How to Figure Your Profit Percentage When You Sell a Stock
When selling a stock, it is easy to see the profit or loss in dollar amounts, but it takes more work to determine the percentage gain from the sale of a stock. The percentage provides a more accurate measure of profit or loss since the calculation is based on a relative change in price, rather than just dollar amounts, which don't mean much in themselves.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Find the initial price paid for a stock, along with the price it was sold for. If you don't remember these numbers, contact your broker or check your trade history on your stock broker's website
-
2
Subtract the purchase price from the sale price.
-
-
3
Divide the result of Step 2 by the original purchase price of the stock, then multiply by 100. This will be the percentage that a stock price increased (if positive) or decreased (if negative). As an example, consider buying a stock for $10, and selling it for $15. Subtract $10 from $15 to get a $5 gain. Divide $5 by $10 and multiply by 100. The increase in this example is (5/10)100) = 50 percent.
-
1
