# How can I convert rolling annual returns back to quarterly returns?

I have a series of rolling annual returns and would like to convert these back to quarterly returns, which have not been provided. Is this possible formulaically, or is something like Excel's solver required?

Sample data below, quarterly returns are provided (still need to calculate column four):

+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| quarter | quarterly returns (%) | rolling 1y returns (%) | back out quarterly returns (%) |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 1       | 5                     |                        |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 2       | 4                     |                        |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 3       | 3                     |                        |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 4       | 2                     | 14.7                   |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 5       | 1                     | 10.36                  |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 6       | 2                     | 8.23                   |                                |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 7       | 3                     | 8.23                   | ?                              |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 8       | 4                     | 10.36                  | ?                              |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 9       | 5                     | 14.73                  | ?                              |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+
| 10      | 6                     | 19.22                  | ?                              |
+---------+-----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------------+


Thanks!

• I had a comment here, but its content was wrong. May 3, 2020 at 17:46
• Could you expand a bit more on how you have derived rolling 1Y return from quarterly returns? Simple sum? Rolling 4-period compound return? The question would be more clear if both columns were carried out to the same decimal) May 3, 2020 at 18:58
• Your sample data doesn't make sense. You ask about backing out quarterly returns but you include quarterly returns (making backing them out unnecessary). Practically, if all you have is rolling annual returns at quarterly intervals, you can get quarterly return by taking a ratio of successive rolling annual values. May 4, 2020 at 6:17
• In my understanding, column 2 is there for our understanding, only. Also, we use geometric returns, i.e. R4=(1+r1)(1+r2)(1+r3)(1+r4)-1 May 4, 2020 at 6:37
• Hi, sorry for the misunderstanding. Kermittfrog is correct. Column Two was only there for clarity, and I used geometric returns. I've accepted his answer. Thanks all!
– sb1
May 4, 2020 at 21:19