XL: How to Compute the Average Growth Rate of an Investment

The "average growth rate" is a calculation used by financial investors to determine the best investment over time given present value, future value, and number of periods per year of an investment. This calculation can also be referred to as an "annualized yield rate" or "average rate of return." Note that an annualized rate is always consistent in that it results in percent-per-year figures.

Microsoft Excel does not include an average growth rate function. However, you can use the following formula for this calculation where FV is future value, PV is present value, n is the number of investment periods, and m is the periods per year factor.

To calculate the AGR result in Microsoft Excel by using the formula shown in the "Summary" section of this article, follow these steps:

1. Open a new workbook in Excel.
2. Type the following column titles in the worksheet:

      A1: FV  B1: PV  C1: N  D1: M  E1: AGR
   					

3. Type the following formula in cell E2:
   =((A2/B2)^(1/C2))^D2-1
4. For the following examples, drag cell E2 to fill the "AGR" column to at least E3.

Example 1

Assume an investment where FV=$120,000, PV=$10,000, n=120 periods, and m=12 periods/year. Type these values in the worksheet as follows: The formula in cell E2 calculates = .282089 (an AGR of 28.21% per year).

Example 2

Assume an investment where FV=$120,000, PV=$10,000, n=8 periods, and m=1 period/year. Type these values in the worksheet as follows: The formula in cell E3 calculates = .364262 (an AGR of 36.43% per year).

Handbook of Fixed Income Securities, Richard D. Irwin Inc., 1991, pages 79-80.