Simple Moving Average Calculator
Calculate the simple moving average of a series of data points using our online calculator. By inputting the desired number of periods or time intervals and the corresponding data, you can compute the average value over that specific period.
Reference
A moving average is marked on a stock chart by a line, and it represents the average price of a given stock over a period of interest. It serves to smooth over the changes in a stock price so that the overall trend becomes more apparent.
The most frequently employed moving averages are the exponential moving average (EMA) and the simple moving average (SMA).
When provided with a sequential data set, you can determine the n-point moving (or rolling) average by computing the mean of each set of n successive points. For instance, if you have the following sequential data set:
2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20,
the four-point moving average would be as follows:
5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17
Moving averages serve to "smooth" chronological data; they reduce the impact of sharp peaks and dips because every raw data point is provided with a fractional weight in the moving average. The higher the value of n, the smoother the moving average graph will be in comparison to a graph of the original data. Stock analysts frequently examine the moving averages of stock prices to identify patterns and predict future movements.
Simple Moving Average Formula
SMA (n) = (P1 + P2 + … + Pn) / n
Where:
n is the number of time periods,
Pn is the price at period n.
what is Simple Moving Average Calculator
A Simple Moving Average (SMA) calculator is a tool used to calculate the average value of a time series data set over a specified number of periods. The SMA is a commonly used technical analysis indicator that helps smooth out price fluctuations and identify trends over time.
Here's how a Simple Moving Average calculator typically works:
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Data Input: The calculator requires a series of historical data points, such as daily closing prices or other relevant values, for the asset or variable you want to calculate the moving average of. This data should cover a specific time period.
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Setting the Period: You need to specify the number of periods over which you want to calculate the moving average. For example, if you choose a 20-day SMA, it will calculate the average based on the past 20 data points.
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Calculation: The calculator adds up the values of the selected data points over the specified period and then divides the sum by the number of periods. This calculation is repeated as new data becomes available, creating a moving average that reflects the most recent data points.
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Displaying the Result: The calculator provides the calculated Simple Moving Average as the output. It represents the smoothed average value of the data series over the specified period.
The Simple Moving Average is a lagging indicator, meaning it reacts slower to price changes compared to other types of moving averages. It's often used to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and potential buy or sell signals in technical analysis.
Simple Moving Average calculators can be found online or implemented in various charting platforms, trading software, or spreadsheet programs like Excel. Traders, analysts, and investors use these calculators to analyze historical price data and make informed decisions in the financial markets.
Simple Moving Average Calculator Example
Certainly! The Simple Moving Average (SMA) is a commonly used technical analysis indicator that calculates the average price of a financial instrument over a specified period of time. Let's consider an example of calculating the Simple Moving Average for a stock using daily closing prices.
Assume we have collected the daily closing prices of a stock for the last 10 trading days. Here are the closing prices (in arbitrary units):
100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145
Step 1: Determine the time period.
First, we need to determine the time period for which we want to calculate the Simple Moving Average. For this example, let's use a 5-day Simple Moving Average.
Step 2: Calculate the sum of closing prices.
Next, we calculate the sum of the closing prices over the specified time period. In our case, we will calculate the sum of the most recent 5 closing prices.
Sum of Closing Prices = 120 + 125 + 130 + 135 + 140 = 650
Step 3: Calculate the Simple Moving Average.
The Simple Moving Average is calculated by dividing the sum of closing prices by the number of periods.
Simple Moving Average = Sum of Closing Prices / Number of Periods
In our example, the Simple Moving Average is:
650 / 5 = 130
Therefore, the 5-day Simple Moving Average for this stock, based on the given data, is 130.
Please note that this is a simplified example for illustrative purposes. In practice, moving averages are calculated using larger data sets, and there are variations such as exponential moving averages that assign different weights to each period. The choice of time period and moving average type depends on the specific analysis requirements and trading strategies.
