Asset Allocation
Find the right asset allocation for Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio
Add portfolio to the optimizer to find optimal allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
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Performance Chart
The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Paul Merriman Ultimate 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 Every 3 months.
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Returns By Period
As of Jun 24, 2026, the Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio returned 11.66% Year-To-Date and 10.55% of annualized return in the last 10 years.
| Position | 1D | 1M | YTD | 6M | 1Y | 3Y* | 5Y* | 10Y* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benchmark S&P 500 Index | -1.44% | -1.45% | 7.60% | 6.59% | 22.24% | 19.20% | 11.54% | 13.71% |
Portfolio Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio | -1.29% | 0.54% | 11.66% | 11.14% | 26.27% | 17.75% | 8.10% | 10.55% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend | -1.53% | -2.19% | 5.03% | 5.39% | 19.99% | 17.29% | 6.77% | 8.17% |
EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | -1.18% | -0.92% | 9.13% | 8.96% | 28.26% | 21.91% | 12.57% | 10.59% |
VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF | -3.06% | 0.69% | 13.01% | 12.81% | 30.08% | 19.26% | 8.60% | 10.40% |
VIOO Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF | -0.35% | 4.23% | 19.31% | 16.84% | 34.71% | 16.19% | 6.28% | 11.31% |
VIOV Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | -0.26% | 2.94% | 17.53% | 15.94% | 37.82% | 15.57% | 6.32% | 10.66% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 1.31% | 1.13% | 11.77% | 12.16% | 11.59% | 11.30% | 2.83% | 5.44% |
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | -2.68% | -3.04% | 7.79% | 7.51% | 22.53% | 16.03% | 5.52% | 8.46% |
VTV Vanguard Value ETF | -0.56% | 3.10% | 14.47% | 13.93% | 27.19% | 18.66% | 12.22% | 12.95% |
VV Vanguard Large-Cap ETF | -1.44% | -1.27% | 7.90% | 6.95% | 23.37% | 21.00% | 12.65% | 15.62% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | -3.07% | 0.76% | 10.55% | 10.67% | 27.03% | 17.42% | 5.09% | 8.97% |
Monthly Returns
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Sep 9, 2010, Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio's average daily return is +0.04%, while the average monthly return is +0.87%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.7 years.
Historically, 64% of months were positive and 36% were negative. The best month was Nov 2020 with a return of +13.3%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -18.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 10 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +8.5%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -12.3%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.83% | 3.54% | -6.28% | 7.96% | 2.02% | -0.34% | 11.66% | ||||||
| 2025 | 2.49% | 0.07% | -1.53% | -0.23% | 4.46% | 4.06% | 0.45% | 4.78% | 2.22% | 0.07% | 1.54% | 1.15% | 21.11% |
| 2024 | -2.30% | 2.69% | 3.33% | -3.53% | 4.22% | -0.52% | 5.33% | 1.70% | 2.42% | -3.24% | 3.64% | -4.42% | 9.04% |
| 2023 | 8.38% | -3.28% | -0.51% | 0.70% | -3.34% | 5.75% | 4.32% | -3.69% | -4.19% | -3.92% | 8.51% | 7.28% | 15.58% |
| 2022 | -3.68% | -1.75% | 0.98% | -6.30% | 0.88% | -8.06% | 5.76% | -4.06% | -10.02% | 6.35% | 8.67% | -3.47% | -15.44% |
| 2021 | 1.24% | 4.61% | 3.56% | 3.40% | 2.38% | 0.11% | -0.45% | 1.97% | -3.48% | 3.65% | -3.47% | 4.93% | 19.54% |
Benchmark Metrics
Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio has an annualized alpha of -1.60%, beta of 0.92, and R2 of 0.86 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since September 09, 2010.
- This portfolio participated in 100.01% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 87.60% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- With beta of 0.92 and R2 of 0.86, this portfolio moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- -1.60%
- Beta
- 0.92
- R²
- 0.86
- Upside Capture
- 87.60%
- Downside Capture
- 100.01%
Expense Ratio
Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio has an expense ratio of 0.15%, which is considered low. Below, you can find the expense ratios of the portfolio's funds side by side and easily compare their relative costs.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio ranks 43 for risk / return — on par with similar Portfolios. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below presents risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio and compares them with S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| Portfolio | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.05 | 1.78 | +0.27 |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.86 | 2.44 | +0.42 |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.32 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.93 | 2.46 | +0.48 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.55 | 10.92 | +0.63 |
How much return does each position deliver for the risk it carries? Higher values mean better reward for the risk taken.
| Position | Risk / Return Rank | Sharpe ratio | Sortino ratio | Omega ratio | Calmar ratio | Martin ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend | 42 | 1.45 | 2.10 | 1.26 | 1.82 | 6.48 |
EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 59 | 1.96 | 2.72 | 1.35 | 2.61 | 9.60 |
VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF | 56 | 1.84 | 2.52 | 1.34 | 2.64 | 10.12 |
VIOO Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF | 67 | 1.97 | 2.85 | 1.34 | 3.98 | 13.43 |
VIOV Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | 69 | 2.06 | 2.96 | 1.35 | 4.07 | 13.34 |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 26 | 0.85 | 1.23 | 1.15 | 1.40 | 4.37 |
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | 42 | 1.43 | 1.98 | 1.27 | 1.95 | 7.24 |
VTV Vanguard Value ETF | 84 | 2.63 | 3.75 | 1.47 | 4.30 | 16.20 |
VV Vanguard Large-Cap ETF | 57 | 1.86 | 2.54 | 1.33 | 2.55 | 11.23 |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 49 | 1.60 | 2.22 | 1.30 | 2.43 | 8.56 |
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Dividends
Dividend yield
Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio provided a 2.56% dividend yield over the last twelve months.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 2.56% | 2.74% | 2.98% | 3.01% | 3.01% | 2.44% | 2.12% | 2.82% | 2.98% | 2.50% | 2.64% | 2.62% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||||||
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend | 3.55% | 3.87% | 4.56% | 4.29% | 4.96% | 3.29% | 2.50% | 3.37% | 3.66% | 2.79% | 3.29% | 2.72% |
EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 4.81% | 4.16% | 4.66% | 4.36% | 4.17% | 4.07% | 2.42% | 4.62% | 4.56% | 3.56% | 3.28% | 3.59% |
VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF | 2.56% | 3.09% | 3.24% | 3.32% | 3.12% | 3.08% | 2.00% | 3.10% | 3.27% | 2.66% | 2.96% | 2.95% |
VIOO Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF | 1.14% | 1.36% | 1.48% | 1.47% | 1.51% | 1.16% | 1.09% | 1.37% | 1.32% | 1.11% | 1.06% | 1.26% |
VIOV Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | 1.56% | 1.69% | 1.78% | 2.18% | 1.81% | 1.59% | 1.42% | 1.60% | 1.76% | 1.43% | 1.17% | 1.32% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 3.56% | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.95% | 3.91% | 2.56% | 3.93% | 3.39% | 4.74% | 4.23% | 4.82% | 3.92% |
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | 3.24% | 3.39% | 3.44% | 3.14% | 2.30% | 2.74% | 1.90% | 3.25% | 2.80% | 2.83% | 2.93% | 2.66% |
VTV Vanguard Value ETF | 1.83% | 2.05% | 2.31% | 2.46% | 2.52% | 2.15% | 2.56% | 2.50% | 2.73% | 2.29% | 2.44% | 2.60% |
VV Vanguard Large-Cap ETF | 1.00% | 1.08% | 1.24% | 1.41% | 1.66% | 1.19% | 1.46% | 1.81% | 2.09% | 1.75% | 1.98% | 1.96% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 2.33% | 2.79% | 3.20% | 3.52% | 4.11% | 2.63% | 1.91% | 3.23% | 2.88% | 2.30% | 2.52% | 3.26% |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio was 38.24%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 171 trading sessions.
The current Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio drawdown is 1.64%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -38.24%Mar 2020 | 2mo 2d | 8mo 5d | 10mo 7dJan 2020 - Nov 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -25.31%Oct 2022 | 11mo 7d | 1y 5mo | 2y 4moNov 2021 - Mar 2024 |
2011 bear market2011 | -24.64%Oct 2011 | 5mo 4d | 1y 2mo | 1y 7moMay 2011 - Dec 2012 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -20.07%Dec 2018 | 10mo 29d | 11mo 8d | 1y 10moJan 2018 - Nov 2019 |
2016 correction2016 | -19.70%Feb 2016 | 8mo 29d | 6mo 24d | 1y 3moMay 2015 - Sep 2016 |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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Diversification
AI Analysis
The gist
The portfolio is a broadly spread equity-and-REIT expression of the value, small-cap, and foreign-premium thesis, but the correlations say most of the sleeves are still doing the same job, just in different wrappers.
The numbers
- 10/10 effective asset count looks full, yet the 1.11-1.17 diversification ratio says the portfolio gets only modest offsetting from its own mix, around the 23rd-31st percentile on the platform.
- Mean pairwise correlation is 0.73; the main clusters are U.S. value/blend, developed ex-U.S. plus small foreign, and a separate REIT sleeve.
- The best diversification comes from VNQ: its correlations are the lowest in the book, which is why the portfolio is not worse than it is.
The good
- There is real breadth across U.S. large cap, U.S. small cap, developed ex-U.S., emerging markets, and REITs, so the portfolio is not pretending one market segment is the whole world.
- VNQ is not just decorative; it sits relatively apart from the equity clusters and softens the portfolio’s internal synchrony.
The bad
- VTV (Large Cap Value Equities), VV (Large Cap Blend Equities), and EFV (Foreign Large Cap Value Equities) live in the same correlation neighborhood, so the value story is more of a family reunion than a set of independent bets.
- VIOV (Small Cap Value Equities) and VIOO (Small Cap Blend Equities) are similarly close, which limits how much the small-cap sleeve diversifies itself.
- The low diversification ratio across horizons suggests the portfolio’s parts have been moving together for a long time, not just recently.
The ugly
- In an equity selloff led by rates, growth, or global risk aversion, the foreign, small-cap, and value clusters can all de-rate together; the portfolio then behaves like a concentrated equity bet with a decorative geographic map.
Next steps
- Portfolios with this correlation profile are often separated by exposures whose earnings drivers are less tied to the same equity factor stack.
- The VNQ sleeve already provides one such partial offset, though not enough to change the overall structure very much.
- The data fits a thesis about equity style dispersion more than one about true multi-asset diversification.
Diversification Metrics
Number of Effective Assets
The portfolio contains 10 assets, with an effective number of assets of 10.00, reflecting the diversification based on asset allocation. Your capital is spread almost evenly across your holdings, indicating a well-balanced allocation. Note that true diversification also depends on the correlations between assets — check the diversification ratio below.
Diversification Ratio
1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | All Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diversification Ratio | 1.17 | 1.15 | 1.14 | 1.11 | 1.11 |
The portfolio has a diversification ratio of 1.11, placing it in the bottom quartile across portfolios — positions are highly correlated. Consider adding assets from different classes or sectors to reduce risk.
Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio correlation to the S&P 500 Index
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2010 | 0.89 |
Benchmark Correlations
Correlation vs. S&P 500 Index. VV has the highest benchmark correlation at 1.00, while VNQ has the lowest at 0.61.
Asset Correlations Table
| VNQ | VWO | VIOV | VIOO | DLS | EFV | VTV | VV | VSS | VEU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VNQ | 1.00 | 0.46 | 0.58 | 0.61 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.65 | 0.61 | 0.54 | 0.55 |
| VWO | 0.46 | 1.00 | 0.57 | 0.60 | 0.77 | 0.76 | 0.65 | 0.71 | 0.85 | 0.88 |
| VIOV | 0.58 | 0.57 | 1.00 | 0.93 | 0.65 | 0.67 | 0.79 | 0.74 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
| VIOO | 0.61 | 0.60 | 0.93 | 1.00 | 0.68 | 0.69 | 0.81 | 0.79 | 0.70 | 0.70 |
| DLS | 0.54 | 0.77 | 0.65 | 0.68 | 1.00 | 0.91 | 0.74 | 0.76 | 0.93 | 0.92 |
| EFV | 0.54 | 0.76 | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.91 | 1.00 | 0.79 | 0.75 | 0.89 | 0.94 |
| VTV | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.79 | 0.81 | 0.74 | 0.79 | 1.00 | 0.88 | 0.75 | 0.78 |
| VV | 0.61 | 0.71 | 0.74 | 0.79 | 0.76 | 0.75 | 0.88 | 1.00 | 0.79 | 0.82 |
| VSS | 0.54 | 0.85 | 0.67 | 0.70 | 0.93 | 0.89 | 0.75 | 0.79 | 1.00 | 0.95 |
| VEU | 0.55 | 0.88 | 0.67 | 0.70 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.78 | 0.82 | 0.95 | 1.00 |
Find what Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio is missing
See which holdings overlap, where Paul Merriman Ultimate Portfolio is concentrated, and which low-correlation assets could fill the gaps.
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