Stock profit calculator
What a stock trade really made depends on commissions, tax and how long the money was tied up, not only on the difference in price. Enter the number of shares, your buy and sell prices, commissions, your tax rate and how long you held, and this calculator shows your profit before and after tax, your return and your annualised return. The table underneath shows the result at other sale prices, along with your break-even price.
Where the sale money goes
The proceeds from selling, split into what you put in, fees, tax and what you keep as profit.
Profit at other sale prices
The same shares, costs and tax rate at sale prices above and below yours. Losses are shown before any tax offset.
| Sale price | Change | Profit before tax | After tax | Return |
|---|
How the profit is worked out
Commissions are added to what you paid and taken off what you received. Tax is applied only to a gain; losses are shown before any tax relief, because that depends on your other gains.
Total cost
What you paid for the shares, plus the buy commission.
cost = shares × buy price + buy commission
Net proceeds
What the sale brought in, less the sell commission.
proceeds = shares × sell price − sell commission
Profit and tax
Tax is charged on a gain only.
after tax = (proceeds − cost) × (1 − tax)
Return
Profit after tax as a share of what you put in, then scaled to a year.
annualised = (1 + return)365 ÷ days − 1
Break-even price
The sale price that covers cost and both commissions.
break-even = (cost + sell commission) ÷ shares
Stock profit questions
How do you calculate profit on a stock?
Subtract what you paid, including the buy commission, from what you received when you sold, after the sell commission. Buying 100 shares at $40 with a $5 commission costs $4,005; selling them at $48 with another $5 brings in $4,795, a profit of $790 before tax.
What is the break-even price?
The sale price at which you neither gain nor lose after commissions. It equals your total cost plus the sell commission, divided by the number of shares. With zero-commission brokers it is simply your purchase price.
How is tax on stock profits worked out?
In many countries, gains on shares held for a short time are taxed as ordinary income, while gains on shares held longer, often more than a year in the US, are taxed at a lower rate. Losses can usually offset gains. Enter the rate that applies to you; this calculator does not give tax advice.
What is annualised return?
It converts your return into a yearly rate so trades of different lengths can be compared. A 10 percent gain in three months is roughly a 46 percent annualised return, while 10 percent over three years is about 3 percent a year.
Should I include dividends?
Yes, if you received any while holding the stock, since they are part of your return. Our dividend adjusted return calculator separates price gains from dividends and shows the effect of reinvesting them.
Does this work for short sales?
It is set up for buying first and selling later. For a short sale, your profit is the sale price minus the buyback price, less commissions and any borrowing fees.