Your total return and the annualized rate that makes investments comparable.
A return on investment (ROI) calculator shows both your total return and the annualized rate that makes different investments comparable. Enter what you put in, what it's worth now, and how long you held it.
A 50% total return sounds great until you learn it took ten years, that's under 4% a year. Annualized return (CAGR) restates any gain as the smooth yearly rate that would produce it, which is the only honest way to compare a quick trade against a long-held investment. Always compare on the annualized figure, not the headline total.
A clean ROI number ignores three things that shrink real results: fees and trading costs, taxes on gains, and inflation eroding purchasing power. It also says nothing about risk, a volatile bet and a steady index fund with the same return are not equivalent. Treat ROI as the starting point, then adjust for costs and how much uncertainty you took on.
Total ROI is the overall percentage gain; annualized return (CAGR) is the smooth yearly rate that would produce the same result, the fair way to compare investments held for different periods.
ROI = (final value − amount invested) ÷ amount invested. This calculator also computes the annualized rate.
This estimate doesn't, real returns are lower after fees, trading costs, and taxes.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.