How It Works
Learn about our methodology and how we calculate historical stock returns
What is WhatIfMoney?
WhatIfMoney is a historical stock return calculator that answers the question: "What if I had invested $X in [stock] on [date]?" We provide a simple, visual way to explore how investments would have performed over time using real historical data.
Our goal is to make financial history accessible and educational, helping investors understand the power of long-term investing, the impact of market timing, and the importance of staying invested through market cycles.
Our Methodology
1. Historical Price Data
We source historical stock prices from reliable financial data providers. Prices are adjusted for stock splits and other corporate actions to ensure accurate historical comparisons.
2. Simple Calculation
The calculation is straightforward:
Current Value = Shares × Current Price
Return = ((Current Value - Investment Amount) ÷ Investment Amount) × 100%
This shows you the percentage gain or loss and the dollar value of your hypothetical investment.
3. Inflation Adjustment (Optional)
When enabled, we adjust returns for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This shows the "real" purchasing power of your returns, accounting for the fact that $1,000 today buys less than $1,000 did 10 years ago.
What We Include
- Stock price appreciation: Changes in the stock's market price
- Stock splits: Automatically adjusted in historical data
- Inflation data: For real return calculations
- 500+ stocks: Major US-listed companies and ETFs
What We Don't Include
- Dividends: Not currently included (coming soon)
- Trading fees: Brokerage commissions and transaction costs
- Taxes: Capital gains taxes or dividend taxes
- Opportunity cost: What else you could have done with the money
This means actual returns for dividend-paying stocks would be higher than shown, while real-world returns after fees and taxes would be lower.
Data Sources
We aggregate data from multiple reliable sources including:
- Public financial data APIs
- Historical price databases
- Official inflation statistics (CPI)
All data is regularly updated and cross-checked for accuracy. However, we always recommend verifying important figures independently.
Understanding the Results
Key Metrics Explained
- Total Return (%)
- The percentage gain or loss on your investment
- Current Value ($)
- What your investment would be worth today
- Gain/Loss ($)
- The dollar amount you would have made or lost
- Annualized Return (%)
- The average yearly return, accounting for compounding
Important Reminders
- Past performance ≠ future results: Historical returns don't predict future performance
- This is not advice: Always consult a financial advisor before investing
- Survivorship bias: We only show stocks that still exist; many failed companies aren't included
- Perfect timing is impossible: These calculations assume perfect market timing, which is unrealistic
Ready to Explore?
Now that you understand how it works, try the calculator with different stocks, amounts, and time periods. You might be surprised by what you discover!
Try the Calculator