Stock Profit Calculator
The Stock Profit Calculator works out exactly what a trade made or lost you, after commissions and dividends. Enter your buy and sell prices, the number of shares, any broker commissions, and dividends received to see gross profit, net profit, return on investment, and — if you enter a holding period — an annualized return.
Stock Profit Estimator
Commissions and dividends are optional — leave them blank or at 0 if not applicable. Holding period is only needed for the annualized return figure.
| Number of Shares * | Buy Price per Share * |
| Sell Price per Share * | Dividends Received (total) |
| Buy Commission (total) | Sell Commission (total) |
| Holding Period (days) | |
Total Cost & Total Proceeds
Total Proceeds = (Shares × Sell Price) − Sell Commission
Gross Profit
Gross profit reflects only the price change, before commissions or dividends are factored in.
Net Profit
Return on Investment (ROI)
Annualized Return
Annualizing lets you compare trades held for different lengths of time on equal footing — for example, a 10% return over 90 days is a much stronger result than a 10% return over 3 years.
Common Uses for This Calculator
- Closed trades: Confirm your actual profit or loss after a sale, including fees
- Trade journaling: Track ROI and annualized return across trades to compare performance
- Break-even analysis: See how much commissions eat into a small gain
- Tax prep: Establish the gross capital gain figure before applying capital gains tax rules
- Strategy comparison: Compare a quick short-term trade against a longer buy-and-hold position on an annualized basis
Worked Example
Total cost = (100 × 40.00) + 5 = 4,005.00
Total proceeds = (100 × 55.00) − 5 = 5,495.00
Gross profit = 100 × (55.00 − 40.00) = 1,500.00
Net profit = 5,495.00 − 4,005.00 + 50 = 1,540.00
ROI = 1,540.00 ÷ 4,005.00 = 38.5%
Annualized return (180 days) ≈ 92.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between gross profit and net profit?
Gross profit reflects only the change in share price, while net profit subtracts commissions on both the buy and sell side and adds back any dividends received during the holding period.
Why does ROI use total cost, not just the share price?
Return on investment should reflect what you actually paid to enter the position, including commissions, since that’s the capital that was truly at risk.
Do I need to enter a holding period?
Only if you want an annualized return. Without it, the calculator still shows total ROI for the trade — it just won’t be adjusted for how long you held the position.
How are dividends handled?
Enter the total dividend amount received in cash while holding the shares; it’s added directly to net profit since it’s part of your total return, separate from the price change.
Does this include capital gains tax?
No. This calculator shows pre-tax profit and ROI. Actual tax owed depends on your country’s rules, your income bracket, and whether the gain is short-term or long-term.
Tips
- Include every commission: small fees add up on frequent trades
- Add dividends separately: they’re part of total return, not the price gain
- Remember taxes aren’t included: this is a pre-tax profit figure
Understanding Stock Profit & ROI
A stock trade’s real profit is more than just the difference between the price you paid and the price you sold at. Broker commissions on both sides of the trade reduce your actual return, while dividends received during the holding period add to it. Return on investment (ROI) puts the profit in context by comparing it to the total amount you originally committed, rather than looking at the raw currency amount alone.
Holding period matters too: a 10% gain earned in three months is a much stronger result than the same 10% gain earned over three years, because it could potentially be repeated more often. Annualizing a return converts any holding period into an equivalent yearly rate, making it possible to fairly compare a short-term trade against a long-term buy-and-hold position, or against other investments like bonds or savings accounts quoted in annual terms.
Who Uses This Calculator
Active traders confirming the outcome of a closed position, long-term investors tracking buy-and-hold performance, and anyone journaling trades for tax or performance review can use this tool. It is for estimation and planning; it does not account for taxes, and results should be confirmed against your actual brokerage statements before filing or reporting.
About This Calculator
This stock profit estimator calculates gross and net profit from your buy price, sell price, share count, commissions, and dividends, along with ROI and an optional annualized return. It is intended for individual investors and traders reviewing closed positions. Figures are estimates for planning purposes only — always confirm actual results with your brokerage statements and consult a tax professional regarding capital gains treatment.