Return on Investment (ROI): How to Calculate | The Motley Fool (2024)

Long-term investors know that it's important to keep a perspective on the fluctuations of the financial markets. Nevertheless, looking at monthly returns on investment can give you important information about whether you're doing better or worse than the overall market, and if you're systematically underperforming, you can take steps to adopt better investing strategies.

Return on Investment (ROI): How to Calculate | The Motley Fool (1)

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The calculation

The calculation of monthly returns on investment

In order to calculate your monthly return, you'll need to know three things. By looking at your monthly statement, you should be able to determine your starting portfolio balance, your ending portfolio balance, and any net deposits or withdrawals that affected your account balance during the month.

Once you have those figures, the calculation is simple. Take the ending balance and either add back net withdrawals or subtract out net deposits during the period. Then, divide the result by the starting balance at the beginning of the month. Subtract 1 and multiply by 100, and you'll have the percentage gain or loss that corresponds to your monthly return.

Return on Investment (ROI): How to Calculate | The Motley Fool (2)

Note that most of the time, monthly returns will be relatively small. That's because most people are used to seeing annual returns rather than monthly ones. If you want to know the corresponding annual return, then there are two things you can do. The simple but less accurate way is to multiply the monthly return by 12. The technically correct way is to add 1 to the monthly return, raise the result to the 12th power, and then subtract 1 back out. This will result in a slightly larger number than the simple method.

Return on Investment (ROI): How to Calculate | The Motley Fool (3)

The value of the monthly return

The value of the monthly return

Monthly returns can be useful to investors in assessing short-term performance and determining the characteristics of the portfolio that you've put together. For instance, if you have a stock portfolio, you can compare your monthly return to that of the Dow Jones Industrials or another stock market benchmark that matches up to your particular portfolio. If your returns are dramatically different, it can be evidence of whether you have a strategy that works well or poorly.

However, it's important not to put too much importance on any single monthly return. Concluding the success or failure of a strategy based on just one month can lead you to make erroneous decisions. If you note consistent underperformance for multiple months, then it can make sense to take a closer look.

Monthly returns are easy to calculate, and they can provide some interesting data to consider. Just don't let a month's performance distract you from the long-term nature of successful investing.

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Return on Investment (ROI): How to Calculate | The Motley Fool (2024)

FAQs

How does Motley Fool calculate returns? ›

The total return is calculated using a time-weighted rate-of-return formula. The returns of the individual stocks are calculated using a simple average, excluding dividends. Dividends are included for both the total portfolio return and the benchmark, the S&P 500 Total Return Index.

How do you calculate return on investment ROI? ›

ROI is calculated by subtracting the initial cost of the investment from its final value, then dividing this new number by the cost of the investment, and finally, multiplying it by 100.

Is 10% return on investment realistic? ›

Usually the implication is that they can expect, over a long time, a 10% return. Fortunately some ask, with some doubt, "Is a 10% return really reasonable?" It is not. While the average growth or return in the market (e.g., the S&P 500) is about 10%*, investors over time do not see that.

How to get a 10% return on investment? ›

Investments That Can Potentially Return 10% or More
  1. Stocks.
  2. Real Estate.
  3. Private Credit.
  4. Junk Bonds.
  5. Index Funds.
  6. Buying a Business.
  7. High-End Art or Other Collectables.
Sep 17, 2023

Is 7% return on investment realistic? ›

General ROI: A positive ROI is generally considered good, with a normal ROI of 5-7% often seen as a reasonable expectation. However, a strong general ROI is something greater than 10%. Return on Stocks: On average, a ROI of 7% after inflation is often considered good, based on the historical returns of the market.

How to calculate ROI monthly? ›

You may calculate the return on investment using the formula: ROI = Net Profit / Cost of the investment * 100 If you are an investor, the ROI shows you the profitability of your investments. If you invest your money in mutual funds, the return on investment shows you the gain from your mutual fund schemes.

What is the formula for average ROI? ›

To calculate the average rate of return, add together the rate of return for the years of your investment, and then, divide that total number by the number of years you added together. Add together the annual rate of returns. Divide the sum by the number of annual returns you added.

What is a good annualized ROI? ›

A good return on investment is generally considered to be around 7% per year, based on the average historic return of the S&P 500 index, adjusted for inflation.

What is the formula for ROI on investment properties? ›

Although it may sound complicated, most ROI calculations are actually very simple. In general, the ROI of an investment is equal to the gain minus the cost, divided by the cost. But some calculations may vary depending on the type of investment being considered.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

What is the ROI of the S&P 500? ›

Basic Info. S&P 500 1 Year Return is at 20.78%, compared to 27.86% last month and 0.91% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 6.75%. The S&P 500 1 Year Return is the investment return received for a 1 year period, excluding dividends, when holding the S&P 500 index.

What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›

These seven low-risk but potentially high-return investment options can get the job done:
  • Money market funds.
  • Dividend stocks.
  • Bank certificates of deposit.
  • Annuities.
  • Bond funds.
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • 60/40 mix of stocks and bonds.
May 13, 2024

How to invest $100,000 for quick return? ›

If you want to put $100,000 into a short-term investment, here are six options worth considering:
  1. High-Yield Savings Account. ...
  2. Money Market Funds. ...
  3. Cash Management Accounts. ...
  4. Short-Term Corporate Bonds. ...
  5. No-Penalty Certificates of Deposits (CD) ...
  6. Short-term U.S. Government Bonds.
Mar 7, 2024

What is the best return on investment right now? ›

11 best investments right now
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs)
  • Bonds.
  • Money market funds.
  • Mutual funds.
  • Index Funds.
  • Exchange-traded funds.
  • Stocks.
May 15, 2024

What is the average return from a financial advisor? ›

Estimates on the return on investment from having a financial advisor vary. In a 2019 whitepaper, Vanguard assessed an “Advisor's Alpha,” or the value that a financial advisor adds to a client's portfolio, to be about a 3% net return per year, depending on a client's circ*mstances and investments.

How is total return calculated? ›

To calculate the investment's total return, the investor divides the total investment gains (105 shares x $22 per share = $2,310 current value - $2,000 initial value = $310 total gains) by the initial value of the investment ($2,000) and multiplies by 100 to convert the answer to a percentage ($310 / $2,000 x 100 = ...

How are stock returns determined? ›

You subtract the original price of a stock from the current price of a stock and divide the sum by the original price. For example, if you buy a share of XYZ Successful Company on Jan. 1, 2022, for $100 and sell it for $120 on Dec. 31, 2022, then the CGY for that investment is 20%.

How do I calculate my portfolio return? ›

To do this, take the amount you invested in that asset and divide it by the total amount invested in the portfolio. Repeat this formula for each asset type to get each investment weight. For each asset type, multiply the number of returns by the portfolio weight.

What does 1 year return mean? ›

An annual rate of return is the profit or loss on an investment over a one-year period. There are many ways of calculating the annual rate of return. If the rate of return is calculated on a monthly basis, multiplying it by 12 expresses an annual rate of return.

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