compound growth rate


Compound growth rate

See: Compound Annual Growth Rate

Compound Annual Return

The average year-on-year growth rate of an investment over a number of years. While investments usually do not grow at a constant rate, the compound annual return smoothes out returns by assuming constant growth. This makes accounting for the investment tidier. It is calculated as:

Compound annual return = (Ending Value / Beginning Value)^((1 / n) - 1) where n is the length of time of the investment in years. It is also called the compound annual growth rate. See also: Average Annual Growth Rate.

compound growth rate

The percentage rate, generally stated on an annual basis, at which a variable grows adjusted for compounding. For example, a 7% compound growth rate for ten years results in $100 growing to slightly less than $200. Without compounding, the $100 would earn $7 per year and grow to only $170. Financial analysts frequently use historical and projected compound growth rates in analyzing earnings, sales, and dividends.