What is holding period return?
Holding period return (HPR) measures the total return earned on an investment over the entire time it was held, combining both price appreciation (or depreciation) and any income such as dividends or interest.
The formula
HPR = (Ending Value + Income Received – Beginning Value) / Beginning Value, expressed as a percentage. This gives you a single figure representing your total return for the whole holding period, regardless of how long that period was.
This calculator is for general educational purposes. Because HPR is not annualized, comparing HPR across investments held for different lengths of time can be misleading without adjusting for time.
Last reviewed August 2026