on market conditions and investor expectations but generally indicates strong performance when the ratio is positive and higher than comparable investments. A higher Treynor Ratio reflects a favourable balance between returns and market risk, suggesting that the portfolio generates substantial returns for the risks taken. However, the benchmark varies across industries and market cycles, making it essential to evaluate the ratio in context. Historical averages, peer comparisons, and alignment with investment goals should be considered when interpreting the ratio to ensure it meets the investor's risk-return preferences effectively.
When using the Treynor Ratio, keep in mind
- Risk-free rate assumptions: Ensure that the risk-free rate used in the Treynor Ratio calculation is up-to-date and accurately reflects the current market conditions. This rate is typically based on government securities like Treasury bills.
- Market portfolio: The Treynor Ratio assumes that the market portfolio is well-diversified. Make sure the portfolio being evaluated is representative of the market as a whole.
- Beta sensitivity: Since the ratio relies on beta to measure systematic risk, it's crucial to use a reliable and accurate beta coefficient. Beta should be recalculated periodically to reflect changes in the portfolio's risk profile.
- Comparative analysis: Use the Treynor Ratio to compare similar investment portfolios or assets. It's most useful when evaluating portfolios with similar levels of market risk.
Treynor ratio vs Sharpe ratio
Aspect |
Treynor Ratio |
Sharpe Ratio |
Risk measured |
Systematic risk (beta) |
Total risk (standard deviation) |
Focus |
Evaluates performance based on market-related risks |
Evaluates performance based on absolute risk |
Key insight |
Shows how well a portfolio compensates for market risk |
Shows how well a portfolio compensates for total risk |
Applicability |
Best suited for well-diversified portfolios where unsystematic risk is negligible |
Suitable for portfolios where total risk is relevant |
Calculation basis |
Uses beta to measure volatility relative to the market |
Uses standard deviation to capture all forms of risk |
This table highlights the primary distinction: the Treynor Ratio addresses systematic risks tied to market movements, while the Sharpe Ratio evaluates overall risks, offering investors tools for varied analytical needs.
Key takeaways
- The Treynor ratio, named after economist Jack Treynor, measures the risk-adjusted returns of an asset per unit of systematic risk (beta).
- It helps investors evaluate how much excess return an investment generates relative to its risk level.
- To calculate the Treynor ratio, subtract the risk-free rate of return from the asset's return and divide by its beta.
- This formula provides a quantitative measure to assess investment performance adjusted for risk.
- Investors use the Treynor ratio to compare the risk-adjusted returns of different assets or portfolios.
- Unlike the Treynor ratio, the Sharpe ratio considers total risk (standard deviation) rather than just systematic risk (beta), providing a broader assessment of risk-adjusted returns.
Conclusion
The Treynor ratio is only one of the many metrics that can be used to assess the feasibility of an investment option. To make an informed and well-rounded decision, ensure that you account for its limitations and compare mutual funds of stocks with their peers. This way, you can get a clear picture of the risks and potential returns from an investment option and evaluate if it aligns with your goals.
Once you know which type of funds you want to invest in, you can simply do it through the Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund Platform. Investing through this platform is also easy and hassle-free, and you can choose to make a lump sum or SIP investment in the funds of your choice.
