Convert your trading performance over any period into a standardized annualized return (CAGR) for easy comparison.
CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is the rate at which an investment would have grown if it grew at a steady rate annually. It's the standard way to compare trading performance across different time periods.
Formula: CAGR = (End Balance ÷ Start Balance)^(1 ÷ Years) − 1
For example: $10,000 growing to $14,500 in 6 months is a 45% total return — but annualized it represents approximately 110% CAGR, since the growth rate would compound over a full year.
The S&P 500 averages ~10% annually. Consistently achieving 20–30% annually puts you in the top tier of active traders. Anything above 50% annual is exceptional and typically involves significant risk.
Annualized return allows fair comparison between strategies with different time periods. A 50% return in 3 months is far better than a 50% return in 3 years — CAGR shows this difference clearly.