VARS - RS Volatility Adjusted

VARS - Volatility Adjusted Relative Strength solves a critical flaw in traditional relative strength indicators: they don't account for different volatility characteristics between instruments, leading to misleading comparisons. VARS normalizes price movements by each instrument's ATR (Average True Range), enabling true apples-to-apples comparison between any stock and its benchmark (SPY by default, fully customizable). The indicator displays as either a histogram or filled area chart, with intuitive color coding—blue indicates relative strength (outperforming the benchmark) while fuchsia signals relative weakness (underperforming). A built-in moving average (SMA, EMA, or HMA selectable) adds crucial momentum context for reading the indicator: RS above zero AND above MA = strong and gaining strength (best long setup); RS above zero BUT below MA = strong but losing momentum (caution); RS below zero AND below MA = weak and getting weaker (avoid or short); RS below zero BUT above MA = weak but recovering (potential reversal). The cumulative lookback period (default 50 bars) smooths out noise while capturing meaningful trends in relative performance. Whether you're screening for market leaders, identifying sector rotation, or confirming breakout candidates, VARS provides a volatility-normalized view of true relative strength that traditional RS indicators simply cannot match.