How to calculate geometric average return in Microsoft Excel

In Microsoft Excel, the geometric average return is a statistical measure used to calculate the average rate of return over a series of values that have compounding effects. It is commonly used in finance and investment analysis to assess the performance of an investment portfolio over a specific period.

In this tutorial, we will learn how to calculate geometric average returns in Microsoft Excel. In Excel calculating geometric average return is a crucial task that is extensively utilized. For this purpose, we can utilize the GEOMEAN function and also the generic formula of geometric average return.

Method 1: Calculating the Geometric Average Return from the Generic Formulae

The generic formula for Geometric Average Return is:

                              ((1+R1)*(1+R2)*(1+R3)…)^(1/n)

  • “n” is the number of periods.
  • “R1, R2, R3” are the return rates.

Step 1 – Utilize the Formulae

  • Choose a blank cell to calculate the geometric average return.
  • Enter the formula and input the parameters.

Step 2 – Press the Enter Key to Return the Value

  • Press the Enter key to calculate the geometric average return.

Method 2: Utilizing the GEOMEAN Function

The GEOMEAN function in Excel is a pre-built function that returns the geometric mean. We can utilize the GEOMEAN function to calculate the geometric average return.

Step 1 – Organize the Return Rates for Each Period

  • Organize the return rates for each period in a column.

Step 2 – Utilize the GEOMEAN Function

  • Enter the GEOMEAN function in a cell.
  • Input the range of cells containing the return rates for each period.
  • Hit the Enter key.