Year Over Year Growth Calculator
Measure how much a metric has grown (or shrunk) compared to the same period last year. Enter this year's value and last year's value to get the YoY growth rate, absolute change, and growth multiple.
Year-over-year (YoY) growth compares a metric in one period to the same period in the prior year. The formula is simple: YoY Growth = (Current - Previous) / Previous x 100%. If your Q1 revenue was $125,000 this year and $100,000 last year, that is 25% YoY growth.
YoY is preferred over month-over-month or quarter-over-quarter for most business metrics because it automatically adjusts for seasonality. Retail sales in December are always higher than in February, so comparing December to February is misleading. Comparing December 2024 to December 2023 gives you a clean read on actual growth.
Investors, analysts, and executives use YoY growth to evaluate:
- Revenue growth: Is the company growing its top line?
- Earnings growth: Are profits increasing?
- User/subscriber growth: Is the customer base expanding?
- Same-store sales: Are existing locations performing better?
Context matters. A 25% YoY growth rate is exceptional for a Fortune 500 company but expected for a startup. Compare growth rates to industry benchmarks and the company's own historical trends rather than evaluating them in isolation.