Portfolio Return Calculator
Calculate your portfolio's overall weighted return from individual holdings. Enter each position's allocation weight and return to see how each one contributes to your total performance.
Enter each holding's weight and return, then click Calculate to see your weighted portfolio return and individual contributions.
For educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Read full disclaimer
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Weighted Return Formula
Portfolio Return = Σ(Weight_i × Return_i) / 100
Contribution_i = Weight_i × Return_i / 100
Total Weight = Σ Weight_i (should equal 100%)
Weights are entered as percentages (e.g. 40 for 40%). Returns can be positive or negative.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Classic 3-asset portfolio
You hold tech stocks at 50% weight (returned 18%), bonds at 30% weight (returned 3%), and cash equivalents at 20% weight (returned 0.5%).
- Tech contribution = 50 × 18 / 100 = 9.00%
- Bonds contribution = 30 × 3 / 100 = 0.90%
- Cash contribution = 20 × 0.5 / 100 = 0.10%
- Portfolio Return = 9.00 + 0.90 + 0.10 = 10.00%
Example 2: Portfolio with a losing position
Growth stocks at 60% (returned 25%), energy sector at 25% (returned −8%), and REITs at 15% (returned 6%).
- Growth contribution = 60 × 25 / 100 = 15.00%
- Energy contribution = 25 × −8 / 100 = −2.00%
- REIT contribution = 15 × 6 / 100 = 0.90%
- Portfolio Return = 15.00 − 2.00 + 0.90 = 13.90%
How to Use This Calculator
- Name each holding (optional) — label positions like "Tech Stocks" or "Bonds" for clarity in your results.
- Enter the weight for each holding — the percentage of your portfolio allocated to it (weights should sum to 100%).
- Enter the return for each holding — the percentage gain or loss that position produced (negative values are fine).
- Add or remove rows — use the + button to add holdings and the × button to remove them.
- Click Calculate — see your overall weighted return, each position's contribution, and a natural language summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a weighted portfolio return?
- A weighted return accounts for how much of your portfolio each holding represents. A position making 50% gains contributes very little if it only makes up 5% of your portfolio. Weighting gives you the true picture of overall performance.
- What if my weights don't sum to 100%?
- The calculator will warn you if weights don't sum to 100%, but will still compute a result. If weights sum to less than 100%, it means some of your portfolio is unaccounted for. If they exceed 100%, your result will be overstated. Adjust weights until they sum to exactly 100% for an accurate result.
- Can I include short positions?
- Yes — enter a negative return for any position that lost money, and a negative weight for short positions (since they profit in opposite direction). The weighted math handles both long and short correctly.
- How is this different from a simple average return?
- A simple average treats every holding equally regardless of size. If you have 10% in bonds returning 2% and 90% in stocks returning 20%, a simple average gives 11% — but your weighted return is 18.2%. Weighted returns reflect the actual impact of each holding.
- Should I use this for time-weighted or money-weighted returns?
- This calculator computes a simple weighted return based on allocation percentages — best used for a single period snapshot. For calculating returns over time with cash flows (deposits/withdrawals), you'd use a money-weighted (IRR) or time-weighted approach instead.