Calculator

Stock Return Calculator

Calculate total stock return including price appreciation and dividends reinvested. Get CAGR, year-by-year growth table, and S&P 500 benchmark comparison.

📊

Stock Return Calculator

Calculate total return on any stock investment — price appreciation, dividends, CAGR, and benchmark comparison against major indices.

📋Investment Details

Leave at 0 if the stock pays no dividend

🎯Return Results

Total Invested
$5,000.00
Price Gain
+$3,500.00
Dividend Income (10y)
$1,200.00
Total Gain
+$4,700.00
Total Return
+94.00%
CAGR (with dividends)
6.85%
Price only: 5.45%
Final value with dividends: $9,700.00 from an initial $5,000.00 investment over 10 years

💡Understanding Stock Returns

📊 CAGR vs Total Return

Total return shows the overall gain/loss as a percentage. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) smooths this into an equivalent annual rate, making it easier to compare investments of different durations.

💵 Dividend Impact

Dividends can significantly boost total returns. A stock with 2% yield and 8% price growth delivers ~10% total return — matching the S&P 500 average. Don't overlook dividend income.

🏛️ Benchmarking

Always compare your stock's return to a relevant benchmark. If your stock returned 8% but the S&P 500 returned 10.5%, you underperformed — and might have been better off with an index fund.

🔄 Reinvesting Dividends

Reinvesting dividends (DRIP) compounds your returns over time. Studies show that over 40% of the S&P 500's total return since 1930 came from reinvested dividends.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Share this tool