How is asset return calculated?
Asset return compares the total acquisition cost with the net proceeds you would actually receive at sale. Price movement alone is not enough: fixed costs and exit commissions can materially change the result.
Net profit / loss formula
Total acquisition cost = purchase price × quantity + fixed purchase cost. Net sale proceeds = sale price × quantity − percentage sale fee − fixed sale cost. Net profit/loss = net sale proceeds − total acquisition cost.
How is net return calculated?
Net return is net profit or loss divided by total acquisition cost, multiplied by 100. This makes positions of different sizes easier to compare on a percentage basis.
How is break-even price calculated?
Break-even price is the unit sale price that makes net sale proceeds equal total acquisition cost. Percentage and fixed exit fees are included when solving backward.
How is target price calculated?
The selected target return is added to total acquisition cost, then the calculator solves backward for the unit sale price required after exit fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I enter the bid/ask spread separately?
No, not if your purchase and sale prices already reflect the broker or platform quote. Enter only additional exit commissions or percentage fees that are charged separately.
Can I use the current market price as the sale price?
Yes, but for the most realistic net result use the unit price you could actually receive on sale. A reference or mid-market price may differ from your executable price.
Can the calculator show a negative return?
Yes. If net sale proceeds are below total acquisition cost, the result shows a loss and the break-even price needed to bring net profit back to zero.
What does the target return field do?
For example, with a 10% target return, the calculator estimates the unit sale price needed to reach that net ROI after the entered transaction costs.
Can I use the same calculation for gold, currencies and other assets?
Yes. The core math is the same: purchase price, sale price and quantity determine gross amounts, while entered transaction costs adjust the net result.
Does this calculator provide investment advice?
No. It only calculates profit/loss, returns and price thresholds from your inputs; it does not recommend buying, selling or holding.
What is asset return?
Asset return measures how much an investment has gained or lost relative to its acquisition cost. It is useful to distinguish two related measures: unit price change compares only purchase and sale prices, while net return also includes entered transaction costs.
As a result, an asset can rise in price while fixed costs or sale commissions reduce the investor’s actual net return. The calculator reports price movement and net return separately so the difference is clear.
Gold return
For gold, use purchase price per gram, sale/current price per gram and the total grams held. Using executable purchase and sale prices avoids counting the spread twice.
Currency return
For a currency position, use the price paid per unit, the sale/current price and the amount held. Any separately charged fee or commission is deducted from sale proceeds.
Another currency or asset
The same net-profit logic applies to another currency or asset as long as prices, quantity and costs are expressed consistently in the selected base currency.
Net return vs. price change
Price change measures how much the unit sale price differs from the purchase price. Net return considers the entire position and also includes entered purchase costs, sale costs and percentage exit fees, so the two percentages do not have to match.
Price change (%) = (sale price − purchase price) ÷ purchase price × 100
Net return (%) = net profit / loss ÷ total acquisition cost × 100
For smaller or shorter-term positions, fixed costs can represent a larger share of invested capital, making the difference between price change and net return more noticeable.