Stock Profit Calculator
Calculate profit or loss from buying and selling shares, including commissions, fees, dividends and taxes — plus your return percentage and the break-even sell price.
Written and reviewed by the CalcBundle editorial team. Transparent formulas · results are estimates, not advice.
Net profit
Enter a number of shares and a buy price greater than zero.
How stock profit is calculated
- Gross profit = (sell price − buy price) × shares
- Net profit = gross profit + dividends − commissions − fees − taxes
- Return % = net profit ÷ total purchase cost × 100
Fees and commissions
Every buy and sell can carry a commission, and there may be other fees. Because they apply on both sides of the trade, they raise your break-even and eat into returns — especially on smaller positions.
Break-even sell price
The break-even sell price is what you must sell at just to recover your costs: (total purchase cost + sell commission + other fees) ÷ shares. Below it you realise a loss, which this calculator shows clearly as a negative result.
Profit vs return percentage
A $1,000 profit means more on a $5,000 position than on a $50,000 one — that is why the return percentage matters. To annualize a multi-year holding, use the CAGR calculator, add income with the dividend calculator, and see the overall figure in the investment return calculator.
Example
Buying 100 shares at $50 and selling at $60 with no fees is a $1,000 gross profit — a 20% return on the $5,000 purchase cost.
Frequently asked questions
How is stock profit calculated?
Gross profit is sale value minus purchase cost. Net profit adds any dividends and subtracts commissions, other fees and taxes. Return % is net profit divided by total purchase cost.
How do fees and commissions affect profit?
Commissions and fees are paid on both the buy and the sell, so they raise your effective cost and lower your net profit. Small percentage moves can be wiped out by fees on small trades.
What is the break-even sell price?
It is the price per share at which you neither gain nor lose after buying costs and selling costs: (total purchase cost + sell commission + other fees) ÷ number of shares.
What is the difference between profit and return percentage?
Profit is a cash amount; return percentage expresses that profit relative to what you invested, which makes trades of different sizes comparable.
Related calculators
Disclaimer. This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on the information you enter and the assumptions used by the calculator. Actual financial, tax, business valuation, lending, marketplace or investment outcomes may differ. Consider consulting a qualified professional for decisions involving significant amounts of money. This calculator estimates profit or loss from the prices and costs entered. It is not investment advice, and no live prices are used.