Stock Return & ROI Calculator
Enter what you paid, what it is worth now, any dividends received, and any fees paid to see your total and annualized return.
Model a holding
What you originally paid, from $0.01 through $1 trillion.
Current or sale value, up to $1 trillion.
Decimals allowed, such as 2.5, from 0 through 100 years.
Total cash dividends received. Use 0 if none.
Your investment gained $5,450.00 in value over 5 years after $50.00 in fees.
- Annualized return
- 9.0902%
- Price return
- 50.00%
- Dividend return
- 4.50%
- Total return amount
- $5,450.00
How stock return is calculated
Total return combines the change in price with any cash dividends received, minus any fees paid, measured against the initial investment. Annualized return converts that total return into an equivalent constant yearly rate — commonly called a CAGR-style return — so holdings of different lengths can be compared on equal footing. Price return and dividend return are shown separately so you can see how much of the result came from capital appreciation versus income.
Total return % = ((Ending value + Dividends − Fees − Initial) / Initial) × 100Annualized return % = ((Ending value + Dividends − Fees) / Initial)1/Years − 1, × 100- Initial
- Initial investment
- Ending value
- Current or sale value
- Dividends
- Cash dividends received
- Fees
- Commissions and other costs
- Years
- Holding period, can be fractional
$10,000 invested, $15,000 ending value, over 5 years
Suppose you invested $10,000, it is now worth $15,000, and you received $500 in dividends while paying $50 in fees, over a 5-year holding period. The total return amount is $5,450, a 54.50% total return. Price return alone is 50.00%, and dividend return (dividends minus fees, relative to the initial investment) is 4.50%. The annualized return works out to 9.0902%.
This is an educational calculation based only on the values you provide. It does not look up live prices, and it is not investment advice.
What this calculator assumes
- Dividends are treated as a lump sum received in cash, not reinvested or compounded further — unless you manually add them into the ending value.
- Fees are a flat, one-time dollar drag on the result, not a recurring annual expense ratio.
- No tax treatment, such as capital gains tax, is modeled.
- No live price data is used — every figure comes from the values you enter.
- Money values are rounded to the nearest cent for display.
Stock return FAQ
Can I enter the period in months, days, or exact dates?
Yes. Use the unit switch on the Holding period field to type the period in years, months, or days — or pick start and end dates from the calendar. Every option is converted to an exact year count (365.25 days per year) before the math runs, so all four give the same answer.
What’s the difference between total return and annualized return?
Total return is the overall percentage gain or loss across the whole holding period. Annualized return converts that figure into an equivalent constant yearly rate, which makes it easier to compare holdings with different time horizons.
Does this include dividend reinvestment?
No. Dividends you enter are treated as cash received, not reinvested into more shares. If your broker automatically reinvested dividends, include the value of those additional shares in your ending value instead of the dividends field.
Why does my broker show a different return?
Brokers may use different methods, such as time-weighted or money-weighted returns, and may include or exclude fees, taxes, and reinvested dividends differently. This calculator uses only the values you enter and a straightforward total and annualized return formula.
Sources and review notes
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor.gov — Total Return glossary
- GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca, Ontario Securities Commission — investing education
Methodology last checked Jul 14, 2026. Formula implementation is covered by deterministic unit tests. No financial professional review is claimed yet.