What is the difference between the YTD and the 1-year return on a share?

YTD could be used for the calendar year and financial year. If you use YTD in reference to the financial year, it will begin from April of that year and end on the current date (on which you are calculating return). YTD stands for Year-to-Date, so the year here could either be fiscal or calendar year. So, this return could be typically for one month, two months, ten months, or any period within the financial year or calendar year.

To find out YTD return, one has to subtract the value of the investment on the first day of the current year from the value of the investment on the current date, one should also add any dividend or capital gains (if any) received during the period. It could also be equal to a 1-year return if the calculation period of such return on investment is exactly one year.

Now, one year return could also be called your yield. It is mainly because that’s the actual return you are getting in the set time frame. This can be calculated by dividing your net realized return by the principal amount. Say, you have a net realized return (initial investment – current value of investment) is Rs 1,000 and the principal invested is Rs 10,000. So, your one-year return/yield will be equal to [1,000/10,000*100 = 10%].