Stock Return Calculator – Investment Gain and Return
Calculate total return, annualized return, and profit/loss on any stock investment.
📈 Finance📐 Annualized Return = (FV/PV)^(1/n) - 1
Buy price ($)
Sell price ($)
Shares
Years held
Please enter valid values.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Return Calculator – Investment Gain and Return | Annualized Return = (FV/PV)^(1/n) - 1 | % return |
Step-by-Step Examples
Example 1
100 shares $50 to $120, 5yr
100 shares, $50 to $120.
- Gain: $7,000 | ROI: 140% | Annualized: 19.1%
✓ $7,000 / 19.1% annualized
Example 2
$10K to $25,937, 10yr
10% annualized for 10yr.
- Gain: $15,937 | ROI: 159%
✓ $15,937 gain
Example 3
Losing Position
200 shares $30 to $18.
- Loss: -$2,400 | -40%
✓ $2,400 loss
Real-World Applications
Investors
Measure exact return on any stock.
Managers
Track position performance.
Advisors
Show clients investment performance.
Learners
Compare stock vs other investment returns.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
⚠️
Not including dividends
Total return includes price AND dividends. Dividend stocks often 1-2% higher than price-only return.
⚠️
Wrong benchmark
Compare to S&P 500 (~10%/yr). Beating it consistently is very difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
Annualized vs total? ▾
Total: total gain %. Annualized: average yearly gain accounting for compounding. Better for comparing different periods.
Good stock return? ▾
S&P 500 historical: ~10% nominal. Consistently above 10% annualized is excellent.
How to calculate annualized? ▾
(End/Start)^(1/Years) - 1. $10K to $20K in 7yr: (2)^(1/7) - 1 = 10.4% annualized.