What is XIRR in Mutual Funds: Meaning, Calculation & Formula

We generally invest small amounts of money in mutual fund schemes through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). The money is allocated over time on a regular basis in mutual funds. Generally, an investor may redeem his investments say after 5, 10, or 15 years have passed by. Most of us may want to determine how much returns we have earned over the initial investment amount. It is important therefore to accurately calculate our gains using methods like XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return) or CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate).

What is XIRR meaning in mutual fund?

XIRR, which stands for Extended Internal Rate of Return, is a crucial concept in mutual fund investment analysis. One of the most widely used methods to determine the actual return on an investment is calculating the XIRR, which represents the present value of the total investment made when applied to each SIP instalment. XIRR in mutual funds is particularly useful for evaluating investment performance when cash flows occur at irregular intervals.

What is XIRR in SIP?

XIRR in SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is essential for calculating the rate of return on investments with multiple transactions at different points in time. It allows for finding out the gains made from investments which may involve different amounts of transactions at distinct points of time, such as SIPs which are generally done multiple times during a year. Consequently, returns on mutual fund scheme SIPs are typically assessed using XIRR calculation, providing a more accurate picture of portfolio returns than simple averages.

What is the XIRR formula?

The XIRR formula is commonly calculated using Microsoft Excel, which has a built-in mechanism to compute the returns. XIRR is an advanced Excel function that enables the calculation of the annualized yield for a series of cash flows happening at even irregular intervals. To utilize the XIRR formula in Excel, you can use the syntax: = XIRR (value, dates, and guess).

Steps to calculate XIRR on Microsoft Excel:

1. Basically, first one needs to consolidate all your purchases into a single column.
2. Identify outflows, such as investments and acquisitions, as market negative, and mark inflows, like redemptions and dividends, as market positive.
3. In the adjacent column, include the transaction's corresponding date. Record the current Net Asset Value (NAV) of your holdings and the date in the final row.
4. In Excel, utilize the XIRR function with the following format: =XIRR (values, date, Guess).
5. Choose values that represent a series of cash flows aligned with a payment schedule based on specific dates.
6. The date column should indicate when the initial investment was made and when the cash flows were received. The Guess parameter is optional; if no value is provided, Excel assumes a default of 0.1.

How XIRR differs from IRR and CAGR

While XIRR, IRR (Internal Rate of Return), and CAGR are all used to measure investment performance, they have distinct differences:

• XIRR accounts for irregular cash flows, making it ideal for SIPs and Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWPs) in mutual funds.
• IRR assumes regular, evenly spaced cash flows, which may not always be the case in real-world investing scenarios.
• CAGR is simpler and assumes a steady growth rate over time, not accounting for interim cash flows like XIRR does.

Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate investment analysis and financial planning. For a more in-depth comparison, you can also explore xirr vs cagr to see how each metric evaluates your mutual fund investments differently.

Conclusion:

XIRR is an invaluable tool for calculating real-world investment returns, specifically in the case of investing in mutual funds which may or may not be evenly distributed and may vary at multiple points in time. It provides a more accurate rate of return compared to simpler methods like CAGR, especially when dealing with SIPs, SWPs, and other irregular cash flows.

For informed investment selections and to better understand your portfolio returns, one can seek the advice of financial professionals or go online for market and fund updates. Remember that XIRR, along with other metrics like Net Present Value (NPV), can significantly enhance your investment evaluation process and help in developing a robust investment strategy.

FAQs

1. How does XIRR account for different cash flows and time periods?

XIRR allows you to allocate precise dates to each separate cash flow, which helps enhance the accuracy of the calculation significantly. This makes it particularly useful for mutual fund investments with multiple transactions.

2. Does XIRR assume daily compounding?

Yes, XIRR computes the actual rate of return on investments with daily compounding, providing a more accurate representation of mutual fund performance over time.

3. How do I interpret the XIRR value for my investments?

XIRR computes one particular rate of return by taking into account each payment done over the investment tenure. It represents the annualized return of your mutual fund investments, considering all cash inflows and outflows.

4. What is the difference between XIRR and CAGR in mutual funds?

While both XIRR and CAGR are used to measure returns, XIRR is more suitable for investments with irregular cash flows like SIPs. CAGR, on the other hand, assumes a steady growth rate and is more appropriate for lump-sum investments.

5. Can XIRR be negative?

Yes, XIRR can be negative if the overall investment performance results in a loss. This could happen if the mutual fund's NAV decreases significantly or if there are more outflows than inflows.

 

Disclaimer:

These materials are not intended for distribution to or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to local law or regulation. The distribution of this document in certain jurisdictions may be restricted or totally prohibited and accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. Investors may consult their financial advisors and/or tax advisors before making any investment decisions. The Blog intends to highlight a methodology which can be considered by investors for the purpose of calculating the performance of their investments. This and its outcome solely should not be used and relied upon for making any investment decisions. Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited/ Kotak Mutual Fund makes no warranty about the accuracy of the functionality.

 MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY