A stock trade can look profitable before fees and taxes, then shrink sharply after execution costs. Model the full round trip before placing or closing a position.
"The clean number is net profit after fees, dividends, and estimated tax. That is the amount the trade actually keeps."
Cost Basis
Add buy commissions to your cost basis so ROI reflects capital actually committed. FINRA explains core stock order types that can affect execution price.
Tax Drag
Tax is applied only to positive gross profit here, but real capital gains rules vary by country and holding period.
Break-even Discipline
Compare the break-even price to your stop-loss and target. A narrow spread can make fees matter more than the price move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Net profit = sale value - total investment - sell fee + dividends - tax. The calculator treats buy fees as part of your cost basis and applies tax only when gross profit is positive.
Use fixed fees for flat commissions and percentage fees when your broker charges a rate based on trade value. The model supports both on buy and sell sides.
Break-even is the sell price per share where the trade covers the purchase cost, buy fee, dividends, and selected sell-fee model before tax.
Yes. Dividends are added to gross profit before tax. For real tax planning, check local rules or a resource like IRS capital gains guidance.
No. This calculator models one trade. Portfolio performance should also include open positions, cash flows, dividend reinvestment, and time-weighted returns.
