Why can a trade's price R differ from its net R?

Calculate the price-based reference

Long example: entry 100, initial stop 98, exit 104
Price R = (104 - 100) / (100 - 98) = 2

This fictional example expresses a directional move relative to the original stop distance. A short trade needs the corresponding direction-aware calculation. Prices alone do not include commission or swap, and a price-grid label should not be presented as an after-cost monetary return.

The stop used in the denominator matters. A stop moved to entry later in the trade does not erase the original two-point reference. Keep initial risk distinct from management changes and from the stop present near the final exit.

Understand the monetary version

Net money R uses the recorded net result relative to inferred monetary initial risk when the required information is available. Fees can lower that result compared with a price-only view. Monetary inference can also require more information than a simple price distance.

Consequently, a widget using the best available R may use net money R for some records and fallback price R for others. Read its definition and evidence coverage before interpreting a difference as a calculation defect. A common R symbol is not enough to establish that two displays use identical inputs.

Keep unavailable values visible

A missing initial stop does not mean the trade had zero risk, and it should not automatically become a zero-R outcome. It means the selected risk-normalised calculation lacks a required reference. Money-based performance may still be available for that trade.

When reviewing an R distribution, record both the full loaded count and the eligible count. Investigate whether excluded records share a strategy, period or management style. Otherwise the apparently cleaner R sample can represent only the trades whose history is easiest to measure. State those limits whenever sharing an average, distribution or simulated result based on R.