CAGR Calculator
Calculate Compound Annual Growth Rate. See smooth yearly returns of any investment.
Investment Values
Year-by-Year Growth
| Year | Value | Growth | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,011 | +$2,011 | +$2,011 |
| Year 2 | $14,427 | +$2,416 | +$4,427 |
| Year 3 | $17,329 | +$2,902 | +$7,329 |
| Year 4 | $20,814 | +$3,485 | +$10,814 |
| Year 5 | $25,000 | +$4,186 | +$15,000 |
Benchmark Comparison
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Why CAGR is the Gold Standard
CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) shows you the smooth, consistent annual return that would take your investment from start to end value. Unlike simple average returns, CAGR accounts for the compounding effect—where your gains earn more gains.
Fund managers and analysts exclusively use CAGR because it reveals the true growth story. An investment that goes +100% then -50% has 0% average return, but CAGR correctly shows you ended where you started.
The CAGR Formula
CAGR = (End Value / Start Value)^(1/n) - 1n = number of years
Example: $10,000 grows to $25,000 in 5 years:
CAGR = (25000/10000)^(1/5) - 1 = (2.5)^0.2 - 1 = 20.11%
Your investment grew at a steady 20.11% per year on average.
CAGR vs Average Return: The Critical Difference
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Avg Return | CAGR | Final Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatile Stock | +100% | -50% | 25% | 0% | $10,000 🔴 |
| Steady Fund | +10% | +10% | 10% | 10% | $12,100 ✅ |
The "25% average return" stock ended with $0 gain. CAGR correctly shows 0% growth!
Historical CAGR Benchmarks
| Investment | Period | CAGR | $10K becomes | Doubling Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 1970-2024 | ~10.5% | $25K/10yr | 6.9 years |
| Nifty 50 (India) | 2000-2024 | ~12% | $31K/10yr | 6 years |
| Gold | 1970-2024 | ~7.8% | $21K/10yr | 9.2 years |
| Real Estate | Average | ~4.5% | $15K/10yr | 16 years |
| Savings Account | Typical | ~3% | $13K/10yr | 24 years |
Key Concepts
Rule of 72
Doubling time = 72 ÷ CAGR. At 10% CAGR, money doubles in 7.2 years. At 15% CAGR, just 4.8 years.
Power of Time
At 10% CAGR: 2x in 7 years, 4x in 14 years, 8x in 21 years. Start early—time is your biggest asset.
CAGR vs XIRR
CAGR is for lump-sum investments. Use XIRR for SIPs/regular investments that have multiple cash flows.
Beat Inflation
Inflation is ~3-4%. Any CAGR above this creates real wealth. Below equals losing purchasing power.
Calculator Features
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAGR and why is it important?
CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is the smoothed annual rate of return that takes you from initial to final investment value. It's important because: (1) It accounts for compounding—profits reinvested earn more profits. (2) It smooths volatility—ignores wild swings in between. (3) It enables fair comparison—compare different investments over different periods. (4) It shows the 'real' return—what constant rate would achieve the same result. Unlike simple average, CAGR captures the actual wealth-building effect.
How is CAGR calculated?
Formula: CAGR = (End Value / Start Value)^(1/n) - 1. Where n = number of years. Example: $10,000 grows to $25,000 in 5 years. CAGR = (25000/10000)^(1/5) - 1 = (2.5)^0.2 - 1 = 1.2011 - 1 = 20.11%. This means the investment grew at a steady 20.11% per year. If you reinvested at exactly 20.11% each year, you'd reach the same $25,000.
What is the difference between CAGR and average return?
Critical difference with an example: Year 1: +100% (10K → 20K). Year 2: -50% (20K → 10K). Simple Average: (100 + -50) / 2 = 25% average return. CAGR: (10K/10K)^(1/2) - 1 = 0%. Reality: You have exactly $10,000—no gain! CAGR correctly shows 0% growth. Average return of 25% is completely misleading. Always use CAGR for multi-year investment performance.
What is a good CAGR for investments?
Historical benchmarks: S&P 500: ~10-11% CAGR (1970-2024). NASDAQ: ~11-12% CAGR (1990-2024). Nifty 50: ~12% CAGR (2000-2024). Gold: ~7-8% CAGR. Real Estate: ~4-5% CAGR. Inflation: ~3-4% (your hurdle rate). A 'good' CAGR depends on risk: Low risk (bonds): 4-6% is good. Moderate (index funds): 8-12% is good. High risk (growth stocks): 15%+ expected. Any CAGR beating inflation (4%) is real wealth creation.
How do I use CAGR to compare investments?
CAGR normalizes different time periods for fair comparison. Example: Stock A: $10K → $30K in 10 years = 11.6% CAGR. Stock B: $10K → $20K in 5 years = 14.9% CAGR. Stock B is actually performing better despite lower total gain. Compare against: (1) Risk-free rate (treasuries 5%). (2) Inflation (4%). (3) Relevant index (S&P, Sector ETF). (4) Your target CAGR (based on goals). A stock with 8% CAGR might be great for low-risk, but poor for high-risk.
What is the Rule of 72 and how does it relate to CAGR?
Rule of 72 estimates doubling time: Years to Double = 72 ÷ CAGR. Examples: 6% CAGR: 72 ÷ 6 = 12 years to double. 10% CAGR: 72 ÷ 10 = 7.2 years. 12% CAGR: 72 ÷ 12 = 6 years. 15% CAGR: 72 ÷ 15 = 4.8 years. Why it matters: At 10% CAGR, your money doubles in ~7 years, quadruples in ~14, 8x in ~21 years. Starting early is crucial—time is your biggest asset.
Can CAGR be negative?
Yes, CAGR is negative when investment loses value. Example: $100,000 drops to $60,000 over 5 years. CAGR = (60000/100000)^(1/5) - 1 = -9.7%. This means the investment lost about 9.7% per year on average. Negative CAGR is common during: Bear markets (2008 financial crisis). Sector collapses (tech bubble 2000). Poor company performance. Always analyze why CAGR is negative before making decisions.
How to calculate future value using CAGR?
Reverse the formula: Future Value = Start Value × (1 + CAGR)^years. Example: $50,000 at 12% CAGR for 10 years. FV = 50000 × (1.12)^10 = $155,292. Year-by-year: Year 5: $88,117. Year 15: $273,729. Year 20: $482,315. This helps set realistic goals. To reach $1 million from $50K at 12% CAGR takes about 27 years.
What is the difference between CAGR and XIRR?
CAGR: Simple—one lump sum investment. Assumes no intermediate cash flows. Good for: Single stocks, lump-sum mutual fund, property appreciation. XIRR: Handles multiple cash flows at irregular dates. Accounts for timing of each investment. Use for: SIP investments (monthly), dividend reinvestment, real estate with rental income. For SIP investments, always use XIRR. CAGR ignores that later investments had less time to grow.
How to calculate years needed to reach a target value?
Reverse the CAGR formula: Years = ln(End/Start) ÷ ln(1 + CAGR). Example: Grow $50,000 to $1,000,000 at 10% CAGR. Years = ln(1000000/50000) ÷ ln(1.10) = ln(20) ÷ ln(1.10) = 2.996 ÷ 0.0953 = 31.4 years. Reality check: At 10% CAGR, growing $50K to $1M takes 31 years. At 15% CAGR, only 21 years. At 20% CAGR, just 16 years. This shows the power of higher returns (with higher risk).