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Total return measures the overall gain or loss as a percentage of the initial investment, including capital appreciation and dividends.
Total Return % = ((Final Value − Initial Value) ÷ Initial Value) × 100CAGR smooths returns over multiple years into a single annualized rate, accounting for compounding.
CAGR = (Final Value ÷ Initial Value)^(1/years) − 1The Investment Return Calculator applies industry-standard financial equations used by lenders, accountants, and planners. All intermediate values are computed with floating-point precision and rounded only for display.
Result = f(principal, rate, period, …)Updated: July 2026
An investor evaluates performance of a diversified portfolio that grew from $10,000 to $18,000.
→ Total return: 80%, CAGR: ~12.5%
Comparing 10-year CAGR of an equity index fund (9.2%) vs a bond fund (4.1%) on the same $25,000 investment.
→ Equity: ~$59,700, Bond: ~$37,400
A homebuyer runs the Investment Return Calculator with two interest rates side by side to compare total interest paid over 30 years before choosing a lender.
An 80% total return over 5 years is 12.5% CAGR, not 16% per year. CAGR accounts for compounding and provides a fair annual comparison.
Total return should include all distributions. A stock that rises 5% but pays 3% dividends has an 8% total return, not 5%.
Use our free Investment Return Calculator for fast, accurate results in your browser. No signup or installation required — works on any device.