Comparing a period with the same period a year earlier removes seasonal effects – December sales are compared with last December, not November. It is the standard way companies report growth.
How to use the Year over Year Growth Calculator
- Same period last year
- This period
- Same period several years ago
- Years ago
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the value for the same period last year and this year, and optionally a value from several years ago.
Tips
- Use the nominal annual rate and pick the compounding frequency your bank or broker states.
- Small differences in return or fees compound into large differences over decades.
- Run the calculation with a cautious, a central and an optimistic return to see the range of outcomes.
- Past returns do not guarantee future returns – nothing here is investment advice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing an APR with an APY or effective rate.
- Ignoring inflation, taxes and fees when judging a real return.
- Entering a percentage as a decimal (5 instead of 0.05 is correct here).
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Same period last year | Amount in your currency |
| This period | Amount in your currency |
| Same period several years ago | Amount in your currency |
| Years ago | A number |
What each result means
- Year over year growth = ([This period] – [Same period last year])÷[Same period last year]×100
- Absolute change = [This period] – [Same period last year]
- Compound annual growth rate since then = (([This period]÷[Same period several years ago])^(1÷[Years ago]) – 1)×100
Example values
How the main result changes when Same period last year changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Same period last year | Year over year growth (%) |
|---|---|
| 225,000 | 131.11 |
| 337,500 | 54.07 |
| 450,000 | 15.56 |
| 562,500 | -7.56 |
| 675,000 | -22.96 |
| 900,000 | -42.22 |
Formula
YoY growth = (this period − same period last year) ÷ same period last year × 100CAGR over n years = (latest ÷ earliest)^(1 ÷ n) − 1Worked example
Inputs — Same period last year: $450,000; This period: $520,000; Same period several years ago: $300,000; Years ago: 4.
Results — Year over year growth = 15.56 %; Absolute change = $70,000.00; Compound annual growth rate since then = 14.74 %.
Frequently asked questions
What is YoY growth?
The percentage change compared with the same period a year earlier.
Why use YoY instead of month over month?
It removes seasonality.
What is a good YoY growth rate?
It depends on the business – mature companies grow single digits, startups much faster.
What formula does the Year over Year Growth Calculator use?
YoY growth = (this period − same period last year) ÷ same period last year × 100.