# Return calculation
Return is the profit or loss gained on a trading account over a specific period, expressed as a percentage. The return shows the change in account equity regardless of deposited and withdrawn funds. A positive return indicates a profit, while a negative return indicates a loss.
**Formulas**
Returns are calculated for periods between balance operations, such as deposits, withdrawals, or internal transfers, as follows:
`Return = Equity_end / Equity_start`
where:
* **Equity\_start** is the account equity at the beginning of a period, that is, just after a balance operation.
* **Equity\_end** is the account equity at the end of a period, that is, before a balance operation.
Return by periods
The return for several periods is calculated by multiplying the returns for those periods:
`Return = Return P1 * Return P2 * Return P3 * … * Return Pn`
To express the obtained return ratio as a percentage, the following formula is used:
Return (%) = (Return - 1) \* 100
**Example**
Suppose that a trader creates a master account and deposits $500 to the account.
During the period before the next balance operation, the account equity has increased from $500 to $1,800.
The **Period 1** return is calculated as follows:
`Equity_start = $500`\
`Equity_end = $1,800`
`Return P1 = 1,800/500 = 3.6000`\
`Return P1 (%) = (3.6000 - 1) * 100 = 260.00%`
The trader makes another deposit of $400. Suppose that during the period before the next balance operation, the account equity has increased by $800.
The **Period 2** return is calculated as follows:
`Equity_start = $1,800 + $400 = $2,200`\
`Equity_end = $2,200 + $800 = $3,000`
`Return P2 = 3,000/2,200 = 1.3636`\
`Return P2 (%) = (1.3636 - 1) * 100 = 36.36%`
Next, the trader withdraws $500. Suppose that during the period before the next balance operation, the account equity hasn’t changed.
The **Period 3** return is calculated as follows:
`Equity_start = $3,000 - $500 = $2,500`\
`Equity_end = $2,500`
`Return P3 = 2,500/2,500 = 1`\
`Return P3 (%) = (1 - 1) * 100 = 0%`
The return for three periods is calculated as follows:
`Return for three periods = 3.6000 * 1.3636 * 1 = 4.9090`\
`Return for three periods (%) = (4.9090 - 1) * 100 = 3.9090 * 100 = 390.90%`
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