Dynamic Relative Index
Over the years, investors and financial analysts have put much emphasis on the actual performance of a company or security to guide their decisions. Numerous tools such as price-earnings (PE) ratios and return on equity (ROE) have been used to profile and compare securities. While such metrics are useful and generally accepted, measuring a security’s performance relative to that of the overall market can provide a more telling picture. As such, the dynamic relative index (DRI) has been developed.
The DRI measures a stock against a market index, such as the S&P 500, and offers a relative depiction of value. This metric is designed to identify undervalued and overvalued stocks so that investors can adjust portfolio weights accordingly. The calculation of this index starts with the ratio of the stock’s price to the index it is being compared against.
If the index is trading at 1000 but the stock at question is trading at $20, then the ratio would be 1:50. Thus, the stock being considered is trading at 50% of the overall market. This figure can then be tracked over time as the stock may move up or down relative to the market.
Using this metric also offers a level of diversification as investors can buy stocks that are undervalued relative to the market index, or sell those that are overvalued. Such a factor can reduce risk as it allows investors to buy securities that are trading at a discounted rate or sell those that are priced at a premium.
Moreover, the DRI offers a take on the price momentum of a stock. When the index rises and the stock’s price stays constant, the DRI will decrease, suggesting that the security is lagging behind the market, or has a downward momentum. On the other hand, an increase in the DRI points to an increasing momentum as the security is outperforming the market.
Using the formula detailed above, a portfolio manager can calculate the DRI for their entire portfolio and adjust weights according to the results. This can be a valuable tool in achieving the desired performance and risk-reward ratio of a portfolio.
Overall, the dynamic relative index is a helpful tool in gauging a stock’s performance relative to that of the market. Using this metric can help investors in making more informed decisions as it reduces risk, informs of stock momentum, and can be used to adjust portfolio weights.