Stock Profit Calculator
Work out the net profit or loss and percent return on a stock trade after buy and sell commissions.
How it works
Cost = buy price × shares + buy fee · Proceeds = sell price × shares − sell fee · Profit = proceeds − cost · Return = profit ÷ cost
The profit on a stock trade is what you receive when you sell minus everything you paid to get in and out. Commissions raise your cost basis on the buy and shave your proceeds on the sell, so a trade that looks profitable on price alone can be thinner after fees. The percent return divides that profit by the total cost, which is the honest denominator because it includes the buy commission you had to pay.
Worked example
Buying 100 shares at $50 costs $5,000, and selling at $75 brings in $7,500 with no commissions. That is a $2,500 net profit — a 50% return on the $5,000 invested. Add a $10 fee on each side and the profit slips to $2,480, or about 49.5%.
Frequently asked questions
Does this account for taxes?
No. A realized gain is normally taxable — short-term if you held under a year, long-term at lower rates if you held longer. Run the profit through a capital gains estimate to see the after-tax figure.
Why divide by cost instead of proceeds?
Return measures growth on the money you committed, which is the cost including the buy commission. Dividing by proceeds would understate the gain and is not how brokers report performance.
What if I sell for less than I paid?
The profit turns negative and the calculator shows it as a loss. A capital loss can often offset other gains and a limited amount of ordinary income at tax time — check the current rules.
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Educational estimate, not investment or tax advice. Returns are never guaranteed and past performance does not predict the future. Confirm with a licensed advisor.