Money · Investing
Investment Return Calculator
See how an investment actually performed: your total gain, your total return, and the annualized return (CAGR) that lets you compare investments held for different lengths of time.
Your result
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How it's calculated
Total return = (Ending value + Income − Invested) ÷ Invested
Annualized return (CAGR) = ((Ending value + Income) ÷ Invested)1 ÷ years − 1 CAGR is the steady yearly rate that would turn your starting amount into your ending amount over the same time.
Annualized return (CAGR) = ((Ending value + Income) ÷ Invested)1 ÷ years − 1 CAGR is the steady yearly rate that would turn your starting amount into your ending amount over the same time.
Worked example
You invested $10,000 and it's worth $14,500 after 3 years:
- Total return = $4,500 ÷ $10,000 = 45%
- CAGR = (14,500 ÷ 10,000)1/3 − 1 ≈ 13.2% a year
Common questions
Why not just divide the total return by the years?
That ignores compounding. 45% over 3 years isn't 15% a year; it's about 13.2% a year compounded.
What if I added money along the way?
Regular deposits make simple return math misleading. This calculator assumes a single investment at the start; for ongoing deposits, try the compound interest calculator.
For education only, not investment advice. Past performance doesn't predict future results. Taxes and fees are not included.