Which statement is true regarding alpha in investments?

Alpha is a key metric in investment performance evaluation, specifically measuring the excess return of an investment relative to a benchmark index. When we say that alpha indicates performance against a benchmark, it reflects how well an investment has performed compared to the expected return as suggested by its exposure to systematic risk factors. A positive alpha indicates that the investment has outperformed the benchmark, while a negative alpha suggests underperformance. This measure helps investors determine whether a manager’s investment decisions have added value beyond what would be expected given the risks taken, providing insight into the effectiveness of investment strategies.

The other options do not accurately describe alpha. While total investment value is related to an investment’s overall worth, it does not consider performance relative to a benchmark. Predicting future market trends is not within the scope of alpha, as it is a retrospective measure. Assessing overall portfolio risk pertains more to metrics such as beta or standard deviation, rather than alpha, which focuses solely on performance in comparison to benchmarks.