Calculate A Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
Calculate A Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
Calculate A Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
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A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) measures the rate of return for an investment — such as a mutual fund or bond — over an investment period, such as 5 or
10 years. The CAGR is also called a "smoothed" rate of return because it measures the growth of an investment as if it had grown at a steady rate on an annually
compounded basis. To calculate a CAGR, use the XIRR function.
If the XIRR function is not available and returns the #NAME? error, install and load the Analysis ToolPak add-in.
How?
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to
Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
A B
1 Values Dates
2 -10,000 January 1, 2008
3 2,750 March 1, 2008
4 4,250 October 30, 2008
5 3,250 February 15, 2009
6 2,750 April 1, 2009
Formula Description (Result)
=XIRR(A2:A6,B2:B6) The compound annual growth rate (0.373362535 or 37.34%)
Notes
z When you compare the CAGRs of different investments, make sure that each rate is calculated over the same investment period.
z To view the number as a percentage, select the cell and then click Cells on the Format menu. Click the Number tab, and then click Percentage in the
Category box.
Function details
XIRR
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP011225061033.aspx?mode=print Sep/13/06