Calculate Stock Profit & Loss
Enter buy price, sell price, and shares to see total profit, ROI, and capital gains tax estimate.
Calculating Stock Profit
Stock profit = (Sell Price × Shares - Sell Fees) - (Buy Price × Shares + Buy Fees). Buying 100 shares at $45 and selling at $72: ($72 × 100) - ($45 × 100) = $2,700 profit before taxes. Most brokers now charge $0 commission (Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood), making the calculation simpler. Always factor in taxes — they significantly reduce your actual profit.
Capital Gains Tax
Short-term gains (held under 1 year) are taxed as ordinary income (10-37%). Long-term gains (held over 1 year) get preferential rates: 0% (income under $47K), 15% ($47K-$518K), or 20% (over $518K). Holding stocks for at least one year and one day can save 10-22% in taxes. This single rule is one of the most impactful tax strategies for individual investors.
Tax-loss harvesting — selling losing positions to offset gains — can save investors thousands annually. Unlike crypto, stocks ARE subject to the wash sale rule: you cannot rebuy the same stock within 30 days of selling at a loss. Buy a similar (not identical) fund instead.
