Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio vs Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings
Period: January 1985 - February 2025 (~40 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 28 February 2025
Rebalancing: at every Jan 1st
Currency: USD
Inflation: US
(Change Settings)
The minimum date range must be at least 12 months. 'Date To' cannot be beyond February 2025.
Reset settings
Close
Results
30 Years
All (since January 1985)
Inflation Adjusted:
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
March 1995
7.46$
Final Capital
February 2025
6.93%
Yearly Return
6.66%
Std Deviation
-15.92%
Max Drawdown
27months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
March 1995
3.52$
Final Capital
February 2025
4.28%
Yearly Return
6.66%
Std Deviation
-23.09%
Max Drawdown
55months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
17.77$
Final Capital
February 2025
7.43%
Yearly Return
6.39%
Std Deviation
-15.92%
Max Drawdown
27months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
5.86$
Final Capital
February 2025
4.50%
Yearly Return
6.39%
Std Deviation
-23.09%
Max Drawdown
55months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
March 1995
11.14$
Final Capital
February 2025
8.37%
Yearly Return
8.73%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
March 1995
5.26$
Final Capital
February 2025
5.69%
Yearly Return
8.73%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
36.86$
Final Capital
February 2025
9.40%
Yearly Return
9.05%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
12.16$
Final Capital
February 2025
6.42%
Yearly Return
9.05%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period

As of February 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio obtained a 6.93% compound annual return, with a 6.66% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -15.92% that required 27 months to be recovered.

As of February 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio obtained a 8.37% compound annual return, with a 8.73% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -27.04% that required 30 months to be recovered.

Disclaimer: The simulations on this website are provided in good faith but should NOT be taken as investment advice. We are not liable for any errors or actions based on this information. The authors of the website are not affiliated with the portfolio creators, who are the sole owners of their intellectual property. The translation of asset allocations into ETFs is based on the interpretation of LazyPortfolioETF.com and may not exactly reflect the original intent of the portfolio creators. Content is for informational, educational, illustrative, and entertainment purposes only.
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing
Set your goal
Use top metrics to evaluate
Join the passive investing strategy
Exclusive new asset allocations in EUR and USD

Asset Allocations and ETFs

The compared portfolios have the following asset allocations.

Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio
Weight
(%)
ETF
Ticker
Name
25.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
25.00
BIL
SPDR Blmbg Barclays 1-3 Mth T-Bill
25.00
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond
25.00
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio
Weight
(%)
ETF
Ticker
Name
50.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
50.00
TIP
iShares TIPS Bond
Evaluate your portfolio strategy in 7 different currencies

Portfolio Returns as of Feb 28, 2025

Returns are calculated in USD, assuming:
  • no fees or capital gain taxes.
  • rebalancing: at every Jan 1st.
  • dividend reinvestment, when applicable.
RETURN COMPARISON
Period: 1 January 1985 - 28 February 2025 (~40 years)
Swipe left to see all data
Return (%) as of Feb 28, 2025
YTD
(2M)
1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~40Y)
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_harry_browne.webp Permanent Portfolio
Harry Browne
4.18 1.47 5.36 16.02 6.02 5.74 6.93 7.43
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_scott_burns.webp Couch Potato
Scott Burns
2.32 0.12 4.16 12.12 8.77 7.32 8.37 9.40
Return over 1 year are annualized.
Tailored Portfolios for every Investment Strategy

Capital Growth as of Feb 28, 2025

Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since March 1995, now would be worth 7.46$, with a total return of 646.11% (6.93% annualized).

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since March 1995, now would be worth 11.14$, with a total return of 1014.33% (8.37% annualized).


Loading data
Please wait
Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 17.77$, with a total return of 1676.65% (7.43% annualized).

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 36.86$, with a total return of 3585.78% (9.40% annualized).


Loading data
Please wait

Portfolio Metrics as of Feb 28, 2025

The following metrics, updated as of 28 February 2025, provide an overview of performance and risk, with the best value in each row highlighted within the table.

METRIC COMPARISON
Period: 1 March 2024 - 28 February 2025 (1 year)
Period: 1 March 2020 - 28 February 2025 (5 years)
Period: 1 March 2015 - 28 February 2025 (10 years)
Period: 1 March 1995 - 28 February 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 28 February 2025 (~40 years)
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Author Harry Browne Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 25% 50%
Fixed Income 50% 50%
Commodities 25% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 16.02 12.12
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 12.82 9.03
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.51 -3.08
Start to Recovery (months) 2 2
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -1.77 -2.45
Start to Recovery (months) 2 3*
Longest Negative Period (months) 3 3*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.09 7.26
Sharpe Ratio 1.81 0.98
Sortino Ratio 2.19 1.22
Ulcer Index 0.85 1.15
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 2.63 1.67
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 6.37 3.93
Metrics calculated over the period 1 March 2024 - 28 February 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Author Harry Browne Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 25% 50%
Fixed Income 50% 50%
Commodities 25% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.02 8.77
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 1.66 4.29
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 27 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 27 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 40 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 8.68 11.51
Sharpe Ratio 0.41 0.55
Sortino Ratio 0.58 0.72
Ulcer Index 5.91 7.35
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.69 0.76
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.38 0.44
Metrics calculated over the period 1 March 2020 - 28 February 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Author Harry Browne Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 25% 50%
Fixed Income 50% 50%
Commodities 25% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.74 7.32
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 2.54 4.08
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 27 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 27 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 40 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.29 9.39
Sharpe Ratio 0.56 0.60
Sortino Ratio 0.80 0.80
Ulcer Index 4.55 5.48
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.79 0.78
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.36 0.37
Metrics calculated over the period 1 March 2015 - 28 February 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Author Harry Browne Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 25% 50%
Fixed Income 50% 50%
Commodities 25% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.93 8.37
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.28 5.69
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 27 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 27 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 40 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.66 8.73
Sharpe Ratio 0.70 0.70
Sortino Ratio 0.97 0.91
Ulcer Index 3.20 5.17
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.04 0.96
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.44 0.31
Metrics calculated over the period 1 March 1995 - 28 February 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Author Harry Browne Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 25% 50%
Fixed Income 50% 50%
Commodities 25% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.43 9.40
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.50 6.42
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 27 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -15.92 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 27 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 40 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.39 9.05
Sharpe Ratio 0.67 0.69
Sortino Ratio 0.94 0.91
Ulcer Index 2.88 4.85
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.16 1.04
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.47 0.35
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 28 February 2025
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing

Drawdowns

A drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. A maximum drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained.

DRAWDOWN COMPARISON
Period: 1 March 1995 - 28 February 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 28 February 2025 (~40 years)

Loading data
Please wait
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-15.92 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-12.63 18 Mar 2008
Aug 2009
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-6.98 13 Aug 2016
Aug 2017
-6.86 17 Oct 2012
Feb 2014
-6.73 15 Feb 2015
Apr 2016
-6.25 8 May 2011
Dec 2011
-6.09 5 May 2010
Sep 2010
-5.47 14 Mar 2015
Apr 2016
-5.43 19 Sep 2000
Mar 2002

Loading data
Please wait
Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-16.03 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-15.92 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-12.63 18 Mar 2008
Aug 2009
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-8.78 14 Feb 1994
Mar 1995
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-7.58 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-6.98 13 Aug 2016
Aug 2017
-6.86 17 Oct 2012
Feb 2014
-6.73 15 Feb 2015
Apr 2016
-6.25 8 May 2011
Dec 2011

Rolling Returns

By selecting the 'Rolling Period', the chart and data will update. To study a different date range, change the Simulation Settings.

You can explore the Rolling Returns for a single portfolio, or check the return differential, by switching on "Head To Head" toggle.

Rolling Returns Comparison
Annualized Rolling Returns Chart
Rolling Returns Chart - Inflation Adjusted
Time Period: 1 January 1985 - 28 February 2025 (~40 years)


Head To Head (Ptf 1 vs Ptf 2):
US Inflation Adjusted:

Loading data
Please wait

Yearly Returns

For each year, the following table provides the return and intra-year drawdown. The highlighted returns represent the highest values for that specific year.

Swipe left to see all data
Permanent Portfolio Couch Potato
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
4.18 0.00 2.32 0.00
2024
11.90 -2.51 12.73 -3.08
2023
11.55 -5.68 14.66 -6.50
2022
-12.53 -15.92 -16.31 -19.77
2021
4.21 -4.43 15.67 -2.76
2020
16.10 -3.30 15.93 -10.72
2019
16.17 -1.10 19.51 -2.63
2018
-1.76 -4.25 -3.32 -8.06
2017
10.97 -0.83 12.07 0.00
2016
5.54 -6.98 8.75 -2.08
2015
-3.06 -6.73 -0.70 -5.47
2014
9.40 -2.62 8.07 -2.34
2013
-2.08 -6.04 12.48 -3.18
2012
6.41 -1.83 11.42 -2.32
2011
11.11 -1.85 7.12 -6.25
2010
13.92 -0.53 11.78 -6.09
2009
7.85 -6.22 18.92 -9.98
2008
0.87 -12.63 -18.47 -22.29
2007
12.69 -1.20 8.64 -1.70
2006
10.94 -2.12 7.99 -1.54
2005
8.91 -1.25 4.40 -1.83
2004
6.83 -4.20 10.53 -3.54
2003
13.32 -2.34 19.38 -1.09
2002
5.85 -4.02 -1.93 -6.44
2001
-0.52 -4.13 -1.68 -8.57
2000
2.40 -3.23 3.54 -5.60
1999
5.17 -3.54 9.67 -3.30
1998
10.09 -5.34 16.26 -8.06
1997
7.19 -2.33 21.85 -3.41
1996
5.08 -2.02 11.14 -2.76
1995
18.11 0.00 29.40 0.00
1994
-1.37 -3.63 -3.21 -8.78
1993
12.00 -0.99 13.19 -1.53
1992
3.57 -1.77 8.92 -2.25
1991
11.72 -0.88 25.50 -2.55
1990
1.11 -4.53 1.06 -7.58
1989
12.90 -1.18 21.95 -1.62
1988
4.39 -1.50 11.91 -2.50
1987
7.42 -5.78 1.19 -16.03
1986
17.64 -1.28 16.48 -5.55
1985
20.47 -2.05 28.66 -1.87
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing