A historical, backtested analysis of the BankAtlas U.S. Bank Equity Indices — a family of 18 rules-based, point-in-time total-return indices built with survivorship-bias controls. This page presents the method, the results (winners and losers), third-party comparators, and the limitations.
Before the results: each series follows the same published construction framework, allowing the historical results below to be evaluated on a consistent basis.
Membership is a defined grade band or quantile with an add/keep hysteresis buffer — deterministic and reproducible from the same inputs.
Equal-Weight expresses the pure signal; Capped Float-Market-Cap (15% single-name cap) is the market-cap-weighted class designed to improve replicability.
A published, versioned methodology specifies the universe, selection, weighting, reconstitution, and corporate-action rules.
In the backtest, the highest-graded banks (Grade A) produced higher cumulative returns than the lowest-graded banks (Grades D/E) over the period shown — and both differ from the regional-bank ETF comparator. Equal-weight total return, base 1,000 at year-end 2016.
All BankAtlas index results shown below are backtested (simulated) for the period December 31, 2016 through July 31, 2026 and do not reflect actual trading. Prospective tracking is scheduled to begin September 30, 2026. Backtested results are subject to methodological assumptions and limitations described in the Index Methodology.
Backtested Run-Vulnerability cohorts also produced different equity outcomes: the least funding-fragile banks (Resilience) outperformed the most fragile (Vulnerability) over the period shown. Equal-weight total return.
Backtested statistics for the full family, December 31, 2016 through July 31, 2026 — including the low-scoring cohorts. BankAtlas performance is simulated and does not reflect actual trading or implementation costs.
| Index | EW CAGR | MCap CAGR | EW Ann. Vol | EW Max DD | EW Sharpe (0% rf) |
|---|
Annualized volatility, maximum drawdown, and Sharpe in this table are Equal-Weight-class statistics; the two CAGR columns show each class. Sharpe is computed with an assumed risk-free rate of 0%. Weak-scoring indices (Fragility, Distressed Grade, Vulnerability) publish full levels and statistics; their constituent lists, once prospective tracking begins, will not be displayed publicly, and constituent data may be made available under institutional license. Exposure and geographic baskets are characteristic baskets, not quality grades.
| Comparator | CAGR | Ann. Vol | Max DD | Sharpe (0% rf) |
|---|
Common equity of U.S.-listed banks; point-in-time universe reconstructed each quarter from contemporaneous listing, regulatory, and market data; fundamental-signal selection uses the most recently published call-report vintage with a three-month reporting lag; membership by grade band or quantile with a hysteresis buffer; equal-weight and capped float-market-cap classes; total return, base year-end 2016 = 1,000; delisting and merger returns booked by rule. The full methodology documents calculation assumptions and limitations.
Interested in institutional index licensing or data? Contact BankAtlas · Explore the index family →
Important disclosures. All BankAtlas index levels, returns, and performance statistics shown on this page are backtested (simulated) for the period December 31, 2016 through July 31, 2026 and do not reflect actual trading. Prospective tracking is scheduled to begin September 30, 2026; all history prior to that date is backtested. Backtested results are subject to methodological assumptions, data-availability, and hindsight limitations and may differ materially from results that would have been achieved through actual investment. The delisted historical universe is substantially, but not exhaustively, sourced. Past performance does not indicate future results.
BankAtlas indices are rules-based analytical benchmarks designed to reflect proprietary BankAtlas risk signals. BankAtlas grades and scores are proprietary analytical measures and are not presented as credit ratings. Nothing on this page constitutes investment advice, an offer, solicitation, or recommendation regarding any security, investment strategy, or index-linked product. BankAtlas does not currently sponsor, manage, or advise any investment product or separately managed account based on these indices, and no investment product currently references them.
Third-party benchmarks and market data are provided for comparative and informational purposes. KRE refers to the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF and is not a BankAtlas index. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BankAtlas is not affiliated with or endorsed by the providers of the third-party benchmarks shown. Total-return, weighting, and comparator inputs are sourced from third-party market-data providers. See the Index Methodology for calculation assumptions, data sources, and limitations.