How do I calculate stock profit?

Profit = (Sell price − Buy price) × Shares − Commissions − Taxes + Dividends received. Compare to initial outlay for percentage return.

What is total return vs price return?

Price return is purely capital gains. Total return includes reinvested dividends — for many large-cap stocks dividends account for 30–50% of long-run total return.

How is annualised return different from total return?

Annualised (CAGR) smooths total return over years to make different holding periods comparable. Total return doesn't account for time; CAGR does.

📊 Stock Profit Calculator

Free, accurate, GDPR compliant. All calculations run in your browser — no data is ever stored or shared.

Buy Price per Share (€)

Sell Price per Share (€)

Number of Shares

Currency

Buy Commission (€)

Sell Commission (€)

Dividends Received (€)

Capital Gains Tax Rate (%)

⚠️ Illustrative only. CGT treatment varies by country, holding period and individual circumstances. Consult a tax adviser. Not financial advice.

About the Stock Profit Calculator

The Stock Profit Calculator is free to use and all calculations run entirely in your browser. This tool calculates the profit or loss from a stock trade, accounting for the number of shares purchased, the buy and sell price, and any trading commissions or fees. It also shows your return on investment (ROI) as a percentage, making it easy to compare different trades.

What It Calculates

Gross profit/loss — the raw gain or loss before fees: (Sell Price − Buy Price) × Number of Shares
Net profit/loss — gross profit minus total trading commissions (buy-side and sell-side)
ROI — net profit as a percentage of total cost (shares cost + buy commission)
Break-even price — the sell price required to cover your purchase cost and commissions exactly

Why Trading Fees Matter

Many investors underestimate the impact of trading commissions on returns. A €10 commission on a €200 trade is a 5% overhead before a single cent of profit is made. This is why low-cost platforms and ETFs have grown in popularity — keeping costs low is one of the few certainties in investing.

Tax on Stock Profits

Profits from selling shares are subject to capital gains tax above the applicable annual exemption. Rates and exemptions vary by country — for example, Ireland charges 33% CGT, Germany 25% Abgeltungsteuer, and France applies a 30% flat tax (PFU). Tax-sheltered accounts such as pension wrappers can reduce or eliminate capital gains tax on qualifying investments.

Understanding ROI vs. Annualised Return

ROI tells you the total percentage gain, but does not account for how long you held the shares. A 20% ROI over 5 years is very different from a 20% ROI over 6 months. For a more meaningful comparison across trades of different durations, consider calculating the annualised return (CAGR).

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Important Note: This tool is intended to provide estimates and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. Information generated by these calculators may be incomplete and does not account for all individual circumstances. Always seek the counsel of a certified expert (such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or licensed engineer) before taking action based on these results.

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