Stock Calculator
Calculate stock investment returns, analyze dividend yields, and evaluate portfolio performance.
Stock Position
Dividends & Holding Period
Costs & Tax Considerations
Investment Results
Current Value
100 shares
Total Gain/Loss
30.00%
Total Return
Including $513 dividends
How it works
A stock calculator computes the profit or loss and return on a share trade. It subtracts your total cost (purchase price times shares, plus fees) from the proceeds (sale price times shares, minus fees), then expresses the gain as a percentage.
Stock profit & return
Profit = (sell − buy) × shares − fees Return% = profit ÷ (buy × shares) × 100
- buy/sell
- price per share in and out
- shares
- number of shares
- fees
- commissions both ways
Worked example
- Buy 100 shares at $50
- Sell at $65, $10 total fees
- Gross = (65 − 50) × 100 = $1,500
- Net = 1,500 − 10
Profit ≈ $1,490 — a ~29.8% return.
Good to know
- Include dividends received for total return, not just the price change.
- Holding over a year usually qualifies for lower long-term capital gains tax rates.
- Fees and the bid-ask spread matter most on small or frequent trades.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my stock return?
Total return = (sale price - purchase price + dividends received) / purchase price x 100. Include commissions and fees in the cost. A $1,000 position sold for $1,150 after $30 of dividends returned 18%.
What is dividend yield?
Annual dividends per share divided by the share price, times 100. A stock at $80 paying $2.40 a year yields 3%. Total return combines this income with price appreciation.
How are stock gains taxed?
Shares held over one year qualify for long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20% federally); shares held a year or less are taxed as ordinary income. Qualified dividends get the long-term rates too.
What is cost basis when I bought shares at different prices?
Your basis can use specific-lot identification or average cost (for funds). Which lots you sell determines the taxable gain, so choosing high-basis lots can reduce this year's tax bill.
How do I calculate a stock's annualized return (CAGR)?
CAGR = (ending value / beginning value)^(1/years) - 1. A stock that grew from $5,000 to $9,000 in four years compounded at about 15.8% per year, regardless of the bumpy path in between.