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.
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Return on ETF Formula
The return on ETF calculation compares your price gain or loss plus dividends to the ETF purchase price.
ROE = ((CP - PP + D) / PP) * 100
- 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
If you leave the return blank, the calculator uses the formula above. If you leave one of the other values blank, it rearranges the same formula.
CP = (ROE / 100) * PP + PP - D
PP = (CP + D) / (1 + ROE / 100)
D = (ROE / 100) * PP + PP - CP
- 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% | Price change plus dividends exactly equals the purchase price basis. | Break-even |
| 0% to 10% | The ETF produced a positive return. | Moderate gain |
| Above 10% | The ETF gained significantly over the measured period. | Strong gain, depending on time held |
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 | If you bought at multiple prices, use your average cost per share. |
| 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.
ROE = ((92 - 80 + 3) / 80) * 100
ROE = (15 / 80) * 100 = 18.75%
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.
D = (14 / 100) * 50 + 50 - 54
D = 7 + 50 - 54 = 3
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. You can also use total values, but then current value, purchase value, and dividends must all be total amounts for the same number of shares.
