Total Shareholder Return (TSR) is an important metric that measures the financial performance of a company by taking into account capital gains, dividends and any other benefits from investing in stock of that company. It is used as an indicator of investment success, and helps to analyze the total return generated by an investment over the long term.

The formula for calculating TSR is (Current price - Purchase price) + Dividends) / Purchase price. This calculation provides an investor with a metric that shows the comparison between what was paid for the stock and what an investor has earned since the time of purchase.

It is important to note that TSR is a good measure of long-term investment success, however it is limited to past performance and is likely to be affected by market volatility. Furthermore, this metric requires a stock to generate cash flows in order to be effective, so it may not be the most reliable measure for investments like bonds, which typically do not generate cash flows.

TSR is a useful resource for investors to measure and compare the overall health of a company’s stocks. It is particularly beneficial in comparison when used in conjunction with other metrics such as Price to Earnings ratio. By utilizing both TSR and Price to Earnings, investors can make more informed decisions when it comes to choosing stocks. By analyzing these two indicators, investors can also be better equipped to identify stocks that may be undervalued or overvalued.

Overall, Total Shareholder Return is a valuable tool for investors to measure investment performance. It provides an overall simple figure to compare the return generated from an investment against the amount spent on the stock. Investors should take note of its limitations, especially the fact that market volatility can affect its accuracy, however, it is still a helpful metric in understanding the long-term return of an investment.