Win Rate vs Average Return: Which Matters More?

Win Rate vs Average Return: Which Matters More?

Two key metrics for evaluating seasonal patterns - but they tell different stories.

The Difference

Metric What It Measures Example
Win Rate How often a pattern is positive "75% of years were up"
Average Return How much it moves on average "+3.2% average"

Why They Can Conflict

Scenario A: High Win Rate, Low Return

  • 80% win rate, +0.5% avg return
  • Reliable but small gains

Scenario B: Low Win Rate, High Return

  • 55% win rate, +8.2% avg return
  • A few big winners inflate the average

Which Is More Useful?

Your Goal Focus On
Consistency analysis Win Rate (70%+)
Maximum historical returns Average Return
Risk-adjusted analysis Both combined (PCS score)

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The SeasOptima Approach

Pattern Consistency Score (PCS) combines both:

  • Win rate contribution
  • Return magnitude
  • Year-to-year consistency
  • Statistical significance

Practical Observation

The strongest historical patterns have:

  • Win rate above 65%
  • Average return above +2%
  • PCS score above 60

In general, a high win rate has historically indicated more reliable patterns than a high average return driven by outliers.

This is statistical analysis of historical data, not investment advice. Always do your own research.

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