Capital gains yield is the price part of an investment’s return. Growth companies that pay no dividends deliver all of their return as capital gains; income stocks deliver more of it as dividends.
How to use the Capital Gains Yield Calculator
- Purchase price per share
- Current price per share
- Number of shares
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the price you bought at, the current price and the number of shares.
Tips
- Use the nominal annual rate and pick the compounding frequency your bank or broker states.
- Small differences in return or fees compound into large differences over decades.
- Run the calculation with a cautious, a central and an optimistic return to see the range of outcomes.
- Past returns do not guarantee future returns – nothing here is investment advice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing an APR with an APY or effective rate.
- Ignoring inflation, taxes and fees when judging a real return.
- Entering a percentage as a decimal (5 instead of 0.05 is correct here).
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Purchase price per share | Amount in your currency |
| Current price per share | Amount in your currency |
| Number of shares | A number |
What each result means
- Capital gains yield = ([Current price per share] – [Purchase price per share])÷[Purchase price per share]×100
- Capital gain per share = [Current price per share] – [Purchase price per share]
- Total capital gain = ([Current price per share] – [Purchase price per share])×[Number of shares]
Example values
How the main result changes when Purchase price per share changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Purchase price per share | Capital gains yield (%) |
|---|---|
| 25 | 148 |
| 37.5 | 65.33 |
| 50 | 24 |
| 62.5 | -0.8 |
| 75 | -17.33 |
| 100 | -38 |
Formula
Capital gains yield = (current price − purchase price) ÷ purchase price × 100Total return = capital gains yield + dividend yieldWorked example
Inputs — Purchase price per share: $50; Current price per share: $62; Number of shares: 100.
Results — Capital gains yield = 24 %; Capital gain per share = $12.00; Total capital gain = $1,200.00.
Frequently asked questions
What is capital gains yield?
The percentage change in an asset's price over a period.
Does capital gains yield include dividends?
No – add the dividend yield to get total return.
Is a capital gain taxed when the price rises?
Usually only when you sell (a realized gain).
What formula does the Capital Gains Yield Calculator use?
Capital gains yield = (current price − purchase price) ÷ purchase price × 100.