Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator

FinanceLast updated: August 17, 2026

ROI (return on investment) expresses the amount an investment has earned as a percentage of what it cost; it is the simplest way to measure how an investment has performed overall. CAGR (compound annual growth rate) converts that same return into an average annual compound rate, which makes investments held for different lengths of time comparable.

Enter the starting value and the ending (current or sale) value of the investment and the calculator returns the net gain and the total ROI percentage; add the holding period and it also computes the annual compound return (CAGR) and charts how the investment grows year by year. It works for any kind of investment — stocks, funds, gold, real estate, or your own business.

₺
The amount you put into the investment (its cost).
₺
What the investment is worth today, or what you sold it for.
years
Enter it to get the annual compound return (CAGR); it can be left blank.

Benchmarks for Interpreting Your Return

An ROI or a CAGR is not "good" or "bad" on its own; it only becomes meaningful once you compare it with the inflation rate and the risk-free return of the same period. The benchmarks below are reference points you can use when interpreting your result.

Real return threshold
Annual inflation
If your nominal CAGR falls short of the annual inflation of the same period, your purchasing power has shrunk even if you gained in nominal terms
Real return formula
(1+CAGR)/(1+Inflation) − 1
The shortcut of subtracting inflation from the CAGR overstates the real return in periods of high inflation
Risk-free alternative
Net deposit return
For a risky investment to be worth taking, it is expected to beat at least the net return of a term deposit after withholding tax
Doubling time
72 / CAGR
The rule of 72: at a 24% annual compound return an investment doubles in about 3 years, and at 12% in about 6 years
Taxes and transaction costs
Not included
ROI and CAGR show the gross return; withholding tax, commissions, the bid-ask spread, and fund management fees are not deducted. For the net figure, subtract them from the ending value before calculating

These benchmarks are not fixed rates; every result should be compared with the inflation and interest levels of the investment's own periodKaynak: TurkStat consumer price index and Central Bank of Turkey deposit rate statisticsGüncel enflasyon verileri →

Formula

Net Gain = Ending Value − Starting Value
ROI (%) = Net Gain / Starting Value × 100
CAGR (%) = [ (Ending / Starting)^(1 / Years) − 1 ] × 100

A common mistake is to divide the ROI by the number of years and treat the result as the annual return. Because growth compounds, the correct annual rate comes from the CAGR: a total return of 60% over 3 years corresponds to 16.96% per year, not 20%.

How to Calculate

  1. Enter the starting amount you put into the investment.
  2. Enter the current or sale value of the investment.
  3. Add the holding period in years if you want to see the annual compound return (CAGR).
  4. Read the net gain, the total ROI percentage, and — when a period is given — the CAGR and the growth chart.

Worked Examples

A 60% return over 3 years

If an investment of 50,000 ₺ grows to 80,000 ₺ in 3 years, the net gain is 30,000 ₺ and the total ROI is +60%. Spreading the 80,000 / 50,000 ratio over 3 years gives the annual compound equivalent, a CAGR of +16.96%.

Net gain: 30,000.00 ₺ · Total return (ROI): +60.00% · Annual compound return (CAGR): +16.96%

An investment that lost money

If an investment of 10,000 ₺ falls to 9,000 ₺, the net loss is 1,000 ₺ and the ROI is −10%. A negative ROI means the investment has dropped below its starting value.

Net gain: -1,000.00 ₺ · Total return (ROI): −10.00%

An investment that tripled in 5 years

Going from 20,000 ₺ to 60,000 ₺ in 5 years means a net gain of 40,000 ₺ and a total ROI of +200%; spreading the 60,000 / 20,000 ratio over 5 years as compound growth gives a CAGR of +24.57%.

Net gain: 40,000.00 ₺ · Total return (ROI): +200.00% · Annual compound return (CAGR): +24.57%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ROI and CAGR?
ROI reports the total return earned across the whole holding period and ignores how long that took. CAGR converts the same return into an average annual compound rate; an investment that gains 50% in 2 years and one that gains 50% in 10 years have the same ROI but very different CAGRs. Always use CAGR when comparing investments held for different lengths of time.
What counts as a good ROI?
There is no single threshold; a return has to be compared with the alternatives available over the same period (deposit rates, inflation, index returns). An annual return that stays above inflation and above the risk-free rate delivers a real gain; one that falls below them is a nominal gain that is really a loss of purchasing power.
Are interim income streams such as dividends and rent included?
This calculator compares only the starting and ending values. To include interim cash flows such as dividends, rent, or interest, you can add them to the ending value; a precise measure that also accounts for the timing of those flows requires the internal rate of return (IRR).
What does a negative ROI mean?
The current value of the investment has fallen below its original cost, and the difference is the net loss. An ROI of −10%, for example, means you lost 10 ₺ for every 100 ₺ you invested. The lowest possible ROI is −100% (a total loss of the money).
Does the ROI calculation account for inflation?
No, the results are nominal. For a real return you have to compare your annual return (CAGR) with the inflation of the same period; roughly, real return ≈ (1 + CAGR) / (1 + inflation) − 1. An inflation calculator helps with that adjustment.
Is CAGR meaningful for investments held less than a year?
It can be computed mathematically (enter 0.5 for half a year, for instance), but annualizing a short-term return can be misleading; an exceptional gain over a few months may not be sustainable for a full year. Over short horizons it is usually more honest to report the total ROI.