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Asked: 2026-04-01T00:01:02+00:00 In:

How Do I Understand Profit and Total Returns on US Stocks?

On my USA stocks I bought last month from 3 different companies.
Total return showing $1.50
Total return showing $3.70
Total return showing $4.17
What does this mean???

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2 Answers

  2. Rose
    Starter Profile Credentials

    That “Total Return” is your PROFIT (or loss). Yes. Simple as that. Let Me Explain With a Simple Story Mama Ngozi buys tomatoes for ₦10,000. After one week, the tomatoes are now worth ₦11,500. What is her gain? ₦11,500 – ₦10,000 = ₦1,500 profit That ₦1,500 is her return Oya… Relax Let Me Explain WhatRead more

    That “Total Return” is your PROFIT (or loss).

    Yes.

    Simple as that.

    Let Me Explain With a Simple Story

    Mama Ngozi buys tomatoes for ₦10,000.

    After one week, the tomatoes are now worth ₦11,500.

    What is her gain?

    ₦11,500 – ₦10,000 = ₦1,500 profit

    That ₦1,500 is her return

    Oya… Relax Let Me Explain

    What “Total Return” Means

    When your app shows:

    • +$1.50
    •     +$3.70
    •     +$4.17

    It means:

    👉 That is how much profit you have made on each stock

    Example Breakdown

    Stock A

    You invested maybe:

    • $50

    Now it is worth:

    • $51.50

    👉 Total return = +$1.50

    Stock B

    You invested:

    • $100

    Now:

    • $103.70

    👉 Return = +$3.70

    Stock C

    You invested:

    • $80

    Now:

    • $84.17

    👉 Return = +$4.17

    Important Thing You Must Know

    This return comes from:

    1. Price Increase

    If the stock price goes up:

    ✓ your return increases

    2. Dividends (if any)

    If the company pays dividend:

    ✓ it adds to your return

    Let Me Be Honest With You

    That number is:

    ✓ not yet your money in hand

    Why?

    Because:

    👉 You have NOT sold the stock yet

    So It Is Called:

    ✓ Unrealized profit

    When Does It Become Real Money?

    Only when you:

    👉 SELL the stock

    Simple Truth

    • Before selling → profit on screen
    • After selling → profit in your pocket

    Final Truth

    Those numbers you are seeing mean:

    👉 Your investment is currently growing

    Let Me Leave You With This

    Don’t rush to sell just because you see small profit.

    Ask yourself:

    • Am I investing long-term?
    • Do I believe in this company?

    Because real wealth is not built from:

    ✓ small quick gains

    But from:

    ✓ patience and growth over time

     

    Rose Ejituru

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  3. Ochoyoda
    Community Builder

    When your USA stocks show "Total Return", it simply means how much profit or loss you've made so far on that investment. So in your case: Total return: $1.50 → You’ve made $1.50 profit Total return: $3.70 → You’ve made $3.70 profit Total return: $4.17 → You’ve made $4.17 profit What "Total Return" IRead more

    When your USA stocks show “Total Return”, it simply means how much profit or loss you’ve made so far on that investment.

    So in your case:

    Total return: $1.50 → You’ve made $1.50 profit

    Total return: $3.70 → You’ve made $3.70 profit

    Total return: $4.17 → You’ve made $4.17 profit

    What “Total Return” Includes

    Total Return = Capital Gain/Loss + Dividends (if any)

    So it includes:

    📈 Price increase (stock price went up)

    💵 Dividends (if the company paid any)

    Example

    If you bought a stock:

    Bought at $100

    Now it’s $103.70

    Your Total Return = $3.70

    Your Total Profit So Far

    Add them together:

    $1.50

    $3.70

    $4.17

    Total Profit = $9.37 🎉

    So across your 3 US stocks, you’ve made $9.37 profit so far.

    Also note:

    If market drops, total return can become negative (loss) 📉

    If you hold long term, total return usually grows 📈

    See less

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