Rate of Return (ROI) Calculator
Understanding Rate of Return (ROI)
The Rate of Return (ROI) is a performance metric used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments. ROI tries to directly measure the amount of return on a particular investment, in relation to the investment's cost.
To calculate ROI, you need to know the initial cost of the investment, the final value of the investment, and any additional income or costs associated with it during the holding period.
The Formula
The standard formula for calculating the Rate of Return is:
ROI = [(Current Value – Initial Investment – Additional Investments) + Revenue Generated] / (Initial Investment + Additional Investments) * 100%
Where:
- Initial Investment: The original amount of money you put into the investment.
- Current Value: The present market value of the investment, or the price you sold it for.
- Additional Investments: Any further money you invested into the asset after the initial purchase (e.g., for improvements, upgrades, etc.). These are treated as costs.
- Revenue Generated: Any income produced by the investment during the time you held it (e.g., dividends, interest payments, rental income).
How to Interpret the Result
The result is expressed as a percentage. A positive ROI indicates that the investment has generated profit, while a negative ROI signifies a loss.
- Positive ROI: Your investment has made money.
- Negative ROI: Your investment has lost money.
- 0% ROI: Your investment has broken even.
Example Calculation
Let's say you bought stocks for an initial investment of $10,000. Over two years, you invested an additional $500 for fees and received $1,000 in dividends. At the end of the two years, you sold the stocks for $15,000.
- Initial Investment: $10,000
- Current Value (Sale Price): $15,000
- Additional Investments (Costs): $500
- Revenue Generated: $1,000
Using the formula:
ROI = [($15,000 – $10,000 – $500) + $1,000] / ($10,000 + $500) * 100%
ROI = [($4,500) + $1,000] / $10,500 * 100%
ROI = $5,500 / $10,500 * 100%
ROI ≈ 52.38%
This means your investment yielded approximately a 52.38% return.