Stock Profit Calculator
Calculate your profit or loss and percentage return on a stock trade — including fees — and see how the return stacks up against the market’s ~10%/yr average.
How you compare to other people
Where you land
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Learn moreReading your trade return
Your stock profit is proceeds minus cost, after commissions. The return — profit divided by what you put in — matters more than the dollar figure, because it lets you compare trades of different sizes and against a benchmark. Over the long run the S&P 500 has returned about 10%/year; beating that consistently is the bar active traders measure against. This shows pre-tax results; capital-gains tax applies on gains.
How it’s calculated & sources
Cost = buy price × shares + fees. Proceeds = sell price × shares − fees. Profit = proceeds − cost; return = profit ÷ cost. Compared to the ~10%/yr S&P 500 average.
Benchmark: S&P 500 long-run average total return ~10%/yr nominal — the yardstick for judging an investment return.
Results update as you type and are general estimates, not personalized advice. Verify with a professional.
Worked example
Buying 100 shares at $50 ($5,000) and selling at $65 ($6,500) is a $1,500 profit — a 30% return, well ahead of the ~10%/yr market average.
Frequently asked questions
How is stock profit calculated?
Proceeds (sell price × shares, minus fees) minus cost (buy price × shares, plus fees). The return is that profit divided by your cost.
Does this include taxes?
No — it’s pre-tax. Gains are subject to capital-gains tax; short-term gains (held under a year) are taxed as ordinary income.
What’s a good return?
Beating the ~10%/yr S&P 500 average over time is the common benchmark, but compare on a risk-adjusted basis too.