Calculate return on ETF, current price, purchase price, or dividends per share from any 3 inputs to solve the missing value using the ETF return formula.
Return on ETF Formula
The return on ETF calculation compares your price gain or loss plus dividends to the ETF purchase price.
- ROE = return on ETF, as a percentage
- CP = ETF current price, in dollars per share
- PP = ETF purchase price, in dollars per share
- D = dividends per share received, in dollars per share
Select Return on ETF to use the formula above, or select another value to solve the corresponding rearrangement. This simple holding-period calculation assumes cash distributions are not reinvested and the share basis stays fixed; it excludes trading fees and taxes.
- Calculate return on ETF: enter current price, purchase price, and dividends per share.
- Calculate current price: enter purchase price, dividends per share, and return on ETF.
- Calculate purchase price: enter current price, dividends per share, and return on ETF.
- Calculate dividends per share: enter current price, purchase price, and return on ETF.
ETF Return Result Guide
Use this table to interpret the percentage result. The meaning depends on the time period you are measuring.
| Return on ETF | What it means | Basic interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 0% | The ETF lost value after including dividends. | Negative total return |
| 0% | Current price plus dividends equals the purchase price. | Break-even |
| Above 0% through 10% | The ETF produced a positive return. | Positive holding-period gain |
| Above 10% | The holding-period return exceeds 10%. | Compare on the same period and risk basis |
Common ETF Return Inputs
| Input | Use this value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ETF current price | Current market price per share | Use the same per-share basis as the purchase price. |
| ETF purchase price | Original price paid per share | Use a consistent split-adjusted share basis. Purchases at different times require a fuller cash-flow return calculation. |
| Dividends per share | Total distributions received per share | Include dividends for the same holding period as the price change. |
| Return on ETF | Total return percentage | This is not annualized unless the holding period is exactly one year. |
Example Problems
Example 1: Calculate return on ETF
You bought an ETF for $80 per share. It is now worth $92 per share, and you received $3 per share in dividends.
The return on ETF is 18.75%.
Example 2: Calculate dividends per share
An ETF was purchased for $50 per share and is now worth $54 per share. The total return is 14%. Find the dividends per share.
The dividends per share are $3.00.
FAQ
Does ETF return include dividends?
This calculation includes dividends because dividends per share are added to the price gain or loss. If you enter zero for dividends, the result measures only price return.
Is this ETF return annualized?
No. The result is the total return over the period between the purchase price and the current price. To treat it as an annual return, the holding period would need to be exactly one year, or you would need a separate annualized return calculation.
Should you use price per share or total investment value?
Use price per share if you are also entering dividends per share. The formula works on a per-share basis. The same ratio can be computed from total values only when all amounts refer to a fixed, consistent share holding with no intervening purchases, sales or dividend reinvestment.
