Annualized

Annualize

To express a variable in yearly terms even though the variable does not directly apply to a year. That is, an annualized variable has been mathematically converted to yearly terms. For example, if the return rate on an investment is 2% after one month, one computes the annualized return by multiplying by 12, resulting in a 24% return rate. An annualized variable is often theoretical; there is no guarantee that the return rate in the example above will be 12% if it is calculated after a month or two. Annualizing usually does not take into account the effects of compounding.

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annualized

Of or relating to a variable that has been mathematically converted to a yearly rate. Inflation and interest rates are generally annualized since it is on this basis that these two variables are ordinarily stated and compared. As an example, disregarding the effects of compounding, the earning of a 3% return on an investment during a 4-month period is equal to 9% ( ¹²/₄ × 3%) on an annualized basis.