Stock Return & CAGR Calculator
Turn any 'it went from X to Y' into the two numbers that matter: total return and the annualized rate (CAGR) you can compare across investments.
CAGR, compound annual growth rate, is (end ÷ begin)^(1/years) − 1: the single steady annual rate that would turn the starting value into the ending value over the period. It's the honest way to compare investments held for different lengths of time, because a 50% gain means something entirely different over 18 months than over 12 years.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include dividends?
For a true total-return CAGR, yes, use the ending value with dividends reinvested (most brokers show this as 'total return value'). Price-only CAGR understates dividend payers badly: the S&P 500's price CAGR is ~7% but its total-return CAGR is ~10%.
What's the difference between CAGR and average annual return?
The arithmetic average of yearly returns overstates real growth because losses hurt more than equal gains help, down 50% then up 50% averages 0% but leaves you down 25%. CAGR is the geometric rate that reflects what actually compounded.
Can CAGR handle partial years?
Yes, enter fractional years (2.5 for 30 months). Annualizing very short periods produces silly numbers though: a stock up 10% in one month 'annualizes' to 214%, which no one should extrapolate.
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Calculators model hypothetical outcomes from the inputs you provide. They are informational only, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.