Stock Return Calculator
Calculate total return, capital gains, and annualized returns for stock investments. Analyze your investment performance with dividends included.
Educational use only. Not financial advice. Results are estimates. Trading involves risk. Read full disclaimer.
Understanding your investment returns is essential for evaluating performance and making informed decisions. This calculator helps you determine your total return, capital gains, dividend yield, and annualized return for stock investments. Whether you're analyzing a completed trade or evaluating an ongoing position, this tool gives you a clear picture of your investment performance.
Stock Return Calculator
Results
Total Return
$+1,000.00
Total Return %
+20.00%
Capital Gain
$+1,000.00
Capital Gain %
+20.00%
Estimates only.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter purchase price: The price per share when you bought the stock.
- Enter sale price: The price per share when you sold (or current price if still holding).
- Enter number of shares: How many shares you bought.
- Enter dividends (optional): Total dividends received during the holding period.
- Enter holding period (optional): Number of years you held the stock for annualized return calculation.
- Review results: See total return, capital gain, dividend yield, and annualized return.
Formula
Initial Investment = Purchase Price × Shares
Final Value = Sale Price × Shares
Capital Gain = Final Value - Initial Investment
Capital Gain % = (Capital Gain ÷ Initial Investment) × 100
Total Return = Capital Gain + Dividends
Total Return % = (Total Return ÷ Initial Investment) × 100
Dividend Yield = (Dividends ÷ Initial Investment) × 100
Annualized Return = ((1 + Total Return %) ^ (1 ÷ Years)) - 1) × 100
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting about dividends: Many investors only look at price appreciation, but dividends can significantly boost total returns, especially for dividend-paying stocks.
- Not accounting for commissions: Trading fees reduce your actual return. If you paid $10 to buy and $10 to sell, subtract $20 from your total return.
- Comparing apples to oranges: Don't compare a 6-month return to a 5-year return without annualizing. Use annualized returns to compare investments with different holding periods.
- Ignoring taxes: Pre-tax returns look better than after-tax returns. Factor in capital gains taxes and dividend taxes when evaluating real performance.