Find the portion of an investment return that came from price appreciation.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Capital Gains Yield Calculator?
Find the portion of an investment return that came from price appreciation. To use the Capital Gains Yield Calculator, enter beginning price, ending price, dividends per share; it returns capital gains yield, dividend yield, total return, and shows them instantly as you type.
Where the Capital Gains Yield Calculator fits
Find the portion of an investment return that came from price appreciation. The main figure it returns is the Capital gains yield, worked out from the values you enter.
It belongs with the other investment tools. If you are comparing options or checking a result from another angle, try the Interest Rate Calculator, Payback Period Calculator or the CAGR Calculator (Compound Annual Growth Rate).
How to use the Capital Gains Yield Calculator
- Enter your numbers. Start with Beginning price ($), Ending price ($), Dividends per share ($). Use a rate of return you consider realistic; small changes compound into large differences. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Capital gains yield, and the cards below show Dividend yield, Total return. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Capital Gains Yield Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Beginning price ($) | 80 |
|---|---|
| Ending price ($) | 92 |
| Dividends per share ($) | 2.4 |
Results
| Capital gains yield | 15% |
|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3% |
| Total return | 18% |
With these inputs the calculator returns Capital gains yield: 15%. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What if you change one input?
Sensitivity check: raising Beginning price ($) from 80 to 96 (about 20% higher) and leaving everything else as in the example above changes the results like this:
| Result | Example | After the change | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital gains yield | 15% | -4.17% | -127.8% |
| Dividend yield | 3% | 2.5% | -16.7% |
| Total return | 18% | -1.67% | -109.3% |
The input that moves the result most is the one to check twice. Change it in the calculator above to test your own case.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Capital Gains Yield Calculator reports Capital gains yield, dividend yield and total return. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Investment returns are not guaranteed. The result shows what the numbers you enter would produce, not what the market will do. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from dividend yield?
Capital gains yield reflects price change only; dividend yield reflects income.
What rate of return should I assume?
There is no guaranteed rate. Test a range of conservative and optimistic rates, and remember that fees and inflation reduce your real return.
Are investment returns guaranteed?
No. Real returns vary. Use these tools to compare scenarios, not to predict results.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
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