Blog

Announcing the Contribution Analysis Report

by Doug Morris, CEO, Sharesight | Jan 10th 2017

Today we released a new feature, the Contribution Analysis Report. This report is available for Expert Plan and Professional customers and is now available in the Reports menu.

What the Contribution Analysis Report means for investors

The Contribution Analysis Report explains the drivers behind your portfolio’s performance, be they stock selection, asset allocation, or exposure to certain countries, sectors, or industries.

This type of analysis is also referred to as performance attribution and is important for investors because it provides an explanation of how your returns are derived and critically, where your portfolio tracks or diverges from the benchmark. As any experienced investor knows, significant outperformers and underperformers mask the real factors behind your historical performance.

Featured - Contribution Analysis Report

We’ve packed a great deal of flexibility into the Contribution Analysis Report – you can view contribution analysis at the individual stock level, or roll up to various categories – including the Custom Groups you’ve created. The report can be run across the entire history of your portfolio or a specific time period.

The Contribution Analysis Report in action

Here’s an example of the Contribution Analysis Report using my portfolio over the past six months. In the first screenshot, I’ve chosen to view the individual holdings. It’s immediately clear which positions have contributed to (and detracted from) my total return, and by what degree.

Screenshot - Contribution Analysis Report 1

Ozforex (OFX) really stung me, but Amazon (AMZN) and Alumina (AWC) helped. I can also see that Xero (XRO) and my position in a global healthcare ETF (IXJ) weighed me down.

But was it Amazon the company, or the tech sector in general that gave my portfolio a lift? Should I rebalance my portfolio towards Aussie resources, or is there something about Alumina (or aluminium) that explains that particular gain?

Switching to the Industry Classification view provides the answer. The aluminium industry has done well, but the general metals/mining space has done better – a fact not apparent on the individual holdings view.

More surprising is that my exposure to Financial Conglomerates (Berkshire Hathaway and Magellan Financial) has given my portfolio the biggest boost – contributing almost 20% of my total return. Maybe it’s the global blue chips inside those holdings that are really providing alpha.

Screenshot - Contribution Analysis Report 2

Since I like to invest in companies I follow closely and in specific themes, and because companies don’t always fit into sector or industry classifications, I use Custom Groups to apply my own particular worldview. Doing so is constructive because it shows me that my macro ideas are generating positive returns on the whole. My “Core” investments are doing exactly as I’d hoped, but surprisingly my tech shares are contributing the least.

Screenshot - Contribution Analysis Report 3

We hope you enjoy the Contribution Analysis Report – as always we’d love to hear your feedback via our Community Forum.

UPDATE - 9 Nov 2017) – You may now run a Contribution Analysis Report on a Consolidated View.

FURTHER READING

Sharesight Wealth Management Awards 2025 Wealth Tech Innovator of the Year

Sharesight nominated for 2025 Wealth Tech Innovator of the Year

by Stephanie Stefanovic | Jul 10th 2025

Sharesight has been chosen as a finalist in the 2025 Australian Wealth Management Awards, in the Wealth Tech Innovator of the Year category.

Historical cost report (2)

Prepare your annual accounts with our historical cost report

by Stephanie Stefanovic | Jul 9th 2025

Sharesight's historical cost report is a powerful tool for investors who need to prepare annual accounts or financial statements with mark-to-market accounting.

Product updates July

Sharesight product updates – July 2025

by Ben Clendon | Jul 9th 2025

This month's focus was on rolling out predictive income forecasting, as well as improved cash account syncing across different brokers and currencies.