How is the rate of return expressed?

The rate of return is a key financial metric that reflects the gain or loss made on an investment relative to its cost. It is expressed as a percentage of the original investment, allowing investors to easily gauge the performance of their investment against others. This percentage format provides a standardized way to compare returns across different investments regardless of their sizes or currencies, making it easier to understand the efficiency and profitability of an investment.

In contrast, expressing the rate of return as a currency value, flat dollar amount, or monthly rate does not provide the same comparability and context that percentage does. Currency values and flat dollar amounts can be misleading without understanding the initial investment size, and a monthly rate does not adequately capture the performance over a broader investment period. Therefore, the percentage representation is the most informative way to communicate how an investment has performed.