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Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio

Last updated Oct 3, 2023

The permanent portfolio is an investment strategy developed by Harry Browne in the 1970s. It is designed to be a diversified, all-weather portfolio that can provide steady returns in any market environment.

The permanent portfolio is based on the idea that the financial markets are driven by four main factors: inflation, deflation, economic growth, and economic decline. Therefore, to achieve consistent returns in any market environment, Browne believed that it was necessary to diversify across asset classes that would perform well under each of these conditions.

The permanent portfolio consists of four main asset classes: stocks, bonds, gold, and cash. These asset classes are typically invested in through a combination of low-cost index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The portfolio is intended to provide a combination of growth and income while minimizing risk through diversification. It is typically rebalanced annually to maintain the desired asset allocation.

One of the key features of the permanent portfolio is that it is designed to be a long-term investment strategy. Browne believed that investors should hold their portfolio long-term rather than trying to time the market or constantly make changes to their investments. The goal of the permanent portfolio is to provide a consistent stream of returns over time rather than trying to achieve short-term gains.

Asset Allocation


TLT 25%SHY 25%GLD 25%VTI 25%BondBondCommodityCommodityEquityEquity
PositionCategory/SectorWeight
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
Government Bonds25%
SHY
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF
Government Bonds25%
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
Precious Metals, Gold25%
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Large Cap Growth Equities25%

Performance

The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends. The portfolio is rebalanced Quarterly


-5.00%0.00%5.00%10.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
-5.98%
4.84%
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
Benchmark (^GSPC)
Portfolio components

Returns

As of Oct 3, 2023, the Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio returned 0.77% Year-To-Date and 4.31% of annualized return in the last 10 years.


1 month6 monthsYear-To-Date1 year5 years (annualized)10 years (annualized)
Benchmark-5.04%4.58%11.69%16.58%8.16%9.78%
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio-4.78%-5.80%0.77%2.92%4.48%4.31%
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
-5.81%-9.75%0.01%7.08%8.41%2.98%
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
-8.06%-17.48%-10.53%-13.59%-3.23%0.45%
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
-5.24%5.14%12.23%17.16%9.22%11.17%
SHY
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF
-0.12%-0.45%1.52%1.99%0.91%0.66%

Monthly Returns Heatmap


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20234.28%0.63%-1.08%1.11%0.93%-1.48%-4.35%

Sharpe Ratio

The current Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio Sharpe ratio is 0.42. A Sharpe ratio between 0 and 1.0 is considered sub-optimal.

-1.000.001.002.003.004.000.42

The Sharpe ratio of Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio is in the bottom 25%, suggesting that this portfolio isn't performing as well in terms of risk-adjusted returns compared to many others. This could be due to lower returns, higher volatility, or both. It might be an indication that the portfolio needs fine-tuning.


Rolling 12-month Sharpe Ratio-0.500.000.501.00MayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
0.42
1.04
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
Benchmark (^GSPC)
Portfolio components

Dividend yield

Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio granted a 2.00% dividend yield in the last twelve months.


TTM20222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio2.00%1.44%0.77%1.01%1.64%1.74%1.43%1.49%1.49%1.43%1.62%1.62%
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
3.68%2.73%1.57%1.60%2.45%2.91%2.76%3.03%3.11%3.27%4.10%3.48%
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
1.58%1.68%1.25%1.48%1.88%2.21%1.88%2.15%2.27%2.06%2.07%2.58%
SHY
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF
2.73%1.33%0.27%0.98%2.22%1.84%1.07%0.78%0.60%0.40%0.29%0.41%

Expense Ratio

The Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio features an expense ratio of 0.18%, falling within the medium range. Below you can find the expense ratios of portfolio funds side-by-side and effortlessly compare their relative costs.


0.40%
0.00%2.15%
0.15%
0.00%2.15%
0.03%
0.00%2.15%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for positions. Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.


Sharpe ratioSortino ratioOmega ratioCalmar ratioUlcer Index
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
0.68
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
-0.73
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
1.07
SHY
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF
0.77

Asset Correlations Table

The table below displays the correlation coefficients between the individual components of the portfolio, the entire portfolio, and the chosen benchmark.

GLDVTISHYTLT
GLD1.000.060.240.18
VTI0.061.00-0.22-0.30
SHY0.24-0.221.000.59
TLT0.18-0.300.591.00

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way.


-16.00%-14.00%-12.00%-10.00%-8.00%-6.00%-4.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
-14.05%
-10.59%
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
Benchmark (^GSPC)
Portfolio components

Worst Drawdowns

The table below shows the maximum drawdowns of the Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio. A maximum drawdown is an indicator of risk. It shows a reduction in portfolio value from its maximum due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown since January 2010 for the Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio is 19.44%, recorded on Oct 20, 2022. The portfolio has not recovered from it yet.


Depth

Start

To Bottom

Bottom

To Recover

End

Total

-19.44%Nov 10, 2021238Oct 20, 2022
-15.11%Mar 18, 2008168Nov 12, 2008207Sep 10, 2009375
-11.14%Mar 9, 20208Mar 18, 202020Apr 16, 202028
-8.1%Oct 5, 2012180Jun 26, 2013180Mar 14, 2014360
-7.38%May 11, 200624Jun 14, 200698Nov 1, 2006122

Volatility Chart

The current Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio volatility is 1.78%, representing the average percentage change in the investments's value, either up or down over the past month. The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


1.00%2.00%3.00%4.00%5.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
1.78%
3.15%
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
Benchmark (^GSPC)
Portfolio components