Interpretation
What problem this visualization solves
A portfolio’s total value alone does not explain how it got there.
This visualization helps answer:
- Which positions drove growth or drawdowns?
- How did allocation change over time?
- Did performance come from concentration or balance?
Portfolio Development separates absolute value change from relative position share, making portfolio dynamics explicit.
What you’re looking at
This page consists of two linked charts:
- a Value chart, showing absolute portfolio value broken down by position
- a Share (%) chart, showing each position’s relative weight over time
Both charts describe the same portfolio, but from different perspectives.
Absolute value vs relative share
Value (USD)
- shows how much each position contributes in dollar terms
- highlights growth, drawdowns, and volatility
- answers: “Where did the money come from (or go)?”
Share (%)
- shows how portfolio weight shifts over time
- highlights concentration, drift, and dominance
- answers: “How important is each position relative to the rest?”
A position can grow in value while losing share if others grow faster.
Stacked vs individual views
You can view both charts as either stacked or individual lines.
Stacked view
- shows the total portfolio as a whole
- emphasizes composition and aggregate movement
- useful for understanding concentration effects
Individual lines
- isolate each position’s trajectory
- make comparisons and crossovers clearer
- useful for spotting divergence between holdings
Switching views reveals structure that a single chart cannot.
Reading allocation drift and concentration
Use the Share (%) chart to observe:
- gradual drift driven by relative price performance
- periods where one position dominates portfolio behavior
- changes in diversification without any trades
Allocation changes here are mechanical — driven by price, not rebalancing.
Common misinterpretations
This does not show trading history
It assumes static holdings throughout the period.
Rising share does not imply deliberate allocation
It reflects relative performance, not intent.
Autoscaling changes perspective, not results
It zooms the view but does not alter values.
When to use and when not to use
Most useful for
- understanding portfolio dynamics
- diagnosing concentration risk
- comparing contributions across positions
- complementing point-in-time portfolio summaries
Not suitable for
- evaluating trading skill
- tax or accounting purposes
- modeling active rebalancing strategies
Key takeaways
- Value and share tell different stories
- Performance and concentration are not the same
- Allocation can drift without trades
- Structure matters as much as outcomes
How to use
Selecting a portfolio
Choose a portfolio you previously defined.
All charts are derived from:
- your entered quantities
- your defined cost basis
- historical and current prices
Reading the value chart
The Value chart shows absolute portfolio value over time, broken down by position.
Use it to:
- see total growth and drawdowns
- identify which positions drove changes
- compare contribution in dollar terms
Reading the share (%) chart
The Share chart shows each position’s percentage of total portfolio value.
Use it to:
- monitor concentration
- observe allocation drift
- understand relative importance over time
Using stacked and line modes
Toggle between:
- stacked mode to view the portfolio as a whole
- line mode to compare individual positions
Both views use the same data but emphasize different structure.
Using autoscale
Enable autoscaling to remove the forced zero baseline.
This helps:
- inspect smaller movements
- compare assets with very different value ranges
- avoid flattening important variation
Autoscaling affects only visual framing.
Example workflow
- Select a portfolio
- Start in stacked value view to see total evolution
- Switch to line view to compare positions
- Check share (%) to assess concentration drift
- Toggle autoscale to inspect subtle shifts
