ROI Calculator
Find your total return and your annualized return (CAGR).
Estimates for educational purposes only — not financial, tax, or investment advice.
Total return vs annualized return
Total return tells you how much you made overall. But a 80% gain over 10 years is very different from 80% over 2 years — that's where annualized return, or CAGR (compound annual growth rate), comes in. CAGR smooths the gain into a single yearly rate, so you can compare investments held for different lengths of time on equal footing.
Why CAGR is the honest number
When you compare two investments, the headline total return can mislead. CAGR is the rate that, compounded each year, turns your starting amount into the ending amount. It's the number to use when judging whether an investment actually beat alternatives like an index fund.
Frequently asked questions
Does this account for dividends or fees?
No. Enter the final value including any reinvested dividends, and net of fees, to get an accurate picture. The calculator works from whatever start and end values you provide.
What's a good CAGR?
It depends on risk. Broad stock indexes have historically averaged roughly 7-10% CAGR over long periods, but past performance does not guarantee future results.