A start value and an end value

CAGR describes the constant annual growth rate that connects two values. It works for an investment with no intermediate deposits or withdrawals. The annualized percentage differs from the total percentage change because it accounts for elapsed time. This calculator uses actual elapsed days divided by 365.

CAGR = (ending value / starting value)^(365 / elapsed days) − 1

Hypothetical example: 1,000 becomes 1,210 over 730 days. The total change is 21%, while CAGR is 10%. A zero ending value gives a complete loss, or −100%; a zero starting value cannot define this ratio.

Dated contributions and receipts

XIRR uses signed cash flows and their dates. Money you put into the investment is negative. Money you receive is positive. If you still hold the investment at the end, enter its supplied valuation as a final positive cash flow. Without that final value, the calculation describes only the cash receipts you entered.

Sum of cash flow / (1 + rate)^(elapsed days / 365) = 0

A −1,000 contribution on January 1, 2025 followed by a 1,100 receipt on January 1, 2026 gives 10% XIRR. Adding another contribution changes both the invested amount and its exposure time; subtracting total contributions from ending value cannot capture that timing.

When one rate would be misleading

Our XIRR model aggregates entries on the same date and supports one negative-to-positive sign change. Cash flows that reverse sign several times can have more than one solution, so the tool rejects that pattern. A valid series without a solution inside the supported rate range shows an undefined rate. Neither method estimates future returns, taxes or an automatic final market price.