Investment Return Calculator

"It doubled!" means little without the time it took. Total ROI measures overall gain; CAGR (compound annual growth rate) converts it into a per-year figure you can compare against index funds, savings rates or any other opportunity. Enter what you invested, what it is worth now and the holding period - the calculator does the honest math.

Your numbers

$
$
yrs
Total gain / loss —
Total return (ROI)—
Annualised return (CAGR)—

Results update as you type and are estimates for education only — they don't account for taxes, fees or your personal situation, and nothing here is financial advice. Your inputs stay on this device.

How it works

  1. Enter the initial investment - your total cost including fees.
  2. Enter the final value (or current value) of the position.
  3. Set the holding period in years; fractions are fine (18 months = 1.5).
  4. Compare the CAGR against a benchmark: broad stock indexes have historically delivered roughly 7-10% nominal per year over long periods.

The formula

ROI = (final value - initial investment) / initial investment. CAGR = (final value / initial investment)^(1 / years) - 1.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ROI and CAGR?
ROI is the total percentage gain over the whole holding period regardless of length; CAGR is the constant annual rate that would produce the same result. A 100% ROI is a stellar 26% CAGR over 3 years but a mediocre 7.2% CAGR over 10 - CAGR makes results comparable.
Does this work if I added money along the way?
Not precisely - CAGR assumes a single lump sum with no interim cash flows. With regular contributions or withdrawals, the accurate metric is a money-weighted return (IRR/XIRR), which spreadsheet XIRR functions compute from your dated cash flows.
Should I judge returns before or after inflation and fees?
Fees should always be inside your numbers - use net amounts actually paid and received. For long horizons, also sanity-check the real return by subtracting average inflation (2-3%); a 6% nominal CAGR is roughly 3-4% in purchasing-power terms.
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