Investment Return Calculator
Measure how an investment actually performed. Enter what you invested, what it is worth now, any dividends or interest received, fees paid and how long you held it. The calculator shows profit or loss, the total return and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), which makes investments held for different lengths of time comparable.
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Does not account for the timing of additional deposits; use an IRR/XIRR calculation for irregular cash flows.
How to use Investment Return Calculator
- Enter the amount invested and its value now.
- Add income received and fees.
- Enter the holding period in years.
- Compare total return and CAGR.
Investment Return Calculator features
Total return
Including income and fees.
CAGR
Annualised for comparison.
Capital vs income
Both shown.
10-year view
What the rate does to 1,000.
Formula shown
Every result explains how it was calculated.
Any currency
Choose from 30+ currencies; amounts are formatted for it.
When to use Investment Return Calculator
- Reviewing a stock or fund.
- Comparing a property investment with shares.
- Checking an adviser’s performance claims.
- Tracking a portfolio.
Investment Return Calculator FAQ
What is CAGR?
The constant yearly rate that would turn the starting amount into the ending amount over the period.
Why include fees?
Fees lower the real return; leaving them out makes performance look better than it was.
What if I added money over time?
CAGR assumes one deposit. For several deposits and withdrawals, use an internal rate of return (XIRR).
Is a high past return a good sign?
Past returns do not predict future ones.
Why is the annual return lower than total return divided by years?
Because returns compound: 7.43% a year for three years grows money by 24%, not 22.3%.
Total return versus annual return
A 50% total return sounds impressive, but over 4 years it is about 10.8% a year, and over 10 years only about 4%. Annualising is the only fair way to compare investments held for different periods.
Including income matters for dividend stocks and rental property, where much of the return comes from payouts rather than price changes.
Example: 10,000 invested that is now worth 12,000, with 500 of dividends received and 100 of fees paid, made a profit of 2,400 – a total return of 24%. Over three years that is about 7.43% per year, because annual returns compound.
The annualised figure makes investments held for different periods comparable. Past returns do not predict future results, taxes are not included, and this calculator is not investment advice.