# ROI vs. CAGR: Which Metric is Better?
When evaluating an investment, ROI (Return on Investment) tells you the total percentage gain or loss from start to finish. However, it ignores the element of time. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is superior for long-term analysis because it "annualizes" your returns, allowing you to compare a 5-year stock investment against a 1-year crypto trade or a savings account on equal terms.# How to Use the Profitability Calculator
To get accurate results, enter your initial capital and the current value (or final sale price) of your asset. Select the duration of the investment in days, months, or years. Our tool automatically calculates the absolute profit, the total ROI, and the geometric mean of your annual growth (CAGR).Total ROI
Measure of absolute return.
- Ignores duration
- Simple calculation
- Best for quick trades
- Shows total gain/loss
Annualized CAGR
Measure of annual performance.
- Includes time factor
- Standardizes results
- Allows comparisons
- Shows geometric growth