Finance
Measure investment gain or loss relative to the initial amount invested — ending value plus cash income, compared with what you put in.
Results update as you type. No calculate button. All calculations run locally in your browser.
—
—
| Amount |
|---|
Gain is what you end up with, minus what you put in. Cash income counts only if you actually received it.
Bars are scaled to the larger of the two amounts. A gain bar longer than the initial bar means a positive ROI.
| If the final value were | ROI |
|---|
Cash income is held at the value above; only the final value changes across rows.
ROI = (ending value + cash income − initial investment) ÷ initial investment × 100%. Gain = ending value + cash income − initial investment.
Initial value $10,000, final value $12,500, cash income $500: gain = $12,500 + $500 − $10,000 = $3,000, and ROI = $3,000 ÷ $10,000 × 100% = 30.00%.
ROI does not account for how long capital was invested, so it cannot fairly compare investments held for different periods — use an annualized return for that. Taxes, fees, and inflation are not included unless they are already reflected in the values you enter.
ROI = (ending value + cash income − initial investment) ÷ initial investment × 100%. It answers one question: for each dollar invested, how much came back above the original stake?
A negative ROI means ending value plus cash income is less than the initial investment — you got back less than you put in. The size of the loss is the gain figure shown as a negative amount.
Only if they were held for the same length of time. A 30% return over one year beats 30% over five years. For different holding periods, compare annualized returns instead.
Yes, if you received it — dividends, interest, or rent paid out during the holding period are part of the return. Do not double-count income that is already reflected in the final value.
No, unless the values you enter already reflect them. Brokerage fees, taxes on gains, and inflation all reduce the real return.
Not necessarily. ROI says nothing about risk, volatility, or how long the money was tied up. A high ROI on a risky, illiquid investment is not directly comparable to a lower ROI on a safe one.
Results are estimates only and do not constitute professional advice.