• The Total Return Index calculates an index value based on capital gains plus cash payments such as dividends and interest.

  • The total return index, unlike the price index, better reflects the actual profit that an investor who owns the components of the index could receive.
  • The total return is generally higher than the nominal return, which takes into account only the rise in prices of assets held.
  • Many popular indices calculate total returns, such as the S&P, which makes up the S&P 500 Composite Return Index (SPTR).