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Investment Return Calculator

Compare a lump-sum investment's start and end values to understand the total return and the equivalent annualized return.

Your inputs

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

$

What the investment was worth at the start.

$

What it was worth at the end.

Decimals allowed, e.g. 2.5 for two and a half years.

Your result

Annualized return (CAGR)
+7.18%
Total return
+100.00%
Total gain
$10,000

CAGR smooths growth into a steady yearly rate for comparison. Real investments fluctuate. Educational estimate, not financial advice.

Growth at the average rate

$0$5K$10K$15K$20KStartYear 5Year 10
Value
Year 10

Value: $20,000

Year-by-year breakdown

Smooth growth at the CAGR. Values rounded for display.
YearValueGain to date
1$10,718$718
2$11,487$1,487
3$12,311$2,311
4$13,195$3,195
5$14,142$4,142
6$15,157$5,157
7$16,245$6,245
8$17,411$7,411
9$18,661$8,661
10$20,000$10,000

How it works

Two numbers describe any lump-sum investment: how much it made overall, and the yearly pace it implies. The total return is simply (end − start) / start. The annualized return (CAGR) answers: what steady yearly rate would turn the start into the end?

CAGR = (end / start)1/years − 1

A worked example

$10,000 growing to $20,000 over 10 years is a +100% total return — a gain of $10,000 — equivalent to a steady 7.18% per year. Generated by the same engine as the live calculator above.

Limits

  • For lump sums only — deposits or withdrawals during the period distort the comparison.
  • CAGR smooths volatility; it doesn't show the ride.
  • Past or hypothetical numbers say nothing about future performance.
  • Not personalized financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is CAGR?

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is the steady yearly rate that would grow your starting value into your ending value. An investment that bounces +30% then −10% gets a single smoothed number — useful for comparing, but it hides the bumpiness you actually lived through.

Total return vs. annualized return — which matters?

Total return tells you how much you made overall; annualized return tells you the yearly pace, which is what lets you compare a 3-year investment against a 10-year one. A +100% total over 10 years (~7.18% a year) is a very different achievement than +100% in 2 years (~41.4% a year).

Can I use this for my portfolio?

Yes, for lump sums without deposits or withdrawals in between. If you added or removed money mid-way, a simple start-to-end comparison overstates or understates your true return — that needs a money-weighted calculation this tool doesn't do.

Is this financial advice?

No. This calculator describes numbers you enter; it predicts nothing and advises nothing. See the disclaimer.