Moving Average Formula

Updated July 25, 2023

Moving Average Formula (Table of Contents)

• Formula
• Examples

What is the Moving Average Formula?

The term “moving average” refers to the technical analysis technique that smoothens the fluctuation observed in the data in order to draw insights about any available trend or pattern in the data.

The data pattern is then used as an indicator for estimating the future. The moving average can be primarily of three types:

1. Simple Moving Average
2. Weighted Moving Average
3. Exponential Moving Average

The formula for simple moving average at any point in time can be derived simply calculating the average of a certain number of periods upto that point in time. For instance, the 5-day simple moving average of stock price means the average of the stock price of the last five days. Mathematically, it is represented as,

where A_i is the data point in the i^th period

The formula for the weighted moving average uses different weightage for data points from different periods. Typically, the weightage decreases with each data point from previous periods. Mathematically, it is represented as,

where Ai and Wi are the data point in the i^th period and its weightage respectively

The formula for exponential moving average assigns higher weightage to the current data point by using a multiplying factor. Mathematically, it is represented as,

where C and P are current data point and an exponential moving average of the previous period (simple average used for the first period) respectively

Examples of Moving Average Formula (With Excel Template)

Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of Moving Average Formula in a better manner.

Moving Average Formula – Example #1

Let us take the example of the stock price of a company to explain the concept of moving average. The stock prices for the last 12 days are as follows:

Predict the stock price on the 13^th day using 4- day simple moving average.

Solution:

Moving Average is calculated using the formula given below

Simple Moving Average = (A₁ + A₂ + …… + A_n) / n

Based on a 4-day simple moving average the stock price is expected to be $31.68 on the 13^th day.

Moving Average Formula – Example #2

Let us take the above example to predict the stock price on the 13^th day using 4- day weighted moving average such that most recent to last weightages are 0.50, 0.30, 0.15 and 0.05.

Solution:

Moving Average is calculated using the formula given below

Weightage Moving Average = (A₁*W₁ + A₂*W₂ + …… + A_n*W_n)

Based on a 4-day weighted moving average the stock price is expected to be $31.73 on the 13^th day.

Moving Average Formula – Example #3

Let us take the above example to predict the stock price on the 13^th day using a 4-day exponential moving average.

Multiplying Factor = 2 / (4 + 1) = 0.4

Solution:

Moving Average is calculated using the formula given below

Exponential Moving Average = (C – P) * 2 / (n + 1) + P

Based on a 4-day exponential moving average the stock price is expected to be $31.50 on the 13^th day.

Explanation

The formula for simple moving average can be derived by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, decide on the number of the period for the moving average, such as 2-day moving average, 5-day moving average, etc.

Step 2: Next, simply add the selected number of consecutive data points and divide by the number of periods. Repeat the exercise to arrive at a set of averages.

Simple Moving Average = (A₁ + A₂ + …… + A_n) / n

The formula for the weighted moving average can be derived by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, decide on the weightage to be assigned to the data point of each period.

Step 2: Next, add the products of the data points and their respective weightage. Repeat the exercise to arrive at a set of averages.

Weightage Moving Average = (A₁*W₁ + A₂*W₂ + …… + A_n*W_n)

The formula for exponential moving average can be derived by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, decide on the number of the period for the moving average. Then calculate the multiplying factor based on the number of periods i.e. 2 / (n + 1).

Step 2: Next, deduct the exponential moving average of the previous period from the current data point and then multiplied by the factor. Then add back the exponential moving average of the previous period. Repeat the exercise to arrive at a set of averages.

Exponential Moving Average = (C – P) * 2 / (n + 1) + P

Relevance and Use of Moving Average Formula

It is crucial to understand the concept of moving averages as it provides important trading signals. An increasing moving average indicates that the security is exhibiting uptrend and vice versa. Further, a bullish crossover indicates an upward momentum that occurs when a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term moving average. On the other hand, a bearish crossover indicates a downward momentum that occurs when a short-term moving average crosses below a long-term moving average. All these indicators are used in predicting the movement of securities in the future.

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