Total Return Calculator
See your complete return from both price gains and income like dividends — plus what it works out to per year.
What this calculator shows
It combines the change in price with any income you received to show your true total return, splits out how much came from each, and annualizes it. Everything is nominal and before tax — figures are based on the numbers you enter, not a forecast.
Inputs
Enter what you invested, what it's worth now, and any income received.
What you originally paid.
Its ending price value.
Dividends or interest.
Years held (for annualizing).
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- Total return
- 13.5%
- Price return
- 10%
- Income return
- 3.5%
- Annualized (CAGR)
- 13.5%
$1,350 total gain
$1,000 from price
$350 in income
Same as total over 1 year
- Price value
- Income
How your ending value breaks down into invested capital, price change, and income. The income segment is 3.5% of your invested amount — return that a price-only view would miss entirely.
- Total value
An illustration of steady growth at your annualized (CAGR) rate, ending at your total value. Real returns vary year to year.
Return breakdown
Exactly how your total return is built from price change and income.
| Component | Amount | % of invested |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment | $10,000 | 100% |
| Price gain | $1,000 | 10% |
| Income received | $350 | 3.5% |
| Total gain | $1,350 | 13.5% |
| Ending total value | $11,350 | — |
Your total return is 13.5%, of which 3.5% came from income a price-only view would miss — about 13.5% a year.
Income boosted your return
Dividends and income added 3.5% to your return — without them, the price change alone was 10%.
Your total return
A $10,000 investment ending at $11,000 plus $350 of income is a total gain of $1,350, or 13.5% — under these assumptions.
Per year (annualized)
Over a one-year holding period, total return and annualized return are the same. Increase the years to see how the annualized rate differs.
Total return vs. per-year
Total return counts income as well as price. Use the annualized rate (CAGR) to compare performance per year across investments held for different lengths of time.
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ROI Calculator
Work out your return on investment from what you put in and got back, and what it works out to per year.
Try the ROI CalculatorHow this calculator works
An educational, point-to-point measure of a known holding period — not a projection. It combines price change with income, then annualizes it.
What total return means
Total return is the full gain or loss from an investment — the change in price plus any income like dividends or interest.
Price return vs. total return
Price return counts only the change in price. Total return adds income, so it is usually higher for dividend-paying investments.
Why annualize it
A 30% total return over one year is very different from 30% over ten. The annualized (CAGR) rate makes different holding periods comparable.
Dividends are part of return
Over long periods, reinvested dividends can make up a large share of total return — which is why funds usually report on a total-return basis.
Reinvestment timing
This model counts income received over the period without modelling when it was reinvested. For a reinvestment projection, use the Dividend Reinvestment Calculator.
Nominal and before tax
Results ignore inflation and taxes. For return after rising prices, use the Inflation Calculator; taxes and fees would reduce your real result.
Related concepts
Keep exploring the ideas behind total return.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about total return, dividends, and how it compares to other measures.
What is total return and how is it calculated?
Total return is the complete gain or loss from an investment over a period, combining the change in price with any income received such as dividends or interest. It is calculated as (final value + income − initial investment) ÷ initial investment, expressed as a percentage. For example, $10,000 growing to $11,000 with $350 of dividends is a $1,350 total gain — a 13.5% total return.
How do I calculate total return step by step?
Three steps. First, subtract your initial investment from the ending value to get the price gain — $11,000 − $10,000 = $1,000. Second, add all income received over the period — $1,000 + $350 of dividends = $1,350. Third, divide that combined gain by the initial investment — $1,350 ÷ $10,000 = 13.5%. That figure is the total for the whole period; divide it across the years (as an annualized or CAGR rate) to compare holding periods of different lengths.
Does total return include dividends?
Yes. Including dividends and interest is exactly what separates total return from price return, which counts only the change in price. For income-paying investments, reinvested dividends can make up a large share of long-term total return.
What is the difference between total return and price return?
Price return counts only the change in price and ignores income. Total return adds dividends and interest, so it is usually higher for income-paying investments. This calculator shows both so you can see how much of your return came from income versus price.
Is total return the same as ROI?
They are closely related but not identical. ROI is profit relative to cost and is often quoted without separating income; total return specifically combines price change and income. This tool foregrounds the price-versus-income split, which a plain ROI figure hides.
Is total return annualized?
No. Total return is a total for the whole holding period, not a yearly rate. To express performance per year, use an annualized figure (CAGR). This calculator shows both the period total return and the annualized rate, which are equal when the holding period is one year.
Does this include inflation or taxes?
No. The figures here are nominal and before tax. To see what a return is worth after rising prices, calculate a real (inflation-adjusted) return with the Inflation Calculator. Dividends and gains can also be taxed, which would reduce your actual result.
This is one of several educational models on Rionux. See how we model these projections across all our tools.
Continue your journey
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- Total Return vs Price Return6 min readTotal return counts price change plus dividends reinvested; price return counts only price. How the two differ and when each is used.
- CAGR vs Average Annual Return: Why They Differ7 min readAveraging yearly returns overstates real growth because of volatility drag. CAGR is the compounded rate that matches your ending balance.
- ROI vs CAGR: What's the Difference?7 min readROI measures the total percentage gain; CAGR measures annualized growth. Why they differ, a worked example, and when each is the right lens.
- CAGR vs IRR (and XIRR): What's the Difference?8 min readCAGR assumes one lump sum growing at a smooth annual rate; IRR (and its spreadsheet form XIRR) accounts for money added and withdrawn at different times. A neutral, worked-example guide to which return measure fits which situation.
- How Compound Interest Works: A Beginner's Guide6 min readWhy time matters more than the return rate, and how to put consistent long-term investing to work in your favour — with scenarios you can run yourself.
- Why Inflation Matters5 min readWhy long-term investors judge returns after inflation, what that does to a plan built on nominal numbers, and how to think about staying ahead of it.
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Educational use only
Educational purposes only. Calculator results are estimates based on assumptions and user inputs. They are not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.