Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) Calculator
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Understanding Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is a crucial metric for investors and businesses alike. It represents the average annual rate of return of an investment over a specified period of time, assuming that profits were reinvested at the end of each year. Unlike simple average returns, CAGR takes into account the effect of compounding, providing a smoothed-out growth rate that is more reflective of an investment's true performance over time.
CAGR is particularly useful because it:
- Smooths out volatility: It ignores the volatility of the investment year-to-year and instead provides a steady, representative growth rate.
- Allows for comparison: It enables investors to compare the performance of different investments with varying holding periods on an equal footing.
- Simplifies complex growth: It distills a multi-year growth trajectory into a single, understandable annual percentage.
How to Calculate CAGR
The formula for CAGR is as follows:
CAGR = ( (Ending Value / Beginning Value) ^ (1 / Number of Years) ) – 1
In this formula:
- Ending Value: The value of the investment at the end of the period.
- Beginning Value: The value of the investment at the beginning of the period.
- Number of Years: The total number of years over which the investment grew.
The result is then typically multiplied by 100 to express it as a percentage.
Example Calculation
Let's say you invested $10,000 in a stock five years ago, and its current value is $25,000. To calculate the CAGR:
- Beginning Value = $10,000
- Ending Value = $25,000
- Number of Years = 5
Using the formula:
CAGR = ( ($25,000 / $10,000) ^ (1 / 5) ) – 1
CAGR = ( 2.5 ^ 0.2 ) – 1
CAGR = 1.2011 – 1
CAGR = 0.2011
To express this as a percentage, we multiply by 100:
CAGR = 0.2011 * 100 = 20.11%
This means that your investment grew at an average annual rate of 20.11% over the five-year period, taking compounding into account.
Use the calculator above to easily determine the CAGR for your own investments.