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Home/Glossary/Trading expectancy

Performance statistics · Pro

Trading expectancy

By Omer Rapaport · Content updated 11 September 2026

Also searched as: expected payoff, expectancy

What does Trading expectancy mean?

Trading expectancy is the average result implied by a strategy’s win frequency and average gains and losses. It can be expressed in money or risk units.

Example

A 45% win rate with $200 average wins and $100 average losses gives $35 per trade before costs.

Illustrative example; not a provider’s quoted offer.

Why it matters for prop traders

Historical positive expectancy is an estimate, not a promise that the next trade or future period will be profitable.

Sources and further reading

The following primary sources support the terminology. Provider rules describe their own products and may change.

  • FTMO - Trading probabilities and expectancy

Related terms

  • Win rate
  • Reward-to-risk ratio
  • Profit factor
← All 181 terms

Frequently asked questions

Does historical positive expectancy promise future profits?

Historical positive expectancy is an estimate, not a promise that the next trade or future period will be profitable.

Sources: FTMO - Trading probabilities and expectancy

What is a practical example of Trading expectancy?

Illustrative example: A 45% win rate with $200 average wins and $100 average losses gives $35 per trade before costs.

Sources: FTMO - Trading probabilities and expectancy

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