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How to calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and the net present value (NPV) of a stock portfolio with Google Sheets

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As a long-term investor, I need to know how to evaluate the performance of my stock portfolio. A simple return on investment calculation is not a good indicator for long-term investment because it does not take into account the holding duration, and cash flows involved during that period. A return on investment of 80% after 20 years is not as impressive as it sounds after 1 year. In this post, I explain the idea of using Google Sheets to calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and the net present value (NPV) of a stock portfolio.

Diagram of cash flows for managing a stock investment portfolio in Google Sheets

Table of Contents

Identify cash flows

As mentioned in the introduction of time value of money, present value, future value, internal rate of return, net present value, to calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and the net present value (NPV), it is necessary to firstly identify cash flows. Cash flow is the money that is transferred from one entity to another entity. On the recipient side, the cash flow is positive. However, on the expedition side, the cash flow is negative.

In a stock portfolio, each cash flow is essentially a transaction. It could be either:

  • A DEPOSIT transaction: money is transferred from a pocket to a broker account
  • A WITHDRAW transaction: money is transferred from a broker account to a pocket
  • A BUY transaction: money is transferred from a broker account to the market in exchange for shares of a stock
  • A SELL transaction: money is transferred from the market to a broker account in exchange for shares of a stock
  • A DIVIDEND transaction: money is transferred from a paying-dividend company to a shareholder's broker account

Note

That leads to the question of how to manage stock transactions with Google Sheets. In the post, I have detailed how to use Google Sheets as a database to keep track of a portfolio's transactions. The rest of this guide is based on that model.

Manage transactions of a stock investment portfolio with Google Sheets

Depending on the chosen side, a cash flow is positive or negative.

  • If calculating internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for a stock in the portfolio, cash flows are all transactions related to that stock. They are BUY, SELL, and DIVIDEND transactions.
    • From the portfolio's perspective, cash flow is negative for a BUY transaction.
    • From the portfolio's perspective, cash flow is positive for a SELL and DIVIDEND transaction.
    • Note: If a stock is currently held in the portfolio, its current market value (shares * latest price) is considered as a positive cash flow because that is the amount that will be sent to the portfolio if that stock is immediately sold out.

Diagram of cash flows for managing a stock investment portfolio in Google Sheets
  • If calculating internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for the whole portfolio, there are two options for identifying cash flows.
    • The first option is to consider the task as calculating internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for many stocks. Therefore cash flows are BUY, SELL, and DIVIDEND transactions for all stocks presented in the portfolio.
    • The second option is to view it from the pocket. Therefore cash flows are all DEPOSIT and WITHDRAW transactions.
      • From the pocket's perspective, cash flow is negative for a DEPOSIT transaction.
      • From the pocket's perspective, cash flow is positive for a WITHDRAW transaction.
    • Note: The portfolio's current value is considered as a positive cash flow because that is the amount that will be withdrawn to the pocket if the portfolio is immediately closed (sell all shares and withdraw all money).

Choose a discount rate

A discount rate is a next thing to identify. The discount rate is used to benchmark an investment. The resulted internal rate of return (IRR) is compared to the discount rate or the discount rate is used to calculate the net present value (NPV). There are many ways to choose a discount rate and the choice depends on personal preferences, for example:

  • A minimum required rate of return for an investment that one sets for herself/himself
  • An expected rate of return if investing in an alternative asset such as: saving account, real estate, buying a business, etc.
  • A reference rate of return of the market: S&P 500, CAC 40, etc.

As for myself, I set it to be 10% in the sample portfolio.

Apply XIRR and XNPV functions of Google Sheets

With the cash flows and the discount rate identified, the next step is to calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) of a stock portfolio by applying the mathematical formulas introduced in the introduction post. However, as demonstrated by several examples in that introduction post, the task requires many repetitive calculations and investors don't generally have time to do those calculations manually. Instead, it is wiser to leverage the 4 available functions IRR, NPV, XIRR, and XNPV of the Google Sheets to calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for a stock portfolio.

  • The IRR and NPV functions are used if cash flows are regularly spaced. For example, an investor only makes transactions on the first day of every year. I think it is not a realistic scenario.
  • The XIRR and XNPV functions are used if cash flows are irregularly spaced. Transactions can be made on whatever day. The XIRR and XNPV functions require both date and amount for cash flows. They are the two functions that I use and explain in this series.

Note

  • For the XIRR function, cash flows can be entered in any order.
  • For the XNPV function, cash flows must be ordered ascending by time.

Interpret internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV)

Using internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) helps me to evaluate the performance of my investment. Given my personal discount rate being 10%:

  • If the calculated internal rate of return (IRR) is less than 10% for a stock (or the whole portfolio), I can say that my investment into that stock (or the whole portfolio) does not meet my expectation. Otherwise, if it is greater than 10%, I am pleased with that performance.

  • If the calculated net present value (NPV) (with 10% discount rate) is negative for a stock (or the whole portfolio), I can say that my investment into that stock (or the whole portfolio) does not meet my expectation. Otherwise, if it is positive, I am pleased with that performance.

Conclusion

In this post, I have explained the idea of using Google Sheets functions to calculate internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for a stock portfolio at three levels: for a stock, for a group of stocks, and for the whole portfolio. The process consists mainly of three steps:

In the next posts, I will explain how to apply this idea with some ready-to-use examples and demos.

Series: how to calculate internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) for a stock portfolio in Google Sheets

Disclaimer

The post is only for informational purposes and not for trading purposes or financial advice.

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