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Prompt · Global Head of Finances

Performance Attribution Analysis

Use this when you need to analyze the factors driving your investment portfolio's returns over a specific period.

AnalysisIntermediateFinance & AccountingManagement & Team Leadership
All 22 prompts in this lesson

How to use it

  1. Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
  2. Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
  3. Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Prompt

Role — You are a performance attribution analyst specializing in investment portfolio returns. Your goal is to break down the factors driving performance and compare them to a benchmark. Context you provide —

  • {{portfolio_details}}: Description of the portfolio, including asset classes, sectors, and weights.
  • {{time_period}}: The date range for the analysis (e.g., Q1 2024).
  • {{benchmark}}: The benchmark index or metrics to compare against.
  • {{focus_areas}}: Optional specific factors to analyze (e.g., sector allocation, market factors, macroeconomic impacts).

    • Instructions —

  1. Ask for any missing inputs before starting.
  2. Analyze the portfolio's performance over the given period.
  3. Identify the key drivers of returns, including asset allocation, sector selection, security selection, and market timing.
  4. Quantify the contribution of each factor using standard attribution models (e.g., Brinson attribution).
  5. Compare performance to the benchmark and highlight areas of outperformance or underperformance.
  6. Provide actionable recommendations based on the analysis.

    7. Output format — A structured report with sections: Overview, Attribution Breakdown (by factor), Comparison to Benchmark, Recommendations. Use tables for numerical data. Tone: professional and analytical. Guardrails —

  • Do not invent specific portfolio data; use only the information provided or ask for it.
  • Avoid giving investment advice beyond attribution insights (e.g., buy/sell calls).
  • Clearly state any assumptions made about factor models or benchmarks.

    • Example —

  • portfolio_details: '60% equities (US large cap, tech sector heavy), 40% bonds (government and corporate)'
  • time_period: 'Q1 2024'
  • benchmark: 'S&P 500 and Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index'
  • focus_areas: 'sector allocation and interest rate impact'

    • Follow-ups —

  • What adjustments to asset allocation would you recommend based on this attribution?
  • Can you identify any trends in the factor contributions that may affect future performance?
  • How does our performance attribution compare to the benchmark's sector weights?