Investing
Stock Return Calculator
Calculate stock profit or loss, return percentage, and total sale proceeds using buy price, sell price, shares, and costs.
What does this calculator answer?
Stock return is net profit divided by total purchase cost. Fees and taxes can turn a headline gain into a smaller real return, so they should be included when possible.
Inputs
Results
Net profit/loss
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Return
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Sale proceeds
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Formula
Return = (sale proceeds - purchase cost - fees/taxes) ÷ purchase cost × 100
Example
Buying 30 shares at $50 and selling them at $58 with $5 in costs produces $235 in net profit and a return of about 15.67%.
Common mistakes
- Using sale proceeds instead of purchase cost as the return base
- Leaving out fees and taxes
- Mixing a partial sale with total position shares
Important note
Tax treatment varies by country, account type, and holding period. Confirm actual results with your broker or tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If sale value after costs is below purchase cost, the profit and return will be negative.
No. Add dividends separately if you want total return.
Enter only the shares that were sold for this calculation.