Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator
Investment Performance
Understanding Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI) is a fundamental financial metric used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment. Whether you are analyzing a stock purchase, a real estate deal, or a marketing campaign, the ROI calculator helps you determine how much money you made (or lost) relative to the amount you invested.
The ROI Calculation Formula
The math behind ROI is straightforward. It compares the net gain of an investment to its initial cost. The formula used by this calculator is:
How to Use the ROI Calculator
- Initial Investment: Enter the total amount of capital spent. This should include the purchase price plus any additional costs like commissions, fees, or maintenance.
- Current/Final Value: Enter the current market value of the investment or the total amount received after selling it.
- Calculate: The tool will instantly provide your Net Profit, the ROI as a percentage, and the Investment Multiple.
Example Scenarios
To better understand how ROI works in the real world, consider these three examples:
- Stock Market: You buy $2,000 worth of shares. A year later, you sell them for $2,600. Your Net Profit is $600, resulting in a 30% ROI.
- Business Marketing: A company spends $5,000 on an ad campaign that generates $15,000 in new sales revenue. The ROI on that specific spend is 200%.
- Real Estate: You purchase a property for $200,000 and spend $50,000 on renovations (Total Cost: $250,000). You sell it for $325,000. Your Net Profit is $75,000, which is a 30% ROI.
Limitations of Basic ROI
While ROI is an excellent quick-glance metric, it does have limitations. It does not account for the time factor (holding an investment for 1 year vs. 10 years) or inflation. For long-term investments, many professionals also look at Annualized ROI or Internal Rate of Return (IRR) to get a more accurate picture of performance over time.