Investment Return Calculator

$
$

Fees, dividends, holding period and tax are in the inspector.

Try a scenario
Position is profitable

Net profit after fees

$5,260.10

The position moved from a $6,754.95 cost basis to $12,015.05 in net proceeds, including dividends.

($78.00 × 150) + dividends − fees − cost basis

Return sensitivity

How total ROI changes if the assumed selling price moves 20% either side of your estimate.

Return on investment

77.9%

Profit divided by cost basis

Annualized return

47.59%

Compounded over the holding period

After-tax profit

$4,471.08

15% tax assumption

Return breakdown

What the headline profit is actually made of, and what it becomes at other exit prices. Dividends and fees move the break-even away from the price you paid.

Return breakdown — $5,260.10 net on a $6,754.95 cost basis
ComponentAmountOf cost basis
Price change$4,950.0073.28%
Dividends$320.004.74%
Fees-$9.90-0.15%
Net profit$5,260.1077.87%
After 15% tax$4,471.0866.19%

$5,260.10 net on a $6,754.95 cost basis

Cost basis

$6,754.95

Gross proceeds

$12,020.00

Break-even price

$42.93

10% after-tax target

$48.23

$9.90 total fees

Finance

Back to the tool

Investment Return Calculator

Reconstruct the return on a completed investment from purchase price, sale price, quantity, fees, dividends, holding period, and an estimated tax rate. See net profit, ROI, annualized return, breakeven price, and where the gross gain went.

Fees included
Net
Estimate shown
After tax
Annualized return
CAGR
Exit price
Break-even

Step by step

How to use it

  1. 01

    01Enter the trade

    Use the actual buy and sell prices and number of shares or units.

  2. 02

    02Add cash flows and costs

    Include buy fees, sell fees, and dividends so ROI measures the whole position rather than price movement alone.

  3. 03

    03Set the holding period

    Annualization needs elapsed days; it is most interpretable for periods long enough to represent an investment horizon.

  4. 04

    04Read gross and net results

    Separate price gain, income, fees, and estimated tax instead of relying on one headline percentage.

Worked example

A profitable trade after fees

Given

Buy
100 shares at $40
Sell
100 shares at $46
Dividends and fees
$80 dividends · $20 fees

Net return

sale proceeds       $4,600
+ dividends             80
− purchase cost      4,000
− fees                  20
──────────────────────────
net profit             $660
Capital invested
$4,010
Net profit
$660
ROI
≈ 16.46%

Price return alone is 15%, but dividends lift it and fees reduce it. Taxes are scenario-dependent, so the after-tax figure is an estimate rather than a filing calculation.

Why this one

A return needs all the cash flows

Price change is not total return

Dividends, distributions, commissions, and other fees change what the position actually earned.

ROI and annualized return answer different questions

ROI measures the whole holding period; annualization converts that growth rate to an equivalent one-year pace.

Annualizing a short trade can look absurd

Compounding a few days of gain across a full year magnifies noise. Report the holding-period return alongside it.

Taxes are not a flat universal rate

Jurisdiction, account type, holding period, losses, and income can change tax treatment substantially.

The judgement call

Which return should you quote?

  • Describe this completed position

    Net ROI

    It includes the investment’s actual cash flows and costs.

  • Compare investments held for different lengths

    Annualized return

    It puts growth on a common time basis.

  • Compare with a benchmark

    Same dates and cash-flow method

    Otherwise timing differences can dominate the comparison.

  • Prepare a tax return

    Broker and tax records

    A flat-rate estimate does not implement tax-lot or jurisdiction rules.

Reference

The numbers behind it

Net profit
Sale + dividends − purchase − fees
ROI
Net profit / capital invested
Annualized return
(ending / beginning)^(365/days) − 1
Breakeven sale price
Price covering cost and fees

FAQ

Questions, answered plainly

How is investment ROI calculated?

Net profit is divided by the capital invested. This calculator includes purchase cost, buy and sell fees, dividends, and sale proceeds.

What is annualized return?

Annualized return is the constant yearly rate that would compound from the starting value to the ending value over the entered holding period.

Should dividends be included?

Yes for total return. Dividends are cash received from the investment and can materially change performance.

How is the breakeven price calculated?

It solves for the sale price that covers the purchase cost and transaction fees after accounting for any entered dividends.

Is the after-tax return exact?

No. It applies the entered rate as a simple estimate. Real taxation depends on account, location, holding period, basis, and other gains or losses.

Trade details are calculated locally and are not uploaded. Results are educational estimates, not tax or investment advice.

Keep going

Related tools

Compound Interest Calculator

Project how a return could compound over time.

Open tool

Retirement Planner

Use a long-term return assumption in an income plan.

Open tool

Savings Goal Calculator

Connect investment growth to a dated target.

Open tool

Percentage Calculator

Check a percentage change or share independently.

Open tool