Growth Rate Formula

Growth Rate Formula (Table of Contents)

• Formula
• Examples
• Calculator

What is the Growth Rate Formula?

The term “growth rate” refers to the rate of increase or change in the value of any metric over a certain period of time. Some of the common usages of growth rate include revenue growth, dividend growth, profit growth, etc. where the change in value is usually assessed for a year, quarter, etc. The formula for growth rate can be calculated by deducting the initial value of the metric under consideration from its final value and then divide the result by the initial value. Mathematically, the growth rate is represented as,

Examples of Growth Rate Formula (With Excel Template)

Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of Growth Rate in a better manner.

Growth Rate Formula – Example #1

Let us take the example of a stock investment that was purchased exactly one year back for $1,500. According to the market, the investment is currently trading at $1,800. Calculate the growth of the rate based on the given information.

Solution:

Growth Rate can be calculated using the formula given below

Growth Rate = (Final Value – Initial Value) / Initial Value

• Growth Rate = ($1,800 – $1,500) / $1,500
• Growth Rate = 20%

Therefore, the value of the investment grew by 20% during the last year.

Growth Rate Formula – Example #2

Let us take the real-life example of Apple Inc.’s to explain the concept of growth rate witnessed in net sales, net income and dividend per share during the last two financial years i.e. growth rate in 2017 and 2018. Please whether the same growth rate trickles down from the net sales to the dividend per share.

Solution:

Growth Rate can be calculated using the formula given below

Growth Rate = (Final Value – Initial Value) / Initial Value

For 2017

Net Sales

• Growth Rate in Net Sales = ($229,234 – $215,639) / $215,639
• Growth Rate in Net Sales = 6.30%

Net Income

• Growth Rate in Net Income = ($48,351- $45,687) / $45,687
• Growth Rate in Net Income = 5.83%

Dividend Per Share 

• Growth Rate in Dividend Per Share = ($2.40 – $2.18) / $2.18
• Growth Rate in Dividend Per Share = 10.09%

For 2018

Net Sales

• Growth Rate in Net Sales = ($265,595 – $229,234) / $229,234
• Growth Rate in Net Sales = 15.86%

Net Income

• Growth Rate in Net Income = ($59,531- $48,351) / $48,351
• Growth Rate in Net Income = 23.12%

Dividend Per Share 

• Growth Rate in Dividend Per Share = ($2.72 – $2.40) / $2.40
• Growth Rate in Dividend Per Share = 13.33%

Therefore, it can be seen that the growth trajectory for net sales, net income, and dividend share is slightly different but moving in the same direction. Dividend witnessed higher growth than net sales in 2017, while revenue growth remained slightly higher than dividend growth in 2018.

Explanation

The formula for growth rate can be calculated by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, determine the initial value of the metric under consideration. In this case, revenue from the income statement of the previous year can be the example.

Step 2: Next, determine the final value of the same metric. In this case, revenue from the income statement of the current year will serve the purpose.

Step 3: Next, calculate the change in the value of the metric by deducting the initial value (step 1) from the final value (step 2) as shown below.

Change in Value = Final Value – Initial Value

Step 4: Finally, the growth rate formula can be obtained by dividing the change in value (step 3) by the initial value (step 1) of the metric and then express the result in terms of percentage by multiplying by 100% as shown below.

Growth Rate = (Final Value – Initial Value) / Initial Value

Relevance and Uses of Growth Rate Formula

It is one of the simplest but important concepts because analysts and investors usually use growth rate formula to assess a company’s growth during a certain period of time in the past and forecast future performance based on those growth rates. Typically, companies use growth rates to assess their performance in terms of sales, earnings, and profits, etc. On the other hand, investors use these ratios to assess their investment performance, such as growth in book value, price-to-earnings, etc. Analysts predominantly use the growth rates to assess the performance of the publicly listed companies when they report their quarterly or annual earnings, metrics such as quarter over quarter (Q-o-Q) growth rates or year over year (Y-o-Y).

Growth Rate Formula Calculator

You can use the following Growth Rate Calculator

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This is a guide to Growth Rate Formula. Here we discuss How to Calculate Growth Rate along with practical examples. We also provide a Growth Rate Calculator with downloadable excel template. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –

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