Stock Profit Calculator: Gain, Return and Capital Gains Tax
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Stock profit is shares times the change in price, minus fees. Buying 100 shares at $50 and selling at $72 gives a profit of $2,200, a 44% return before tax.
Buying 100 shares at $50.00 and selling at $72.00 after 400 days gives a profit of $2,200.00 after fees. That is a 44.00% return, or about 39.48% a year.
Show the steps
- Cost: 100 × $50.00 + $0.00 fee = $5,000.00.
- Proceeds: 100 × $72.00 − $0.00 fee = $7,200.00.
- Profit: $7,200.00 − $5,000.00 = $2,200.00. Return: $2,200.00 ÷ $5,000.00 = 44.000%.
- Annualized: ((cost + profit) ÷ cost)^(365 ÷ 400) − 1 = 39.478%.
Stock profit
Profit = shares × (sell − buy) − fees + dividends
Return = profit ÷ cost
Annualized = (1 + return)^(365 ÷ days) − 1
- Tax rates are estimates. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income. Long-term rates also depend on your income, and high earners can owe an extra 3.8% net investment income tax.
- Losses can offset other gains and up to 3,000 dollars of ordinary income a year in the United States. This calculator shows no tax on a loss.
Estimates for planning and learning, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Check figures with your lender, tax preparer or doctor before you act.
About this calculator
This calculator shows what a stock trade really earned after commissions, dividends and tax. It gives the total return and the annualized return, so you can compare a trade held for three months with one held for three years.
It also tells you the break-even sell price and estimates capital gains tax using the short-term or long-term rate, depending on how long you held the shares.
How to use it
- Enter the number of shares, the buy price and the sell price.
- Enter the days between buying and selling.
- Add any commissions and dividends you received.
- Open the options to set your tax rates, then read the profit, return and after-tax result.
Short-term and long-term gains
In the United States, gains on shares held for a year or less are taxed as ordinary income. Shares held longer than a year are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your income. A few extra weeks can change the tax a lot.
Break-even price
With fees and no dividends, you need to sell above your buy price to break even. The calculator shows the exact price per share.
Sources
Quick check: test yourself
You buy 50 shares at $20 and sell at $25. What is the profit before fees?
Correct answer: $250. 50 × ($25 − $20) = $250.
In the United States, a stock held for more than how long qualifies for long-term capital gains rates?
Correct answer: One year. Gains on assets held more than one year are long-term.
A stock rises from $40 to $50. What is the percentage gain?
Correct answer: 25%. 10 ÷ 40 = 0.25.
Pick an answer for each question.
Common questions
How do I calculate stock profit?
Multiply the shares by the sell price, subtract fees, and subtract what you paid including the buy fee.
What is annualized return?
The yearly rate that would give the same total return over the days you held the stock.
How are stock gains taxed?
Gains on shares held one year or less are taxed as ordinary income. Longer holds get lower rates of 0%, 15% or 20%.
Do dividends count?
Yes. Add them to your total return. This calculator includes them in profit and tax.
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