Position Cost Distribution

20 Sep 2023

The Position Cost Distribution indicator (also known as the Market Position Overview, Chip Distribution, or CYQ Algorithm) provides an estimate of how shares are distributed across different price levels. Visually, it resembles the Volume Profile indicator, though they rely on distinct computational approaches.

🟠 Principle

The Position Cost Distribution algorithm is based on the principle that a security's total shares outstanding usually remains constant, except under conditions like stock splits, reverse splits, or new share issuance. It views all trading activity as simply exchanging share positions between holders at different price points.

By analyzing daily trade volume and the prior day's distribution, the algorithm infers the resulting share distribution after each day. By tracking these inferred transpositions over time, the indicator builds up an aggregate view of the estimated share concentration at each price level. This provides insights into potential buying and selling pressure zones that could form support or resistance areas.

Together with the Volume Profile, the Position Cost Distribution gives traders multiple lenses for examining market structure from both a volume and positional standpoint. Both can help identify meaningful technical price levels.

🟠 Algorithm

The algorithm initializes by allocating all shares to the price range encompassed by the first bar displayed on the chart. Preferably, the chart window should include the stock's IPO date, allowing the model to distribute shares specifically to the IPO price.

For subsequent trading sessions, the indicator performs the following calculations:

1. The daily turnover ratio is calculated by dividing the bar's trading volume by total outstanding shares.
2. For each price level (bucket), the number of shares is reduced by the turnover amount to represent shares transferring from existing holders.
3. The bar's total volume is then added to buckets corresponding to that period's price range.

Currently, the model assumes each share has an equal probability of being exchanged, regardless of how long ago it was acquired or at what price. Potential optimizations could incorporate factors like making shares held longer face a smaller chance of transfer compared to more recently purchased shares.

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中文介绍：该指标为“筹码分布”的一个 TradingView 实现 :)