VerCalc
Finance
Investment Return Calculator

Investment Return Calculator

Analyze the performance of your investments. Calculate Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), simulate dividend reinvestments, and project future wealth accumulation with precision.

Investment Details

$
$
%

Earnings are added to principal (Compound Growth)

Final Portfolio Value
$113,669
Total Return: 62.38%
CAGR: 4.97%
Doubles every ~9.0 years
Total Invested
$70,000
Total Profit
+$43,669
1

Understanding Investment Returns

Investing is about putting your money to work so it can grow over time. Understanding your returns is crucial for evaluating strategy performance. **Key Metrics Calculated:** 1. **Total Return:** The absolute percentage growth of your portfolio, accounting for capital gains and dividends. 2. **CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate):** The mean annual growth rate of an investment over a specified time period longer than one year. It smooths out the volatility of periodic returns. 3. **Dividend Reinvestment:** Strategies where earnings or dividends are used to buy more shares, accelerating compound growth.

2

Calculation Methodology

CAGR Formula

CAGR = (Ending Value / Beginning Value)^(1 / Number of Years) - 1

Compounding

Returns are assumed to compound annually unless otherwise specified.

Investment Return Calculator

Analyze the performance of your investments. Calculate Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), simulate dividend reinvestments, and project future wealth accumulation with precision.

US Tax Tables (2025 vs 2026): quick reference for investing

Many investment projections are shown “pre-tax.” If you’re investing in the US, these tables help you understand how annual tax parameters can shift. For more detailed planning, use our Income Tax Calculator and US tax calculators.

Standard deduction (2025 vs 2026)

Filing status20252026
Single$15,000$16,100
Married Filing Jointly$30,000$32,200
Head of Household$22,500$24,150
Married Filing Separately$15,000$16,100

Ordinary income bracket tops (quick snapshot)

YearStatus10% top12% top22% top24% top32% top35% top37% starts
2025Single$11,925$48,475$103,350$197,300$250,525$626,350$626,351+
2026Single$12,400$50,400$105,700$201,775$256,225$640,600$640,601+
2025MFJ$23,850$96,950$206,700$394,600$501,050$751,600$751,601+
2026MFJ$24,800$100,800$211,400$403,550$512,450$768,700$768,701+
2025HOH$17,000$64,850$103,350$197,300$250,500$626,350$626,351+
2026HOH$17,700$67,450$105,700$201,775$256,200$640,600$640,601+

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1

    Enter Initial Investment

    Input the starting amount of your investment.

  2. 2

    Add Contributions

    Specify any regular monthly or annual contributions you make to the portfolio.

  3. 3

    Set Rate & Duration

    Input the expected annual return rate and the time horizon in years.

  4. 4

    Analyze Results

    Review the Total Return, CAGR, and end balance to understand your investment's efficiency.

Investment Return Questions

Q:What is a good CAGR?

A "good" CAGR depends on your risk tolerance and asset class. The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% annually (before inflation). Safe bonds might return 3-5%, while high-growth stocks could exceed 15-20% but with higher risk.

Q:What is the difference between Simple Return and CAGR?

Simple return just looks at total profit / total investment. CAGR accounts for the time value of money, telling you what constant annual rate would get you from your starting value to your ending value over that specific time period.

Q:Does this calculator account for inflation?

This standard calculator uses nominal returns. To estimate "real" returns, you should subtract the expected inflation rate from your annual return input.