Calculate stock profit, loss, and return on investment
Enter your buy price per share, sell price per share, number of shares, and any commission fees. Click Calculate to see total profit or loss, ROI percentage, and net proceeds.
Key Output — This is the primary number the calculator returns. It represents the answer to the question you asked, calculated using standard financial formulas.
Breakdown Details — These supporting numbers show you how the result was reached. They help you understand what's driving the outcome and where you might adjust your inputs.
What to Look For — Pay attention to how small changes in inputs affect the outputs. The relationship between your inputs and results is where the real insight lives — that's what helps you make better decisions.
Every calculation uses standard financial math — the same formulas banks, lenders, and investment platforms use. The inputs you provide determine the accuracy of the result.
Marcus bought 15 shares of a well-known tech company at $88 per share, with a $7 flat commission fee. He's been watching the stock for weeks and it's now at $103. He wants to see if selling now is worth it after fees and taxes — he's in the 22% federal capital gains bracket.
"I honestly expected the fees to eat way more. But seeing how much higher the tax is for short-term sales makes me think I should hold at least a year before even considering selling."
Takeaway: Small profits can be surprisingly resilient to fees, but the holding period dramatically changes your net — always check before clicking "sell."
Priya inherited 200 shares of an industrial company at $34 per share. After a recent merger, the stock surged to $67. She wants to sell half to diversify, but needs to understand her exact gain and whether the inherited cost basis means she owes zero tax. She uses the calculator with the stepped-up basis of $34.
"I thought inherited stock was basically free money with no tax. Seeing the actual numbers — I still owe $495 on $3,300 gain. That's real money I need to set aside, not spend."
Takeaway: Inherited stock gets a stepped-up basis, but the gain from that new basis is still taxable — never assume "no tax" just because you didn't buy it yourself.
Diane sold 50 shares of a REIT at a $12/share loss in late December to offset gains from other stocks. She bought back 50 shares of the same REIT 18 days later. She runs the calculator to see what actually happened, entering her original buy price of $45, sell at $33, and her repurchase date.
"I thought I was being clever harvesting losses before year-end. Now I've got a $600 loss that's frozen and won't help my taxes this year. Next time I'll set a calendar alert for 31 days."
Takeaway: Tax-loss harvesting only works if you stay out of the same security for 30 full days — timing matters more than the size of the loss in a wash sale scenario.
See how different inputs affect the result:
| Scenario | Key Input | Result A | Result B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus | Holding period (tax rate) | Long-term: $218.64 net | Short-term: $199.50 net |
| Priya | Cost basis method | Stepped-up ($34): $495 tax | Original ($12): $1,320 tax |
| Diane | Repurchase timing | 18 days: $0 deductible loss | 31 days: $600 deductible loss |
| Diane (extended) | Alternative: hold 1 year | No wash sale: $600 loss now | Loss deferred to basis: future gain lower |
The single biggest variable across all three scenarios is timing — whether it's how long you hold, when you buy back, or the tax year you settle in. The calculator shows that a few days or months can change your net profit by hundreds of dollars.
Disclaimer: All calculations and scenarios are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. They assume constant conditions — real-world results may vary. These calculators are educational tools, not financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.