How to Find Percentage Return on Investment

April 24, 2025 3 min read

Understanding your investments is key to financial success. A crucial metric for evaluating investment performance is the percentage return on investment (ROI). This article explains how to find the percentage return on investment and make informed decisions about where to allocate your resources.

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What is Percentage Return on Investment (ROI)?

The percentage return on investment, often simply called ROI, is a ratio that compares the gain or loss from an investment relative to its cost. It's expressed as a percentage, making it easy to understand and compare different investment opportunities.

Calculating Percentage Return on Investment

The basic formula for calculating ROI is:

ROI = (Net Profit / Cost of Investment) * 100

Where:

  • Net Profit is the total return from the investment minus the initial cost.
  • Cost of Investment is the initial amount you invested.

Step-by-Step Example

Let's say you invested $5,000 in a stock. After one year, you sold the stock for $6,000.

  1. Calculate Net Profit: $6,000 (final value) - $5,000 (initial investment) = $1,000
  2. Apply the Formula: ROI = ($1,000 / $5,000) * 100 = 20%
  3. Interpretation: Your investment yielded a 20% return.

Considering the Investment Period

ROI doesn't inherently account for the time period of the investment. To compare investments with different durations, you might want to calculate the annualized ROI.

Annualized ROI

If your investment spans multiple years, calculating the annualized ROI provides a more accurate comparison. The formula is:

Annualized ROI = [(1 + ROI)^(1 / Number of Years) - 1] * 100

For instance, if an investment has an ROI of 50% over 5 years, the annualized ROI is approximately 8.45%.

Using Our Percentage Calculator

Calculating percentage returns can be straightforward. However, our percentage calculator can simplify the process. You can easily determine the ROI by:

  • Quickly calculating the net profit.
  • Finding the percentage that the net profit represents of the initial investment.
  • Determining percentage increase or decrease to find ROI efficiently.

Factors to Consider Beyond the Basic Formula

  • Include All Costs: Be sure to include all costs associated with the investment, including transaction fees, taxes, and maintenance expenses.
  • Compare with Alternatives: A good ROI is relative. Compare your ROI to other potential investments to ensure you're making the best decision.

Conclusion

Knowing how to find the percentage return on investment is essential for evaluating and comparing investment opportunities. Use our percentage calculator to quickly solve for ROI and make smart financial decisions.