How to Read Your Key Metrics

The five metric cards at the top of the Dashboard show your Account Balance, Total Closed PnL, Win Rate, Average R Per Trade, and Profit Factor. This article explains what each metric means, how to read them together, and what they tell you about your trading performance.

The metrics bar at the top of the Dashboard shows five numbers that together give you a multi-dimensional view of your trading quality. Each metric tells a different part of the story. Reading them in isolation can be misleading. Reading them together reveals whether your edge is real and whether your execution is clean.

Account Balance

The Account Balance card shows your total current account value based on closed positions. It reflects your balance as it stands right now and does not change with the time filter, because it always shows your current balance rather than a period-specific figure.

Account Balance tells you where you are. The other four metrics tell you how you got there and whether the path is sustainable.

Total Closed PnL

The Total Closed PnL card shows your net profit or loss from closed positions only, for the selected time period. Open positions are not included. A tooltip on the card confirms this when you hover over the information icon.

A positive closed PnL is shown in green. A negative closed PnL is shown in red.

Reading Total Closed PnL productively means looking at it alongside the other metrics, not in isolation. A positive PnL with a negative average R suggests the gains may not be repeatable. A negative PnL with a positive average R and strong profit factor suggests the strategy has edge even though the current period has been difficult.

PnL is an outcome, not a skill. Use it as a starting point, not a conclusion.

Win Rate

Win Rate is the percentage of your closed trades that finished in profit for the selected period. If you closed 10 trades and 4 were wins, your win rate is 40%.

Win rate is one of the most commonly misread metrics in trading. A high win rate does not mean you are profitable. A low win rate does not mean you have no edge. Win rate only becomes meaningful when you read it alongside Average R Per Trade.

Situation	What it usually means
High win rate, positive Avg R	Strong edge with clean trade management
High win rate, negative Avg R	Cutting winners early and letting losers run to full stop
Low win rate, positive Avg R	Strategy captures large moves and is mathematically profitable
Low win rate, negative Avg R	Strategy or execution has a significant problem requiring review

The win rate card shows a small arrow indicator. A green up arrow means the win rate is trending in the right direction versus the prior comparable period. A red down arrow indicates it is declining.

Avg R Per Trade

Avg R Per Trade measures your average return per trade as a multiple of your risk. For example, if you risk $100 per trade (1R) and your average return across all trades is $42, your Avg R is +0.42R.

This is the key metric for evaluating execution quality. A positive Avg R means your winning trades earn more than your losses cost. A negative Avg R suggests strategy flaws or poor execution.

The Avg R card shows a small arrow indicator alongside average wins in green and average losses in red for quick insight.

Consider these questions when reviewing Avg R:

Is my Avg R positive? If not, am I cutting winners too soon or letting losses run?
Is the difference between average wins and losses suitable for my strategy's win rate?
Has Avg R changed significantly across Day, Week, and 30-day views?

A positive Avg R combined with a positive win rate confirms a real edge and consistent execution. Aim for both, but prioritize Avg R.

Profit Factor

Profit Factor is the ratio of total gross profit to total gross loss during a period. It's calculated by dividing all winning trade returns by all losing trade returns.

Above 1.0: Winners exceed losers; you're profitable.
Exactly 1.0: Breaking even.
Below 1.0: Losses exceed winners; strategy issues.
Zero: No winning trades in the period.

The Profit Factor card shows a circular progress indicator that fills as the value rises. Higher values indicate better execution and trade quality.

Profit Factor complements Avg R. A positive Avg R with Profit Factor over 1.5 signals a strong edge. A positive Avg R but low Profit Factor suggests wins come from few outliers, not consistent trades.

Reading All Five Metrics Together

Use the metrics bar as a system with this review framework:

Check Total Closed PnL: Is the period profitable?
Look at Avg R Per Trade: Are returns positive per unit risk?
Review Win Rate: Does it align with Avg R?
Confirm with Profit Factor: Do winners outweigh losers overall?
Observe Account Balance trend: Is the account growing?

If all five metrics are positive, your edge and execution are solid. If one diverges, start your investigation there.

How the Time Filter Affects These Metrics

All metrics except Account Balance update based on the Dashboard's time filter. This lets you compare short-term vs. long-term performance to spot changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 50% win rate good?

It depends on Avg R. A 50% win rate with Avg R ≥ +1.0R is excellent. With Avg R of -0.5R, you're losing money despite winning half your trades. Always consider both together.

What is a healthy Profit Factor?

Above 1.0 means profitability. 1.5+ is solid; over 2.0 indicates strong execution or favorable markets. Be cautious with high values on small samples.

Why is Avg R negative despite winning trades?

Avg R averages all trades. Large losses relative to wins can make it negative, often due to holding losses too long or inconsistent sizing.

Are manual trades included?

Yes, manual trades added to the Journal are included alongside broker trades.

What do the arrows next to Win Rate and Avg R mean?

Arrows show trend vs. the previous period: green up means improvement, red down means decline.