How to calculate YTD Profit / Loss

[df21084]

Okay ... I must be a dolt, because I am having trouble calculating a YTD profit on mutual fund CREEX.

Here's what I did:

According to Yahoo, the adjusted NAV on 12/21/05 = $24.57, and the adjusted NAV on 1/3/05 = $25.71.

So:

(($24.57 - $25.71) / $25.71) * 100 = -4.43%

But, smartmoney.com and morningstar.com state that YTD return is +7.25%, as of 12/21/05.

http://www.smartmoney.com/fundsnapshots/index.cfm?symbol=CREEX

http://quicktake.morningstar.com/Fund/Snapshot.asp?Country=USA&pgid=hetopquote&Symbol=creex

So ... why is my calculation wrong? Are the Yahoo! historical prices really adjusted for dividends and capital gains as stated?

Thanks. And Merry Christmas to everyone on the $$$Mr. Market$$$ web site.

[billyjoe]

df21,
If the NAV numbers are correct so are your calculations , but I think you are missing some information. Good luck!

billyjoe

[df21084]

Thanks billyjoe

Thanks billyjoe.

I'm using the historical prices from Yahoo!. CREEX isn't the only fund that I can't reconcile.

I wonder if Yahoo's historical prices are correct? Or ... what exactly does YTD mean? I assume it represents 1/1 through the previous day's closing price.

The fact that Morningstar and Smartmoney both show the same percentage of increase points to incorrect pricing on Yahoo. But, maybe Morningstar & Smartmoney get their data from the same source.

Hmmmm. I feel a little less doltish now.

[buckhunter]

Divs & Cap Gains are messing you up

DF - From what I have seen, the mutual fund share prices are NOT adjusted accordingly for cap gains & dividends. I've got a few funds that would be at annual highs right now were it not for a distribution last week. If I haven't made any contributions or withdrawls to a fund, it's easy to calculate the YTD return. I just use your formula and the beginning (1/1/05) and ending (12/21/05) FUND balance (not NAV). It always matches up with what I see on the financial sites as YTD returns.

[mimo_100]

Okay ... I must be a dolt, because I am having trouble calculating a YTD profit on mutual fund CREEX.

Here's what I did:

According to Yahoo, the adjusted NAV on 12/21/05 = $24.57, and the adjusted NAV on 1/3/05 = $25.71.

So:

(($24.57 - $25.71) / $25.71) * 100 = -4.43%

But, smartmoney.com and morningstar.com state that YTD return is +7.25%, as of 12/21/05.

http://www.smartmoney.com/fundsnapshots/index.cfm?symbol=CREEX

http://quicktake.morningstar.com/Fund/Snapshot.asp?Country=USA&pgid=hetopquote&Symbol=creex

So ... why is my calculation wrong? Are the Yahoo! historical prices really adjusted for dividends and capital gains as stated?

Thanks. And Merry Christmas to everyone on the $$$Mr. Market$$$ web site.

Hello df21084,



Merry Christmas and a happy and holy New Year to you.



The best way to do this is to calculate the return in dollars (or euros, etc)

since there probably were distributions during the year.



If you had one hundred shares on 1/3/05 @ $25.71 the value of your holdings was $2571.00 (LOL). The adjusted NAV on 12/21/05 = $24.57,however because of distributions, you now have 112.82 shares @ $24.57 = $2,771.99.



If you do the division, you will have an adjusted YTD return of 7.25%



Did your number of shares increase by 12.82% during this period? If so,

your YTD return was 7.25%



Tim

[df21084]

Thanks everyone

I normally do calculate my return based on dollars, as that's all that really matters at the end of the day.

I just thought Yahoo's historical prices would reflect the same thing. Now I realize that their prices appear to reflect dividends, but not capital gains.

It's good to know that the Smartmoney and Morningstar snapshots are accurate, at least as far as YTD return is concerned. I don't like Yahoo's snapshot because YTD return isn't reflected through the current date.

And it's also good to know that I can always count on an answer from the $$$Mr. Market$$$ community.

So ...thanks again. And I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperous new year.