DEFINITION
R-Multiple
A normalized unit measuring trade outcome as a multiple of initial risk. If you risked $100 and made $300, that's a +3R trade. Allows comparing trade quality regardless of position size or account size.
In depth
R-multiples are the foundation of strategy evaluation. They strip away position sizing noise and reveal whether the strategy itself produces positive expectancy.
Example
Risk $200 per trade. Outcomes: +1R, +1R, -1R, +3R, -1R. Total = +3R. Average = +0.6R per trade.
Related terms
Risk-Reward Ratio
The ratio of potential profit to potential loss on a single trade. A 1:3 RR trade risks $1 to make $3. Strategies with RR above 1:2 can be profitable even with win rates below 50%.
Edge
A statistical advantage in a trading strategy that produces positive expected value over a large sample of trades. Without an edge, even perfect discipline cannot produce long-term profitability.
Win Rate
The percentage of trades that close profitably. A common misleading metric — high win rates with low RR can be less profitable than low win rates with high RR.
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