Buffett Indicator (Wilshire 5000 / GDP)The Buffett Indicator (Wilshire 5000 / GDP) is a macroeconomic metric used to assess whether the U.S. stock market is overvalued or undervalued. It is calculated by dividing the total market capitalization (represented by the Wilshire 5000 Index) by the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A value above 1 (or 100%) may indicate an overvalued market, while a value below 1 suggests potential undervaluation. This indicator is best suited for long-term investment analysis.
Buffetindicator
Best Buffett Ratio w/ Std-Dev Offset + Conditional PlotSummary:
This script provides a visually clear way to track the so-called “Buffett Ratio,”
a popular market valuation gauge which compares the total US stock market cap
to the country’s GDP. In addition, it plots a “hardcoded” long-term trend line,
along with fixed standard-deviation bands (in log space), and uses background colors
to signal potentially overvalued or undervalued zones.
What Is the Buffett Ratio?
Often credited to Warren Buffett, the Buffett Ratio (or Buffett Indicator) measures:
(Total US Stock Market Capitalization) / (US GDP)
• A higher ratio typically means equities are more expensive relative to the size of the economy.
• A lower ratio suggests equities may be more attractively valued compared to GDP.
Historically, the ratio has tended to drift upward over many decades,
as the US economy and stock markets grow, but it still oscillates around some trend over time.
How to Use
1) Add to Chart:
- In TradingView, simply apply the indicator (it internally fetches CRSPTM1 & GDP data).
2) Tweak Inputs:
- Log Offset for 1σ: Adjust how wide the ±1σ/±2σ bands appear around the trend.
- Anchor Points: Edit startYear , endYear , startRatio , endRatio
if you want a different slope or different “fair value” anchors.
3) Interpretation:
- If the indicator is above +2σ (red line) , it’s historically “very expensive,”
often leading to lower future returns over the long term.
- If it’s below –2σ (green line) , it’s historically “deep undervaluation,”
often pointing to better future returns over time.
- The intermediate zones show degrees of mild over- or undervaluation.
How This Script Works
1) Buffett Ratio Calculation:
- The script requests data from TradingView’s built-in CRSPTM1 index (total US market cap).
- It also requests US GDP data via request.economic("US", "GDP") .
- If GDP data is missing, the ratio becomes na on that bar.
2) Hardcoded Trend Line:
- Rather than a rolling average, the script uses two “anchors” (e.g. 1950 → 0.30 ratio, 2024 → 1.25 ratio)
and solves for a single log-growth rate to produce a steady upward slope.
3) Fixed Standard Deviations in Log Space:
- The script takes the log of the trend line, then applies a fixed offset for ±1σ and ±2σ,
creating proportional bands that do not “expand/contract” from a rolling window.
4) Conditional Plotting:
- The script only begins plotting once the Buffett Ratio actually has data (around 2011).
5) Color-Coded Zones:
- Above +2σ: red background (historically very expensive)
- Between +1σ and +2σ: yellow background (moderately expensive)
- Between –1σ and +1σ: no background color (around normal)
- Between –2σ and –1σ: aqua background (moderately undervalued)
- Below –2σ: green background (historically deep undervaluation)
Final Notes
• Data Limitations: US GDP data and CRSPTM1 only go back so far, so this starts around 2011.
• Long-Term vs. Short-Term: Best viewed on monthly/quarterly charts and interpreted over years.
• Tuning: If you believe structural changes have shifted the ratio’s fair slope,
adjust the code’s anchors or log offsets.
Enjoy, and use responsibly!
Buffett IndicatorThis is an open-source version of the Buffett indicator. The old version was code-protected and broken, so I created another version.
It's computed simply as the entire SPX 500 capitalization divided by the US GDP. Since TradingView does not have data for the SPX 500 capitalization, I used quarterly values of SPX devisors as a proxy.
I tried to create another version of the Buffett indicator for other countries/indexes, but I can't find the data. If you can help me find data for index divisors, I can add more choices to this indicator.
It's interesting to see how this indicator's behavior has changed in the last few years. Levels that looked crazy are not so crazy anymore.
Disclaimer
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results.
Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, the strategy may no longer perform as well as in historical backtesting.
This post and the script don’t provide any financial advice.
Buffett IndicatorA simplistic Buffett Indicator that shows the ratio of total US stock market valuation to GDP. Lines are plotted to represent 50%, 100%, 150%, and 200% of GDP. All plotted lines can be hidden to suit your own needs.
Buffet indicatorI was tired of not having something to compare the real economic strength of a country (US only for now...) to it's companies valuations.
So I made my own! Trading view does not have the wilshire indice, but it has the Rus 3000, good enough, & the US GDP since 1946 so this is what I am using.
Warren Buffet is famous for liking this so now the idea has its name. Let's call it the Buffet indicator (I doubt the only one that had the idea).
This indicator can be used on any indice thought, even on specific stocks.
You can even use it as a filter with an alarm (ofc not to be used on its own but patient people can really go far if they ONLY invest when the ratio is at the bottom, just as long as it is in the right companies):
One could invest in the middle of the highest green area (waiting for it to go too low = risk missing out), and add more when it goes to the second green area, for example. You sort it out.
Enjoy! See you on Mars luxury station in 25 years (the one I will build).
