Stock Profit/Loss Calculator

Calculate profit or loss on a share trade after commission, including dividends received.

Please note: For information only, not investment advice. Share prices can fall as well as rise and past performance does not predict future results.

What the Stock Profit/Loss Calculator does

Total return on a share position is the capital gain plus any dividends received, net of commission on both sides. Ignoring dividends understates the return on income-paying shares, sometimes substantially.

Formula

Cost = Buy price × Shares + Buy commission
Proceeds = Sell price × Shares − Sell commission
Total profit = Proceeds − Cost + Dividends
Return % = Total profit ÷ Cost × 100

Inputs explained

Input	Unit	Required	Notes
Buy price per share	selected currency	Yes	Accepts more than 0.
Sell price per share	selected currency	Yes	Accepts more than 0.
Number of shares	number	Yes	Accepts more than 0.
Buy commission	selected currency	Optional	Accepts 0 or more.
Sell commission	selected currency	Optional	Accepts 0 or more.
Dividends received	selected currency	Optional	Accepts 0 or more.
Currency	one of 10 options	Optional	—

How to use it

Choose Currency.
Enter Buy price per share, Sell price per share and Number of shares.
Optionally add Buy commission, Sell commission and Dividends received.
Select Calculate.

Worked example

200 shares bought at $45, sold at $58, $10 commission each way, $180 of dividends.

Buy: 45
Sell: 58
Shares: 200
Commission: 10 / 10
Dividends: 180

Cost $9,010, proceeds $11,590, capital gain $2,580 plus $180 dividends = $2,760, a 30.6% return.

Frequently asked questions

Should I include dividends in my return?

Yes. Over long periods reinvested dividends have accounted for a large share of total equity returns. A price-only figure understates what you actually earned.

Why is my break-even above my buy price?

Because commission is charged on both the purchase and the sale. The shares must rise enough to cover both before you profit.