Stock Profit Calculator
Work out profit or loss on a stock trade after commissions and dividends, with return on investment, annualized return, break-even price and estimated tax.
This stock profit calculator shows what a trade really earned once commissions and dividends are counted. Enter the share count and your buy and sell prices to get net profit, return on investment and the break-even sell price. Add the dates to see the annualized return and whether the gain counts as short-term or long-term for US taxes.
How to use this tool
- Enter the number of shares and the price you paid per share.
- Enter the sell price (or a target price you are considering).
- Add any commissions and the dividends you collected while holding.
- Optionally enter the buy and sell dates and an estimated tax rate on the gain.
Formula
Profit = shares × sell − sell fee + dividends − (shares × buy + buy fee); ROI = profit ÷ total cost × 100
Annualized return = ((proceeds + dividends) ÷ cost)^(365 ÷ days held) − 1. Break-even price = (shares × buy + both commissions) ÷ shares.
Example
You buy 100 shares at $50 on January 15, 2025 and sell them at $65 on January 20, 2026 with no fees. Cost is $5,000, proceeds are $6,500, so the net profit is $1,500 and the return is 30%. The position was held 370 days, which makes it long-term, and the annualized return works out to about 29.5%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the break-even price?
It is the sell price that recovers the purchase cost and both commissions, before counting dividends. With no commissions it equals your buy price.
Should dividends count toward profit?
Yes, dividends count toward total return. The tax estimate applies only to the gain on the sale; any tax on dividends is separate and is not calculated here.
When is a gain long-term?
Under IRS rules, a gain is long-term if you held the shares for more than one year before selling. One year or less is short-term and is taxed as ordinary income.
Why is annualized return different from ROI?
ROI ignores time. Annualized return spreads the gain over the holding period, so a 30% gain over two years is about 14% a year, while the same gain in six months annualizes to much more.
Sources
This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.
Last updated: 2026-10-30