Total value of new assets bought during the period.
Total value of assets sold during the period.
Net asset value at the start of the period (usually 1 year).
Net asset value at the end of the period.
0.00%
Minimum of Buys/Sells:$0.00
Average Portfolio Value:$0.00
Avg. Holding Period:0 years
Implied Strategy:–
function calculateTurnover() {
// 1. Get input values
var purchasesInput = document.getElementById('totalPurchases');
var salesInput = document.getElementById('totalSales');
var startValueInput = document.getElementById('startValue');
var endValueInput = document.getElementById('endValue');
var purchases = parseFloat(purchasesInput.value);
var sales = parseFloat(salesInput.value);
var startVal = parseFloat(startValueInput.value);
var endVal = parseFloat(endValueInput.value);
// 2. Validate inputs
if (isNaN(purchases) || isNaN(sales) || isNaN(startVal) || isNaN(endVal)) {
alert("Please enter valid numeric values for all fields.");
return;
}
if (startVal < 0 || endVal < 0 || purchases < 0 || sales 0) {
turnoverRatio = minFlow / averageValue;
}
var turnoverPercentage = turnoverRatio * 100;
// Calculate Average Holding Period (Inverse of turnover)
// If turnover is 100% (1.0), holding period is 1 year.
// If turnover is 20% (0.2), holding period is 5 years.
var holdingPeriodText = "N/A";
if (turnoverRatio > 0) {
var years = 1 / turnoverRatio;
holdingPeriodText = years.toFixed(1) + " years";
} else {
holdingPeriodText = "Indefinite";
}
// Determine Strategy Type
var strategyType = "";
if (turnoverPercentage < 20) {
strategyType = "Low (Buy and Hold)";
} else if (turnoverPercentage < 60) {
strategyType = "Moderate";
} else {
strategyType = "High (Active Trading)";
}
// 4. Update UI
document.getElementById('displayRate').innerHTML = turnoverPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% Turnover";
document.getElementById('displayMinFlow').innerHTML = "$" + minFlow.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('displayAvgValue').innerHTML = "$" + averageValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('displayHoldingPeriod').innerHTML = holdingPeriodText;
document.getElementById('displayStrategy').innerHTML = strategyType;
document.getElementById('resultContainer').style.display = "block";
}
Understanding Portfolio Turnover Rate
The Portfolio Turnover Rate is a critical metric for investors evaluating mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). It measures the frequency with which assets within a fund are bought and sold by the fund managers over a specific period, typically one year.
A high turnover rate implies an active investment strategy, where the manager is constantly attempting to time the market or pick winners. Conversely, a low turnover rate suggests a "buy and hold" passive strategy, often associated with index funds.
The Portfolio Turnover Formula
To calculate the turnover rate, you need the total dollar amount of new securities purchased, the total amount of securities sold, and the average net asset value (NAV) of the fund.
Formula: Turnover Rate = Lesser of (Total Purchases, Total Sales) ÷ Average Portfolio Value
The "Lesser of" rule ensures that the turnover rate reflects the replacement of the portfolio rather than just cash inflows or outflows. For example, if a fund sells $1M in stock but only buys $0 (holding cash), the turnover is calculated based on the $0 purchase to reflect that the portfolio hasn't been "turned over" or replaced, it has simply been liquidated.
Detailed Calculation Example
Let's look at a realistic portfolio turnover rate calculation example to understand how the numbers work in practice:
Beginning Portfolio Value: $10,000,000
Ending Portfolio Value: $12,000,000
Total Purchases: $5,000,000
Total Sales: $4,000,000
Step 1: Calculate Average Portfolio Value
($10,000,000 + $12,000,000) ÷ 2 = $11,000,000
Step 2: Determine the Lesser Flow
Compare Purchases ($5M) and Sales ($4M). The lesser amount is $4,000,000.
Step 3: Calculate the Ratio
$4,000,000 ÷ $11,000,000 = 0.3636
Result: This portfolio has a turnover rate of 36.36%. This means roughly one-third of the portfolio's holdings changed during the year.
Why Portfolio Turnover Matters
Turnover rate is not just a statistical curiosity; it has real-world impacts on your investment returns:
Transaction Costs: Every time a fund manager buys or sells a stock, the fund incurs brokerage commissions and bid-ask spread costs. These hidden costs reduce the fund's net return.
Taxes: In taxable accounts, high turnover often leads to higher capital gains distributions. Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income rates, which are typically higher than long-term capital gains rates.
Strategy Alignment: If you are looking for a passive index fund, you should expect a turnover rate under 5-10%. If you see a rate of 80%, the fund is likely engaging in active management.