A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) measures the rate of return for an investment — such as a mutual fund or bond — over an investment period, such as 5 or 10 years. The CAGR is also called a "smoothed" rate of return because it measures the growth of an investment as if it had grown at a steady rate on an annually compounded basis. To calculate CAGR, use the XIRR function.
Example
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Note: When you compare the CAGRs of different investments, make sure that each rate is calculated over the same investment period.