Equity curve
An equity curve is a chart of an account's value over time, used to visualise growth, drawdowns and consistency across a sequence of trades.
Its value is in shape rather than endpoint. A steady gradual rise and a flat period followed by one sharp spike can finish at the same value while representing entirely different processes — one repeatable, one probably not.
Equity curves are also the most misused image in trading marketing. A curve presented without the timeframe, the account size, the number of trades and whether it is live or simulated is not evidence of anything, and a curve can always be found in some window that looks exceptional.
Any equity curve shown on this site is explicitly labelled illustrative. We do not publish performance claims — see our editorial standards.
Related terms
Maintained by Jared Sinclair, Founder · Syrax Global FZCO · Definitions are educational, not financial advice.
Knowing the vocabulary is the easy part.
Every term here can be learned in an afternoon. Applying them consistently under pressure is the part that decides outcomes — and the part we measure.