Definition
Money-weighted return solves for a rate of return across the investor's dated cash-flow path, so contributions and withdrawals affect the result according to when and how large they were. IRR or XIRR are common implementations.
- A return measure that incorporates the size and timing of external cash flows into and out of a portfolio.
The question this metric answers
What return is implied by the size and timing of the investor's dated cash flows?
- It answers a capital-experience question that can differ materially from a cash-flow-neutralized time-weighted return.
- Use it when the size and timing of the investor's external cash flows are intentionally part of the question. Do not treat it as universally better or 'more real' than TWR.
Evidence required before the number deserves trust
Complete dated external cash flows plus the relevant boundary value
- Use the investor's dated external cash flows for the chosen portfolio boundary.
- Include the ending portfolio value as the terminal value in the cash-flow equation.
- IRR/XIRR-style methods solve for the rate that makes the dated cash-flow path internally consistent.
- Upogee does not currently expose canonical MWR/XIRR from its shared financial engine; this reference explains the methodology without promoting a legacy helper into product authority.
What investors often miss
TWR and MWR can both be correct while producing different numbers because they answer different questions.
- A portfolio-level MWR needs complete dated external cash flows for the chosen portfolio scope. A missing deposit or withdrawal changes the solved rate.