Stock Profit/Loss Calculator
Calculate your gross and net profit after brokerage, fees, and taxes.
Enter Trade Details
Costs & Taxes (Optional)
Trade Summary
Results will appear here as you type.
How It Works
- Select the currency for your calculation.
- Enter the buy price, sell price, and quantity of shares.
- Optionally, enter your total transaction costs (brokerage, fees, etc.).
- Optionally, enter the applicable Capital Gains Tax rate to find your final net profit.
- The calculator instantly shows a full breakdown, from gross profit to the final net return on your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator include fees or taxes?
Yes. This calculator allows you to enter total transaction costs (like brokerage, STT, etc.) and a Capital Gains Tax rate to calculate your true net profit. If you leave these optional fields blank, it will calculate your gross profit before any deductions.
How is the net return percentage calculated?
The net return percentage is calculated based on your initial investment and your final net profit after all costs and taxes. The formula is: ((Net Profit / Total Investment) × 100).
Can I use this for crypto or other assets?
Absolutely. While it's designed for stocks, the math is the same for any asset. You can input your trading fees into the 'Total Transaction Costs' field and any applicable tax rate to get an accurate net profit for cryptocurrencies, mutual funds, or other assets.
Beyond the Numbers: A Beginner's Guide to Stock Profit and Loss
Investing in the stock market is an exciting journey, but success often hinges on understanding one core concept: profit and loss. While it seems simple on the surface—buy low, sell high—the nuances can make a significant difference in your strategy and overall returns. Our Stock Profit/Loss Calculator is the perfect starting point, providing the raw numbers of a trade. This guide will help you understand the deeper context behind those numbers.
1. Realized vs. Unrealized Gains: The Difference That Matters
One of the most fundamental concepts in investing is the difference between a "paper" profit and a real one. Our calculator deals exclusively with realized gains.
- Unrealized Gain/Loss: This is the change in value of an investment you still own. If you buy a stock for $100 and its price rises to $120, you have a $20 unrealized gain. It's a "paper profit" because you haven't sold the stock yet. The value could go up or down before you decide to sell.
- Realized Gain/Loss: This is the actual profit or loss you lock in when you sell an investment. If you sell that same stock at $120, you have a $20 realized gain. This is a completed transaction, and the profit is now yours (subject to taxes, of course). Our calculator helps you instantly determine this realized amount.
Understanding this distinction is crucial for investor psychology. It's easy to get excited about unrealized gains, but until you sell, nothing is guaranteed.
2. Gross vs. Net Profit: The Hidden Costs That Impact Your Return
Our tool is designed to calculate both your **gross profit** and your **net profit**. Understanding the difference is vital for accurately assessing your investment performance.
- Gross Profit: This is the simple profit from a trade before any costs are deducted. (Gross Profit = Total Sale Value - Total Investment).
- Net Profit: This is your actual take-home profit after all associated costs have been subtracted. These costs can significantly reduce your overall return and include:
- Brokerage Fees/Commissions: Fees your broker charges for executing a trade (both buying and selling).
- Transaction Taxes: Depending on your country, you may face taxes like the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on every trade.
- Capital Gains Tax: This is the tax you pay on your realized profit (after other costs are deducted). The rate often depends on how long you held the investment.
By using the optional fields in our calculator, you can move beyond a simple gross calculation to see the true net impact of a trade on your portfolio.
3. Percentage Return vs. Absolute Profit: Which is More Important?
Our calculator shows you both the absolute profit (e.g., "+₹5,000") and the percentage return (e.g., "+15%"). While the absolute number is exciting, experienced investors often focus more on the **percentage return**. Here’s why:
Percentage return tells you how efficiently your money is working. Making $1,000 on a $100,000 investment is a 1% return. Making $500 on a $1,000 investment is a massive 50% return. The second trade, while smaller in absolute terms, was a far more successful use of capital. The percentage return allows you to compare the performance of different investments of different sizes on an equal footing.