XIRR in Mutual Funds

XIRR is for Extended Internal Rate of Return. It is a financial measure that helps you see how well your market-linked assets are doing. It figures out the yearly rate of return for both regular and irregular investments that have more than one cash flow. XIRR is a more accurate measure because it takes into consideration the exact time and amount of cash flows.

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What is XIRR?

The full form of XIRR is Extended Internal Rate of Return. It is a way to figure out how much money you made on investments when there are many transactions happening at various times. XIRR is not the same as the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), which only works for investments with one cash flow. 

People often use XIRR to figure out how much money they make from their market-linked funds, such as XIRR in Mutual Funds, XIRR in Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP), and XIRR in NPS (National Pension Scheme). 

What are Multiple Cash- Flows in XIRR?

The XIRR rate of return is calculated by considering the irregular cash flows made at different intervals. These transactions cover the following investments: 

  • Investments through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), 
  • Withdrawals made through Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP), 
  • Additional purchases of units
  • Returns deposited in your fund,
  • Redemption of your fund 

NOTE: Policybazaar has an online SIP calculator to get the estimated returns on SIP investment. 

IRR vs. XIRR

The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Extended Internal Rate of Return (XIRR) are both used to calculate the performance of your investments, but they differ by the cash flows they handle:

  • Internal Rate of Return (IRR): It takes into account all the transactions, but assumes they occur at equal intervals of time. IRR is suitable for investments with consistent cash flows and is not accurate for investments that have cash flows that aren't steady.
  • Extended Internal Rate of Return (XIRR): It considers both the amount and timing of cash flows, along with the exact date of their occurrence. The XIRR gives a better picture of assets with cash flows that don't happen on a regular basis. 
Feature IRR (Internal Rate of Return) XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return)
Definition Rate of return on an investment where Net Present Value (NPV) is zero Rate of return on investments with irregular cash flows
Cash Flow Timing Assumes regular, periodic cash flows (e.g., annually) Accounts for cash flows occurring at irregular intervals
Use Case Best for investments with regular cash flow intervals Ideal for investments with varying cash flow dates
Calculation Method Uses a fixed interval for calculations Uses exact dates for each cash flow
Accuracy Less accurate with irregular cash flows More accurate with irregular cash flows
Example Regular Cash Flows:
  • Initial Investment: -₹10,000
  • Year 1: +₹3,000
  • Year 2: +₹3,000
  • Year 3: +₹3,000
  • Year 4: +₹3,000
  • Year 5: +₹3,000
Irregular Cash Flows:
  • Initial Investment: -₹10,000 (on 01-Jan-2020)
  • Year 1: +₹2,000 (on 15-Feb-2021)
  • Year 2: +₹5,000 (on 10-July-2022)
  • Year 3: +₹4,000 (on 22-Nov-2023)
  • Year 4: +₹7,000 (on 05-May-2024)

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Why to Calculate XIRR in a Mutual Fund/ ULIP Fund?

It is essential to calculate XIRR in a mutual fund and ULIP fund for several reasons, some of which are as follows:

  • To get a more accurate measure of your returns for investments with irregular cash flows, as you invest and withdraw multiple times in mutual funds and ULIPs.
  • XIRR is a versatile tool that can be applied to any of the best investment plans, considering various cash flow patterns.
  • To track the performance of your investments over time and make better financial decisions. 

How to Calculate XIRR?

You can use an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the XIRR return, which can handle data with multiple cash flows happening at irregular intervals. These cash flows can be gains/ returns/ redemption (positive numbers) or SIP/ deposits (negative numbers).

XIRR Formula in Excel:

XIRR in Excel = XIRR (cash flows, dates)
 Where:
  • Cash Flows: The range of cells that contain the cash flows
  • Dates: The range of cells that contain the dates of the cash flows

Steps to Calculate XIRR in Excel:

  • Step 1: List all your cash flows in one column as per below-
    • Inflows as positive (+)
    • Outflows as negative (-)
  • Step 2: Write the dates in a column for each of the respective cash flows.
  • Step 3: Click on a cell where you want the XIRR result to appear.
  • Step 4: Enter the formula: =XIRR(cashflow_range, dates_range)
  • Step 5: Press Enter. 

The Excel software will show the XIRR rate of return for the given cash flows as a percentage.

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Top 300 Fund SBI Life
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19.01% 20.05%
18.11%
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Opportunities Fund ICICI Prudential Life
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12.09% 11.99%
12.28%
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Multi Cap Fund Tata AIA Life
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21% 19.43%
22%
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Accelerator Mid-Cap Fund II Bajaj Life
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13.15% 12.08%
13.74%
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Multiplier Birla Sun Life
Rating
15.35% 13.96%
15.33%
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Virtue II PNB MetLife
Rating
13.39% 15.18%
14.55%
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Equity II Fund Canara HSBC Life
Rating
9.23% 8.76%
10.21%
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Blue-Chip Equity Fund Star Union Dai-ichi Life
Rating
8.14% 8.72%
10.07%
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Fund rating powered by
Last updated: Mar 2026
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Fund Name AUM Return 3 Years Return 5 Years Return 10 Years Minimum Investment Return Since Launch
Motilal Oswal BSE Enhanced Value Index Fund Regular - Growth ₹822.00 Crs 28.94% N/A N/A ₹500 28.96%
Bandhan Small Cap Fund Regular-Growth ₹14,062.19 Crs 26.09% 20.21% N/A ₹1,000 25.82%
Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Regular-Growth ₹33,608.53 Crs 17.78% 19.96% 15.51% ₹500 18.83%
ICICI Prudential Infrastructure Fund-Growth ₹7,941.20 Crs 21.13% 24.08% 17.6% ₹5,000 15.06%
Canara Robeco Large Cap Fund Regular-Growth ₹16,406.92 Crs 11.04% 9.61% 12.9% ₹100 11.61%
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund Direct- Growth ₹39,975.32 Crs 10.22% 9.86% 13.44% ₹5,000 14.5%
Kotak Midcap Fund Regular-Growth ₹57,375.20 Crs 19% 16.88% 17.39% ₹100 14.21%
SBI Small Cap Fund-Growth ₹35,562.96 Crs 11.34% 13.46% 16.98% ₹5,000 17.76%
SBI Gold ETF ₹8,810.86 Crs 32.1% 25.19% 15.97% ₹5,000 13.26%

Updated as of Mar 2026

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Illustration to Calculate XIRR in Excel:

Enter the cash flows in the Excel sheet as mentioned in the above steps. Here is an example:

A B
Date SIP Amount
01/01/2023 -20000
01/02/2023 -500
10/10/2023 -300
02/04/2023 10000
17/05/2023 27000
05/06/2023 105
08/07/2023 -500
01/08/2023 10000
10/09/2023 4500
14/10/2023 -1000
XIRR = 8.664488108

The XIRR is 8.66% p.a. which represents the internal rate of return for your cash flows, expressed as a yearly percentage.

XIRR Vs CAGR

CAGR, like XIRR, is a key metric that can be used to estimate the rate of return for your market-linked investments easily. A quick definition of both is as follows-

  • XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return): It calculates the annualized return on investments with irregular cash flows on different dates. 
  • CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate): It measures the mean annual growth rate of your investment over a specific period. 
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The key differences between XIRR and CAGR are mentioned in the table below:

Feature XIRR CAGR
Full form Extended Internal Rate of Return Compound Annual Growth Rate
Definition Rate of return on investments with irregular cash flows. Annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period.
Cash Flow Timing Consider cash flows occurring at irregular intervals. Assumes a single investment with no intermediate cash flows.
Calculation It takes into account the exact timing and amount of cash flows, which makes it good for investments and withdrawals that aren't always the same. It assumes a constant rate of growth over a specified period, regardless of cash flow timing.
Applicability Applicable on investments with multiple cash flows. Applicable on investments with a single cash flow.
Accuracy Assumes a single investment with no intermediate cash flows. Accurate for measuring consistent annual growth.
Example Irregular Cash Flows:
  • Initial Investment: -₹10,000 (on 01-Jan-2020)
  • Year 1: +₹2,000 (on 15-Feb-2021)
  • Year 2: +₹5,000 (on 10-Jul-2022)
  • Year 3: +₹4,000 (on 22-Nov-2023)
  • Year 4: +₹7,000 (on 05-May-2024)
Single Investment Growth:
  • Initial Investment: ₹10,000
  • Value after 5 years: ₹16,000

Wrapping It Up

XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return) is a valuable metric for evaluating the performance of ULIP and mutual funds. This method accounts for the time and amount of your investments by considering both inflows and outflows. XIRR offers a more accurate representation of an investment fund's performance, helping you to make informed decisions about your investments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a good XIRR rate?

    The definition of a good XIRR rate depends on a number of factors, including the asset class, the investment horizon, and your risk tolerance. However, as a general rule of thumb, an XIRR of 11-12% is considered good for equity funds, and 7-8% is considered good for debt funds.
  • Is XIRR better than CAGR?

    XIRR is considered to be a better measure of investment returns than CAGR, especially for investments with irregular cash flows, such as SIPs. However, CAGR is easier to calculate and understand, so it is often used as a more general measure of investment performance.
  • What is the formula for XIRR?

    The XIRR formula is: XIRR(values, dates, [guess])

    where:

    • Values: An array of cash flows, where a negative value represents an outflow and a positive value represents an inflow.

    • Dates: An array of dates corresponding to the cash flows.

    • Guess: An optional argument that provides an initial guess for the XIRR. If omitted, Excel will use a default value of 10%.

  • What is the major difference between IRR and XIRR?

    The major difference between IRR and XIRR is that IRR assumes that all cash flows in your investment fund occur at the end of the period, while XIRR takes into account the actual timing of the cash flows. This makes XIRR a more accurate measure of the true returns of an investment, especially for investments with irregular cash flows.
  • What is XIRR?

    XIRR means Extended Internal Rate of Return for irregular cash flows. It is a financial metric used to calculate the return on an investment when cash flows occur at uneven intervals.
  • How is XIRR different from IRR?

    IRR and XIRR both help you to assess the performance of your investments. However, the IRR function assumes cash flows happen at regular periods, while, XIRR considers uneven cash flows at different time intervals. This makes the XIRR more versatile for real-world scenarios.
  • What are the benefits of using XIRR?

    The benefits of XIRR are that it provides a more accurate picture of investment performance when cash flows are irregular and helps compare investments with different cash flow patterns.
  • What are the disadvantages of XIRR?

    The main disadvantage of XIRR is that it assumes all cash flows are reinvested at the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), which might not always be true. It may not provide you a solution if cash flows have a specific pattern.

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˜The insurers/plans mentioned are arranged in order of highest to lowest first year premium (sum of individual single premium and individual non-single premium) offered by Policybazaar’s insurer partners offering life insurance investment plans on our platform, as per ‘first year premium of life insurers as at 31.03.2025 report’ published by IRDAI. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the IRDAI website www.irdai.gov.in
Disclaimer:#The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 1 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 10,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: ₹1,05,02,174 @ CAGR 8%; ₹50,45,591 @ CAGR 4%. All SIPs listed here are of insurance companies’ funds. The tax benefits under Section 80C allow a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs from the taxable income per year and 10(10D) tax benefits are for investments made up to ₹2.5 Lakhs/ year for policies bought after 1 Feb 2021. Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws.
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^The tax benefits under Section 80C allow a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs from the taxable income per year and 10(10D) tax benefits are for investments made up to ₹2.5 Lakhs/ year for policies bought after 1 Feb 2021. Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws.
¶Long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax (12.5%) is exempted on annual premiums up to 2.5 lacs.
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^^The information relating to mutual funds presented in this article is for educational purpose only and is not meant for sale. Investment is subject to market risks and the risk is borne by the investor. Please consult your financial advisor before planning your investments.
**Returns are based on past 10 years’ fund performance data (Fund Data Source: Value Research).

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