Calculating Returns on Investment?
On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: India Money Advice
- Understanding Return on Investment (ROI):
- ROI represents the gain or loss from an investment, usually as a percentage.
- Components:
- Income: Interest or dividends.
- Appreciation/Depreciation: Change in the investment’s value.
Methods to Calculate ROI
1. Absolute Return (Point-to-Point Return):
- Formula: ( \text{Absolute Return} = \frac{\text{(Selling Price - Cost Price)}}{\text{Cost Price}} \times 100 )
- Example: Invested20,000 Grows to42,000:
( \text{Absolute Return} = \frac{(42,000 - 20,000)}{20,000} \times 100 = 110\% ) - Limitation: Doesn't consider the time period.
2. Simple Annualized Return:
- Formula: ( \text{Annualized Return} = \frac{\text{Absolute Return}}{\text{Time (years)}} )
- Example:1,00,000 grows to1,24,000 in 3 years:
- Absolute Return = ( 24\% ).
- Annualized Return = ( 24\% / 3 = 8\% ).
3. Average Annual Return (AAR):
- Formula:
( \text{AAR} = \frac{\text{Sum of Periodic Returns}}{\text{Number of Periods}} ) - Example: Returns: 20%, 25%, 22%, -10%.
( \text{AAR} = \frac{(20 + 25 + 22 - 10)}{4} = 14.25\% ). - Limitation: Doesn’t account for volatility or compounding.
4. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR):
- Formula:
( \text{CAGR} = \left( \frac{\text{Ending Value}}{\text{Beginning Value}} \right)^{\frac{1}{\text{Time}}} - 1 ) - Example:10,000 grows to15,000 in 2 years:
( \text{CAGR} = \left( \frac{15,000}{10,000} \right)^{1/2} - 1 = 22.47\% ). - Advantage: Smooths out returns for fluctuating investments.
- Limitation: Doesn’t account for interim volatility.
Advanced Metrics for ROI
5. Rolling Returns:
- Evaluates performance over consistent time frames within a given period.
- Example: NAV of two funds rises differently; rolling returns identify consistent performance beyond absolute/CAGR metrics.
6. Relative Returns:
- Compares investment returns to a benchmark.
- Formula:
( \text{Relative Return} = \text{Fund Return} - \text{Benchmark Return} ) - Example: Stock returns 20%; benchmark returns 15.58% Relative Return = +4.42%.
7. Peer Returns:
- Compares an investment with peers in the same sector or asset class.
- Example: SBI stock grows 7%, while HDFC grows 9%. Peer analysis highlights underperformance.
Calculating Returns for Multiple Investments
8. Internal Rate of Return (IRR):
- Used when equal cash flows occur at fixed intervals.
- Formula:
Use Excel:=IRR(values). - Example: Invest3,000,6,000,5,000,4,000, and6,500 over 5 years, receive36,000 IRR = 14%.
9. Extended Internal Rate of Return (XIRR):
- Handles uneven or irregular cash flows.
- Formula:
Use Excel:=XIRR(values, dates). - Example: Invest50,000; earn dividends at irregular intervals and sell at51,000 XIRR = 4.89%.
Key Points for Smart Investments
- Match Metrics to Goals: Use CAGR for comparison, rolling returns for consistency, and relative/peer returns for benchmarking.
- Consider Time and Risk: Longer investment periods and diversified assets improve outcomes.
- Utilize Tools: Excel functions like IRR and XIRR simplify calculations for complex cash flows.
- Evaluate Performance Regularly: Continuously review and adjust your portfolio to stay aligned with financial goals.
Be a data-driven investor—calculate returns wisely for informed decisions!
