Total Returns in the "Advanced Portfolio" report

[Derek Atkins]

I suspect it's a limitation of the report.  Patches would be appreciated.

-derek

Derek Brader <brader at ieee.org> writes:

> Hi All,
>
> When I create an "Advanced Portfolio" report (for a bunch of funds), the total 
> returns are not computed properly.  Total Returns seem to be computed by 
> dividing the "gain" by ("money in" - "money out").  Since dividends are part 
> of "money in," only capital gains, but not dividends, are counted toward 
> total returns.  The reported total returns are therefore lower than they 
> ought to be.  Though I have not experienced it, I expect a similar problem 
> would arise from broker-type expenses deducted from investment accounts.
>
> The note at the bottom of section 8.6 of the "Tutorial and Concepts Guide" [1] 
> seems to indicate a preferred naming convention for dividend income, but even 
> if I follow this convention the problem above persists.  Must I follow a 
> similar convention for my investment accounts themselves?  Are there other 
> configurations that I am overlooking?  
>
> This question was raised before [2]; but it went unanswered, it's a little way 
> back in the archive, and it is in reference to version 1.8.4.  This previous 
> post also raises concern about the computation of returns when transferring 
> money between investment accounts.  With a 401k portfolio, for example, 
> exchanging investment options within the portfolio should not alter the total 
> returns of the portfolio as a whole.
>
> Is the problem with my setup, or with the report itself?  
>
> I'm running GnuCash version 1.8.8.
>
> [1] http://www.gnucash.org/docs/v1.8/C/gnucash-guide/invest_dividends1.html
> [2] http://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-user/2003-August/007796.html
>
> Thanks,
> ~derek
>
> P.S. I apologize if this is a repost, but I couldn't find the answer in the 
> archives.
>
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>

-- 
       Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory
       Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board  (SIPB)
       URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA     N1NWH
       warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP key available