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Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)

a fundamental metric in finance and investing, used to quantify and compare the growth rates of various investments over time.

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Updated over a year ago

On platforms like Dividend Data, you can find Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for various financial metrics of stocks. This helps you make informed investment decisions.

Definition:

CAGR is a measure used to describe the geometric progression ratio that provides a constant rate of return over a time period. It represents one of the most accurate ways to calculate and determine returns for anything that can rise or fall in value over time.

Calculating CAGR

The formula to calculate CAGR is:

Where:

  • V Final is the final value of the investment.

  • V Begin is the initial value of the investment.

  • t is the number of years.

Importance of CAGR in Financial Analysis

  1. Growth Over Time: Provides a smoothed annual rate of growth, avoiding the volatility of year-over-year growth calculations.

  2. Comparative Tool: Enables comparison of the growth rates of different investments over different time periods.

  3. Investment Decision Making: Helps investors understand long-term growth trends, which is crucial in making informed investment choices.

CAGR vs. Average Annual Growth Rate

  • Unlike average annual growth rates, CAGR does not treat each year’s growth as independent and instead assumes compounding over the period.

Analyzing CAGR

  1. Long-Term Performance: CAGR is most effective for analyzing and comparing the performance of investments over longer periods.

  2. Investment Comparisons: Useful for comparing the growth rates of different assets, portfolios, or market indices.

  3. Limitations: CAGR does not account for investment risk and can oversimplify growth by assuming a smooth trajectory.

Factors Affecting CAGR

  1. Market Conditions: Economic and market fluctuations can significantly impact the CAGR of investments.

  2. Business Performance: For company stocks, CAGR is influenced by the company’s operational and financial performance.

  3. Time Horizon: The selected time period can greatly affect the computed CAGR.

CAGR in Business and Investment Context

Businesses use CAGR to evaluate and project growth over multiple periods, whereas investors use it to gauge the performance of stocks, funds, or other investments over time.

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