What Is VWAP? A Complete Breakdown For Beginners

Traders, and technical trading analysts, use VWAP to eliminate information or activity that confuses or misrepresents genuine underlying trends. But what is VWAP, and how is it used in trading? Follow this complete guide to understand the working of VWAP.

Technical indicators are an important part of analyzing and interpreting trading floors. Some of them seek to demonstrate momenta, like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), the StochRSI, or the MACD. Others can be utilized to find possible points of interest on a chart, such as the Fibonacci Retracement tool, Parabolic SAR, or Bollinger Bands.

But what is one of the most important and basic indicators used in financial markets? Potentially, it’s volume. Volume can be used in many strategies that include identifying potential points of reversal; it can be used as a tool to confirm a trend and many other strategies that can be applied on the trading floor.

Traders use VWAP as it combines the power of price action with the power of volume to build a pragmatic and easy-to-use indicator. It is also used by traders as a tool for confirming some ongoing trends and sometimes to trace entry and exit points. So what is VWAP? Let’s dive into the world of trading to learn all about it, how it works, and how VWAP is used in trading strategies.

What is VWAP?

You’ve probably heard the word VWAP used by traders and reformists. VWAP refers to a standard moving indicator which is the moving average (MA), a stock indicator commonly used in technical analysis, which is used to help balance out price data by creating a persistently updated standard price called the volume-weighted average price (VWAP).

It is a useful indicator that is used by retail traders, institutional traders, and market makers in many different ways. The VWAP is displayed as a standard moving line on a chart. The line is a moving average that tracks the price value traded over the total volume, usually on an intraday(within the day in the financial world) chart.

Primarily, it calculates the average price of the stock established on how many shares were traded at inconsistent prices, and it’s usually calculated within a one-day time frame. Acting as an index or a guideline for institutions and pension plans that contemplate taking huge positions and need to find out if they are getting in at an acceptable price or not.

It also enables them to enter positions without upsetting the market or artificially raising prices, resulting in disadvantageous entry pricing for them. The VWAP is a crucial level of importance that many large traders and institutions follow, which is why you should pay attention to it as well.

Why Is VWAP used?

The VWAP is frequently employed as a trend indicator by intraday traders. It is frequently used as a benchmark price value by institutions and money managers to assess the level of execution by their traders or market makers. VWAP will be incorporated by algorithms and hedge funds into their various trading platforms. The fact that VWAP is extensively used can make it an important self-fulfilling factor.

What does the VWAP tell traders?

The VWAP may be used as a benchmark for the present market outlook by those interested in a more passive, longer-term investment style. A straightforward technique could be to only purchase assets that are below their VWAP line, indicating that they are likely cheap.

Having said that, some traders may consider the price passing the VWAP line as a signal to enter a trade. They may enter a long position if the price breaches and exceeds the VWAP. In contrast, if the price breaches and falls below the VWAP, they may enter into a short position.

In this way, the VWAP is similar to moving averages. The market may be considered bullish when the price is above the VWAP line. At the same time, if it falls below the VWAP line, the market may be bearish. This, of course, is very dependent on the context of the technical pattern and should be used cautiously.

The VWAP can also be used to locate liquid areas. This is especially beneficial for institutional traders that need to fill huge orders. The indication assists them in determining the best entry and exit points for huge deals, which can reduce their market impact.

Assessing Trade Execution Efficiency with VWAP

VWAP can also be used to assess trade execution efficiency. In this sense, buy orders completed below the VWAP may be deemed good fills because they are lower than the asset’s average price weighted by volume. Buy orders completed over the VWAP, on the other hand, may be called bad fills because they are executed above the asset’s weighted average price.

The fact that some large traders purchase below the VWAP and sell above it may benefit the market in another way. In both cases, these activities bring the price closer to the average. This ensures that significant traders’ actions do not push prices further away from the average. Keep in mind that whales trade in some of the largest sizes, and they might have a significant impact on markets otherwise.

How is VWAP calculated?

The VWAP indicator is utilized in a variety of situations, but it is most frequently used on intraday charts when the time frames are set to minutes, seconds, or hours. A streaming chart can have the VWAP indicator added, and the computation will then be automatically displayed there. For the VWAP indicator, a 5-minute chart might be used.

By adding the high, low, and close prices and dividing by three, multiplying this volume for that period, and adding the result, you may get the VWAP. The result should be entered in the spreadsheet under the volume column PV. Divide PV by the volume for that time period after that. You’ll receive the VWAP. The formula to calculate VWAP is

VWAP = Cumulative Typical Price x Volume/Cumulative Volume

Where Typical Price = High price + Low price + Closing Price/3

*Cumulative = total since the trading session opened.*

By continuing to add the PV value from each period to the preceding value, you may maintain the VWAP throughout the day. By the volume of all the liquid present at that time, divide the total by that. A volume-weighted average price compares the price of a stock at the moment and provides traders with a benchmark to use when determining whether to enter or leave a trade.

The formula for each time period would need to be updated during the course of the day in order to compute the VWAP line continuously. The majority of trading platforms automatically calculate the VWAP as an indicator throughout the day because doing so might be tiresome. Let’s figure out an asset’s 5-minute VWAP line.

We must do the following:

1. The typical price for the first 5-minute candlestick must first be determined. The High, Low, and Close are added, and the result is divided by 3.
2. We increase the usual pricing by the volume for that time period (5 minutes, in this case). Since it corresponds to the first measured period, let’s call this value n1.
3. The total trade volume up to that point is divided by n1. This provides us with the VWAP value for the first five trade minutes.
4. We must keep adding the new n values (n2, n3, n4, etc.) from each period to the previous values in order to calculate the subsequent VWAP values. After that, we must divide it by the total volume up to that moment.

To make step 4 easier in a spreadsheet, create columns for cumulative PV and cumulative volume and apply the formula to them. Now that we are aware that the VWAP’s values are rising as a result of continued additions, we can see why it is named a cumulative indicator.

What is anchored VWAP?

From the beginning of the market opening until the closing, the VWAP is continuously calculated. A trader may choose to select the starting point to begin calculating VWAP at a different time other than the open for a variety of special reasons. An anchored VWAP is utilized in this situation. An anchored VWAP begins its calculation from a starting period that the user has chosen. There are many reasons to use an anchored VWAP, such as attempting to normalize a price due to significant up or down-price differences.

How can we use VWAP?

The VWAP indicator, which is typically shown as a moving average trend line, is available on most platforms. As part of the “how to set up on your charts,” it’s crucial to make sure the indication is available on your particular brokerage charting platform. Starting with the first deal, the normal timeframe is intraday. Keep in mind that VWAP functions best with high volume. The VWAP indicator is often available on the charts on most charting platforms.

• Anchored VWAP vs. VWAP
• Typical time frames

Anchored VWAP vs. VWAP

The standard VWAP is usually adequate for intraday trading. If there is a sizable abnormal transaction on the time and sales or a sizable gap up or down, the anchoring VWAP can be taken into account. If you can’t edit out the abnormal transaction, for instance, and XYZ is trading at $24.47 when a trade enters at $36.76 before returning to $24.47, then you might think about an anchored VWAP.

Typical time frames

The default parameters for the VWAP are usually utilized intraday. A common feature of VWAP indicators is an upper and lower trend line that resembles a Bollinger Band. Depending on the chart’s time frame, the intraday time frame VWAP value may fluctuate. When trading intraday, a 5- or 15-minute VWAP is frequently used to show the trend.

What is the difference between VWAP and moving VWAP?

VWAP is an intraday-day indicator that short-term traders employ. It typically lasts minutes or hours. Moving VWAP, on the other hand, is a better alternative for long-term traders because it provides signals for a longer length of time.

VWAP and moving VWAP are both fascinating tools. Traders employ VWAP indicators to predict price reversals in real-time, which they can also tweak for a shorter time frame. Moving VWAP, on the other hand, is a valuable tool for traders who follow other moving trend lines, such as moving averages or moving average proxies.

Traders who utilize a price reversal technique also use the moving VWAP. They use a crossover approach to do so, which involves utilizing a fast average to establish trend direction when it crosses over a slow average. Moving VWAP is frequently utilized with envelope channels during price reversal trades to have a better knowledge of price movement.

VWAP is a fantastic instrument with numerous applications in technical trading. Traders use it in conjunction with other moving average methods to determine the best entry and exit positions in the market. It enables you to comprehend market interest, price trends, demand, and potential points of a trade. Other indicators comparable to VWAP are also used by traders to create a fair grasp of market movements and base their tactics on them.

How is VWAP used in trading strategies?

So, how do I use the VWAP indicator to trade? The VWAP indicator, like moving averages and the Parabolic SAR, is a lagging indicator. This means that it makes use of historical data to forecast an asset’s future performance. As a result, the more data you feed, the more lag you will experience. The VWAP indicator in most charting software provides six anchor periods:

• Session
• Week
• Month
• Year
• Decade
• Century

VWAP is used in trading strategies by combining the VWAP indicator with other indicators, which is also the most common way to use it. The VWAP may be used in four significant trading methods that we’ll go over below to assist you in locating excellent risk/reward entry points.

Institutions and pension plans frequently use the VWAP as a significant signal in order to take sizable bets, as is already mentioned. They frequently want to purchase below the VWAP, but not by a large enough margin to cut the price. The opposite is also true; they frequently sell when the price is slightly above the VWAP in order to avoid losing money or missing out on potential gains if they cause the price to skyrocket.

Optimizing Trading Strategies with VWAP

Incorporating VWAP into your trading strategy can elevate your approach, aligning with institutional practices and seasoned traders who leverage it as a benchmark. An effective tactic involves buying when the closing price initially exceeds the VWAP and selling above it, ideal for short-term intraday trades.

For a more intricate approach, consider using VWAP as a filter: go long when prices are below VWAP and short when above—a strategy known as short selling. Short selling entails borrowing stock, selling it at current prices, and closing the trade by repurchasing shares later, aiming to profit if prices decline during this period.

This strategy assumes that buyers support prices below VWAP, potentially stabilizing sideways markets. Alternatively, some traders reverse this method, entering markets when prices surpass VWAP and shorting when prices dip below. This tactic thrives in trending markets, betting that benchmark watchers will perpetuate trends rather than achieve their desired prices.

However, neither strategy shows a consistent statistical advantage over many transactions. Thus, traders often combine VWAP techniques with other indicators for a more robust analysis. This integration enhances filtering capabilities and refines decision-making in dynamic trading environments.

• The VWAP pullback
• Fade to VWAP
• The VWAP “Hold & Go” pattern
• VWAP support & resistance

The VWAP pullback

It’s typical to see the VWAP rise more slowly when comparing a chart with a 20-day moving average. Some traders will employ a technique where they short when prices close below where the VWAP crosses the 20-day moving average and purchase when it closes above.

Another strategy involves letting the market move for a few candles at first and then watching for a pullback toward the VWAP. Depending on the direction the market is headed after this retreat, you can go long or short with the trend.

This approach can provide a clear entry point because you know that if the price closes on the opposite side of the VWAP from where you received it, it may be time to exit. Prices that have been sold off will frequently rally to the VWAP before resuming their downward path.

If you use the pullback technique, you will time your entry to be as near to the VWAP as possible with a stop close above. Traders frequently watch for the VWAP to break lows for their profit goals to add more size and capture profits when things go their way.

Fade to VWAP

If you’re interested in contrarian investing, a fade-to-VWAP strategy can help you better understand your risk and reward. If a stock had a fantastic run at the start of a trading day but then began to consolidate to the point of failing to hit new highs, it can be an indication that buyers are no longer interested, and the price may fall. When paired with Bollinger bands, this method effectively determines overextended prices.

In this strategy, you would short towards the high and stop immediately above it, with the VWAP as your price target. However, you can reduce your risk halfway down from the highs and then reduce it further after it has hit your aim. A strong upward trend with numerous legs, followed by hesitancy at the top and a failed new high, are some crucial qualities you want to see. When this type of market activity occurs, some traders will take a short position in order to profit.

The VWAP “Hold & Go” pattern

This pattern is simple to spot and may provide your ideal risk-reward ratios. With this strategy, you should look for a company with a catalyst with an upward trend in the pre-market hours and then a strong opening once the market hours begin. Then, a tight wedge formation should form while keeping above the main moving averages.

There are a couple of methods to strike with this setup. You can start with tiny positions when the price bounds along the bottom end of the wedge and add when it breaks above it. You can also wait for the genuine breakout before moving, at which point you’ll take a full position.

In this case, you would utilize the VWAP as your stop. When looking for a confirmation indication, you would evaluate the volume. If volume jumps and rapidly increases following the breakout, it can quickly push prices higher after it holds the VWAP.

VWAP support & resistance

When paired with a price envelope, the VWAP can be a very useful filter on days when price activity is pretty sideways. In this case, your approach would revolve around trading with the expectation that the price will revert to the day’s average.

When the price is between the VWAP and the lower price band, known as the support region, you will open long positions. Short-selling positions, on the other hand, may be initiated when the price fluctuates between the VWAP and the upper band, known as the resistance area.

One trading technique for sideways markets could be to enter a long position when the price closes within a support region, with a stop-loss order put up beyond the region’s farthest line and a profit objective set at the VWAP. A similar technique can also be utilized in reverse for short-selling around the resistance zone.

What is the importance of VWAP?

VWAP provides the different traders with a sorted-out representation of a security’s price over time (adjusted for volume). Institutional traders use it to ensure that their trades do not significantly impact the price of the security they are attempting to buy or sell.

A hedge fund, for example, would refrain from submitting a buy order at a price higher than the security’s VWAP in order to avoid artificially boosting the price of that security. Similarly, it might avoid placing orders that are too far below the VWAP, so its selling does not push down the price.

The volume-weighted adjusted price is the genuine average price of the stock and has no bearing on its closing price. The VWAP calculation, like the moving average, has a lag because it is based on previous data, making it more suited for intraday trading. VWAP is a popular instrument among investors for several other reasons:

• VWAP has the ability to indicate if the market is bearish or bullish
• VWAP helps you know when to sell or buy
• VWAP is a better tool than the moving average

It has the ability to indicate if the market is bearish or bullish

When the price is below the VWAP, the market is bearish; when the price is above the VWAP, the market is bullish. The purchase price will rise during a bullish market, and the trend line on the chart will go upward. During a bear market, however, there is increased pressure to sell the stock, resulting in a downward trend on the stock chart.

It helps you know when to sell or buy

When there is a signal to buy a stock, investors who utilize the VWAP as a technical analysis tool will not buy it. Instead, they wait for a good deal. A trader who spends less than the VWAP line for a stock will not pay more than the stock’s average price.

Traders who use the VWAP line as an indicator, on the other hand, will be able to acquire at a low price and profit more when they sell the stock. When purchasing equities, VWAP allows the investor to make more informed judgments.

It is a better tool than the moving average

The VWAP is also employed by pension funds trying to get a larger market share. It enables them to take a different stance without too much market disruption. Timing is essential in day trading, and the it tells investors when to enter or exit the market rather than just following the general trend.

The VWAP is an excellent indicator for deciding which stocks to buy, but it is even more useful when combined with other trading tactics. It is a formula that can provide valuable information about a stock’s current and future state for both long and short positions. It can assist investors in making better-informed trading decisions.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Let’s sum up the advantages and disadvantages of using VWAP in the table below.

What are the limitations?

There are certain limitations to VWAP, as with any technical indicator. It is best used as a one-day indicator. Attempting to build a VWAP over numerous days may result in a distorted average. As a result, the VWAP works best for intraday analysis, or analysis that takes into account one trading day or fewer.

The VWAP, like moving averages, is a lagging indicator because it is dependent on historical price data. The more data there is, the larger the lag, similar to a moving average. As a result, a 20-minute VWAP will react to current market fluctuations faster than a 200-minute VWAP.

It’s vital to remember that the VWAP has no predictive power because it’s based on previous price data. While it is a powerful indicator that many traders employ, it should not be used in isolation. For example, we’ve already examined how an asset may be regarded as cheap if its price is lower than its VWAP line. However, in a strong rise, the price may not go below the VWAP for a long period.

As a result, traders who are waiting for this exact signal risk missing out on a good chance. Having said that, missing out on a transaction might not be the end of the world. If a trader’s entry strategy calls for a specific event to occur and that event does not occur, they should not enter the trade. However, if their approach is well-thought-out and they stick to it regularly, they should do well in the long run. Whatever technique is used, it is critical to identify and manage the risks.

Conclusion

The volume-weighted average price (VWAP) calculates how securities trade during a session, adjusting for volume. Traders rely on VWAP to assess an asset’s average price over a specific time period relative to its trading volume. This metric helps pinpoint potential trade entry and exit points, especially for larger positions.

Traders use VWAP to guide decisions based on its interaction with current market prices. While VWAP doesn’t predict future prices, it proves highly effective for intraday analysis. However, it’s crucial not to use it in isolation. For best results, integrate VWAP with other analytical tools and trading strategies.