Rate of Return (2024)

The gain or loss of an investment over a certain period

Written byCFI Team

What is a Rate of Return?

A Rate of Return (ROR) is the gain or loss of an investment over a certain period of time. In other words, the rate of return is the gain (or loss) compared to the cost of an initial investment, typically expressed in the form of a percentage. When the ROR is positive, it is considered a gain, and when the ROR is negative, it reflects a loss on the investment.

Video Explanation of Rate of Return

Watch this short video to quickly understand the main concepts covered in this guide, including the definition of rate of return, the formula for calculating ROR and annualized ROR, and example calculations.

Formula for Rate of Return

The standard formula for calculating ROR is as follows:

Rate of Return (1)

Keep in mind that any gains made during the holding period of the investment should be included in the formula. For example, if a share costs $10 and its current price is $15 with a dividend of $1 paid during the period, the dividend should be included in the ROR formula. It would be calculated as follows:

(($15 + $1 – $10) / $10) x 100 = 60%

Example Rate of Return Calculation

Adam is a retail investor and decides to purchase 10 shares of Company A at a per-unit price of $20. Adam holds onto shares of Company A for two years. In that time frame, Company A paid yearly dividends of $1 per share. After holding them for two years, Adam decides to sell all 10 shares of Company A at an ex-dividend price of $25. Adam would like to determine the rate of return during the two years he owned the shares.

To determine the rate of return, first, calculate the amount of dividends he received over the two-year period:

10 shares x ($1 annual dividend x 2) = $20 in dividends from 10 shares

Next, calculate how much he sold the shares for:

10 shares x $25 = $250 (Gain from selling 10 shares)

Lastly, determine how much it cost Adam to purchase 10 shares of Company A:

10 shares x $20 = $200 (Cost of purchasing 10 shares)

Plug all the numbers into the rate of return formula:

= (($250 + $20 – $200) / $200) x 100 = 35%

Therefore, Adam realized a 35% return on his shares over the two-year period.

Annualized Rate of Return

Note that the regular rate of return describes the gain or loss, expressed in a percentage, of an investment over an arbitrary time period. The annualized ROR, also known as the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), is the return of an investment over each year.

Formula for Annualized ROR

The formula for annualized ROR is as follows:

Rate of Return (2)

Similar to the simple rate of return, any gains made during the holding period of this investment should be included in the formula.

Example of Annualized Rate of Return

Let us revisit the example above and determine the annualized ROR. Recall that Adam purchased 10 shares at a per-unit price of $20, received $1 in dividends per share each year, and sold the shares at a price of $25 after two years. The annualized ROR would be as follows:

(($250 + $20) / $200 )1/2 – 1 = 16.1895%

Therefore, Adam made an annualized return of 16.1895% on his investment.

Alternative Measures of Return

Return can mean different things to different people, and it’s important to know the context of the situation to understand what they mean. In addition to the above methods for measuring returns, there are several other types of formulas.

Common alternative measures of returns include:

More Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Rate of Return and How to Calculate ROR. To continue advancing your career, these additional resources will be useful:

Rate of Return (2024)

FAQs

How do you know if a rate of return is good? ›

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market. However, keep in mind that this is an average. Some years will deliver lower returns -- perhaps even negative returns. Other years will generate significantly higher returns.

How do I calculate my rate of return? ›

You can calculate the rate of return on your investment by comparing the difference between its current value and its initial value, and then dividing the result by its initial value.

Is 7% a good rate of return? ›

General ROI: A positive ROI is generally considered good, with a normal ROI of 5-7% often seen as a reasonable expectation. However, a strong general ROI is something greater than 10%. Return on Stocks: On average, a ROI of 7% after inflation is often considered good, based on the historical returns of the market.

Is 20% a good rate of return? ›

There is no set percentage. Some agencies might be satisfied with a 5-percent ROI, while others might be on the lookout for a higher number like 20 percent for it to be considered good ROI.

What is a fair rate of return? ›

Fair rate of return. The rate of return that state governments allow a public utility to earn on its investments and expenditures. Utilities then use these profits to pay investors and provide service upgrades to their customers.

What is an example of a rate of return? ›

For example, if an investment is worth $70 at the end of the year and was purchased for $60 at the beginning of the year, the annual rate of return would be 16.66%.

What is an example of expected rate of return? ›

12 For example, if an investment has a 50% chance of gaining 20% and a 50% chance of losing 10%, the expected return would be 5% = (50% x 20% + 50% x -10% = 5%). The expected return is usually based on historical data and is therefore not guaranteed into the future; however, it does often set reasonable expectations.

What is the exact real rate of return? ›

To calculate the real rate of return after tax, divide 1 plus the after-tax return by 1 plus the inflation rate, then subtract 1.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

What is a good simple return rate? ›

A good return on investment is generally considered to be about 7% per year, which is also the average annual return of the S&P 500, adjusting for inflation.

What has the best return rate? ›

The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns, however, come with higher risk. Stock prices typically are more volatile than bond prices.

What is normal average rate of return? ›

The average rate of return (ARR) is the average annual return (profit) from an investment. The ARR is calculated by dividing the average annual profit by the cost of investment and multiplying by 100 percent. The higher the value of the average rate of return, the greater the return on the investment.

Is a higher or lower rate of return better? ›

Long-term investments — ideal for retirement and building wealth — offer higher returns but you'll need to deal with their ups and downs, while short-term investments — best for immediate needs like an emergency fund or a down payment for a house — are typically safer with a lower average rate of return.

Is a 25% return good? ›

Overall, a 25% yearly return on investment is a strong performance, but it's important to evaluate the investment's risks and historical performance before making any investment decisions.

What is a good return rate on a product? ›

According to studies, a quarter of all consumers return between 5% and 15% of all the items they buy online. If your return rate is higher than this, it could be a sign you need to make some significant changes to your quality management processes.

Is higher or lower average rate of return better? ›

Interpreting the average rate of return

The higher the value, the better it is; the higher the value of the average rate of return, the greater the return on the investment.

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