How to Calculate Stock Gain

Compute the cost basis for the stock trade. Cost basis consists of the original (purchase) price of the stock plus all fees and commissions paid for the purchase and sale of the stock. For example, if you bought 100 shares of a stock at $10/share ($1,000) and paid fees of $10 when you bought the stock and $12 to sell it, your cost basis is $1,000 plus $10 plus $12 for a total of $1,022.
Calculate the total proceeds. Your total proceeds include the money received from selling the stock plus the cash value of dividends received while you owned the shares. For instance, if you sold the 100 shares from Step 1 for $15/share ($1,500) and received a total of $50 in dividend income during the time you held the shares, your total proceeds are $1,500 plus $50, or $1,550.
Calculate stock gain or loss. Subtract the cost basis from total proceeds. If your cost basis is $1,022 (Step 1) and total proceeds are $1,550 (Step 2) your stock gain is $1,550 minus $1,022, which equals $528. If you get a negative number (meaning the cost basis is greater than total proceeds) you had a loss rather than a gain.
Figure your percentage gain or loss. It’s usually most useful to compare percentage gain or loss to see how well different investments have done. To convert stock gain into percentage stock gain, divide the stock gain by the cost basis and multiply by 100. In the example above, you would divide $528 (stock gain) by $1,022 (cost basis) and multiply the result by 100 to get a percentage stock gain of 51.7 percent.

How to Find Good Stock Investment Ideas

Check out the following websites: Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Stockpickr. All of these sites have some great information for stock investment ideas. On Yahoo Finance, take a look under the Investment tab and 'Education;' On MSN Money, go to the Investing tab then 'Stock Research' on the left hand column. Also, MSN Money publishes what they call 'Expert Picks.' This is basically a handful of investing experts who make recommendations for stocks and publish them free of charge. These expert picks can sometimes be very useful and lead to good investments, however I would not base your whole portfolio around them.
Go to www.MotleyFool.com. This website has probably some of the best information for independent investors. The website is a massive community of expert and amateur investors looking to share their own knowledge and make sound stock picks. When looking up stocks on this site, you not only get basic information about the company, but you can also see who is recommending the stock and if they are Bullish or Bearish on it. There is also something called CAPS, which is a rating system for specific stocks. If the stock has 5 stars, then it may be a golden investment opportunity. You can also see a list all of the stocks on the website that have gained the golden-clad 5 star rating.
If your really serious about making some money and finding profitable stocks, you can purchase MotleyFool.com's 'Premium Services.' A team of expert investment advisers will publish stock recommendations and sell them for a moderate price. According to the website, these stock recommendations have earned investors very high returns year after year. The site's most popular service is the Stock Advisor. It's a $199 per year newsletter that is currently earning investors around a 41% yearly return...Not Bad.
Also consider buying paid research services from websites such as Zacks.com. They publish expert picks on stocks they think will rise in the market. Be very careful when looking at these websites, though. Some sites say they are selling stock picks, but will often make exaggerated claims on how much money you could make. Sometimes these stocks are very speculative and risky (i.e. penny stocks).
Watch investing shows on MSNBC and CNBC such as Mad Money with Jim Cramer. Some people criticize these shows for the lack of accuracy of their stock picks. However for a new investor, these can give some good ideas for stock investments. From there, you can do some of your own research.
Look for booming industries or companies. A simple way to get great stocks ideas, is to look for the companies or industries that are up-and-coming or making huge trends in the market. If you think an industry sector is going to shoot up over the next few years (i.e. Alternative Energy sector), then buy some stock for companies in that industry (i.e. buy solar energy stocks!). Also, look at the fundamentals of a company. If you think a company is going to be profitable and have a good balance sheet, then consider buying their stock. A good example of this is Apple; excellent products combined with good company leadership and earnings lead this company's stock to almost $200/share in 2008.

How to Invest in the Danish Stock Market (7 Steps)

Research American brokerages that are members of the Copenhagen Exchange. Several dozen brokerages in the United States have been long-term members of the Danish stock market. These brokers have presence on the stock market floor, allowing you to move your investments quickly.
Attach conditions when you invest money in the Danish stock market. The Copenhagen Exchange allows you to establish a maximum price for purchasing shares, a minimum share for selling shares and a preordained time for transactions. These conditions are ideal on the SAXESS trading system because of delays for overseas investors.
Post collateral with your broker or bank when you are trading futures and options on the Copenhagen Exchange. The rules of the Exchange require investors to provide stocks, money or property to protect the bank from speculative ventures like derivatives.
Read through the customer agreement that your broker provides to you for Danish stock trades. While the market in Copenhagen follows international trade rules, foreign investors must follow specific banking and commerce rules in Denmark.
Magnify the power of your Danish portfolio by using the Nordic Exchange through OMX. This exchange connects investors through Copenhagen to markets in Scandinavian and Baltic countries in an instant.
Increase the security of your overseas portfolio by purchasing Danish government bonds. These bonds guarantee a return from the issuing bodies, which include Danish cities, the federal government and major corporations looking for financial backing.
Take advantage of the burgeoning Northern European technology market through the KVX index in Copenhagen. This index includes dozens of medical technology, software and other high-tech ventures that have demonstrated strong growth over the last few years. Utilize the KVX and other indexes only after you have developed an understanding of the Copenhagen Exchange.

How to Buy Chrysler Stock (5 Steps)

Establish an account with a stock brokerage company or an investment firm that has the ability to purchase American Depository Receipts (ADR), the American equivalent of foreign stocks. Deposit the required amount of funds into your account.
Determine the number of shares of Fiat stock you wish to purchase. Check the current price per share. Fiat stock trades on the Italian stock exchange of Fiat ADRs trade over-the-counter in the United States as Fiat SPA under the symbol FIATY.
Contact your investment broker and instruct him to enter a Buy order which may be At The Market or you may designate the price you wish to pay per share, which may be lower than the current market price.
Instruct your broker whether you wish to take possession of your stock certificates or if you wish to keep the stock in street name. Keeping the stock in street name provides more security in that you do not have to store your certificates and it makes it more convenient should you decide to sell your shares at a future date.
Continue to watch the major news outlets for breaking stories regarding Chrysler's emergence from bankruptcy. Eventually the U.S. Treasury will sell its stake in the company which may create an opportunity for individual investors to purchase shares. The company may also choose to become a public company again through an initial public offering, or Fiat may decide to spin the company off if it does not perform up to expectation, which may also present an opportunity for purchasing stock in Chrysler.

How to Buy Stock in Walt Disney Co.

Decide if you want to use a traditional brokerage to buy stock in Walt Disney Co. or open a direct stock purchase plan. Buying stock through a broker is usually more expensive (even with discount brokers) and requires higher investment minimums. However, you can use your brokerage account for other investments as well. A DSPP can only be used for the sponsoring company's stock, and you must adhere to the terms of the plan prospectus.
Open a cash account with a discount broker if you want to buy a share in Walt Disney Co. on the open market. Disney stock trades on the NYSE with the ticker symbol DIS. To open a cash account, you will need to provide a valid ID (driver's license, state ID or military ID), your income, place of employment and other personal information. A minimum deposit is required, usually $1,000. Once you've opened your account, all you have to do is place your order to buy a share of Walt Disney Co. with your broker.
Learn how the Walt Disney direct stock purchase plan works. The plan is set up with the company transfer agent, which is Disney Shareholder Services. The required investment is $250. This is payable in $50 (or more) monthly installments if you arrange for automatic debiting from your bank account. Each stock purchase transaction carries a fee of $1 if made by electronic funds transfer, or $5 if by check or money order. A per-share fee of 1 cent is also charged (subject to change without notice). There is a one-time setup fee of $10.
Enroll in the Disney DSPP if that's the best investment option for you. Read the plan prospectus before you complete the enrollment form. Both are available online (see Resources) or you can order paper copies by calling Disney Shareholder Services at 1-818-553-7200.
Select the features you want for your Disney DSPP. Dividends are reinvested automatically without charge. You can also get free safekeeping of your stock certificates, and you may transfer ownership of shares at no charge (to another member of your family, for example). Like most direct stock purchase plans, the Disney DSPP can be set up as a traditional or Roth IRA.

How to Buy Toyota Stock (8 Steps)

Research Toyota stock. Pull up a chart and most recent news articles. The ticker symbol for Toyota is TM (NYSE---TOYOTA MTR CP ADS). If you have a broker, request analyst reports. See Resources for a link to Yahoo! Finance research on Toyota.
Review the definition of an ADS. According to InvestorWords, an ADS is, 'A U.S. dollar-denominated equity share of a foreign-based company available for purchase on an American stock exchange.' ADS shares are usually issued by a bank. Essentially, these are international stock certificates.
Determine if you want a broker (face to face) or an online broker account. Do you need to be able to reach someone or do you prefer a text? If you are looking to make a trade at a discounted rate, finding an online brokerage is key. E-trade and Ameritrade are two reputable online firms.
Request an application or fill out an online application. You will be required to send or wire funds if you open the account online.
Determine how much you want to invest in Toyota at the given price. If you want to invest $100,000 and Toyota is selling for $100 you can buy 1000 shares, disregarding transaction costs. That is, divide the amount you wish to invest by the current price of the the Toyota ADS. This is an estimate of the amount of shares you will be purchasing at the current price.
Make a Buy Order. Follow the instructions to make a purchase (buy) order if online or call up a representative to help walk you through it. You will need to have the ticker symbol (TM), amount of shares you wish to purchase, the price you would like to purchase the shares at, and the length of time you would like the order to remain outstanding ('good until' date).
Buy mutual funds. Another way to buy Toyota stock without actively managing it is to buy mutual funds with Toyota ADS holdings. The largest holders of Toyota are Fidelity Diversified, Fidelity Overseas Fund, and Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund. Franklin Templeton VIP TR---Foreign Securities Fund also owns a significant share.
Request or print out the confirmation on the 'good until' date, the number of shares and the price.

How to Calculate Stock Averages

Add the total value of stock purchased on each stock ticket. This should be on your statement or ticket. If you don't have this, take the number of shares and multiply this to the price paid per share. For example, if you purchased 100 shares of XYZ stock at $15 per share, this would be $1500.
Add the total value of each purchase together. Assume you bought XYZ three times, each time purchasing 100 shares. You paid the following prices: $15, $10, $12. You would then have spent: $1500 + $1000 + $1200 = $3700.
Add the total number of shares you have purchased. For example if you bought 100 shares of XYZ stock three times, then you would have 300 shares total.
Divide the total dollar value spent by the total shares purchased: $3700/300 = $12.33/ per share.
You might need to consider the cost per transaction paid. If you are paying a commission for buying the stock, then add the commission price into the total amount spent before dividing it by the total number of shares. If you want to know your break-even price, add the estimated sales commission to the total dollar value as well. For example, if you spent $8 for each of the three trades, then: $3700 + $8 + $8 + $8 = $3724 for the total purchase price. If you will spend $8 on the sale, then your total would be $3732 / 300 shares = $12.44 for your break-even price.

How to Buy Stock as Gifts For Children (4 Steps)

Decide how to invest in or buy the shares of stock you are planning to give. The easiest and most financial efficient way to buy stocks for children as gifts is through Dividend Reinvestment Plans, or DRIPs. Many companies accept direct investments from anyone who wants to invest. This means that you can invest without going through a broker and without paying high fees and commission. Once you buy the first share for the child, anyone can continue adding to the account by buying more shares. The dividends earned by the shares of stock can be automatically reinvested to buy more.
Decide how to invest in the DRIP. Contact the individual companies via their Investor Relations department and ask if you can purchase shares of stock directly. Alternately, use a DRIP service company, which requires the child's Social Security number and the creation of a custodial account.
Choose a company in which to invest, which often means buying stocks with which you are familiar. Remember a child has a long-term horizon for investing. Buy shares in companies that offer growth over the long-term. Typically, growth companies don't pay dividends, or pay only a minimal amount. Income stocks pay dividends, but may not experience as much growth.
Buy the share of stock as a gift for your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. If you decide to buy directly from a company, you will receive a statement from the company representing the purchase. If you buy from a DRIP service company, you'll receive a statement with the purchased shares held in the custodial account.

How to Calculate the Expected Rate of Return for Preferred Stock

Determine the dividend on the preferred stock. Preferred stock generally pays a fixed dividend, so you will know how much the stock is going to pay the stock owner each year. For example, assume the dividend of the preferred stock is $12 per share annually. If the dividend is paid quarterly, you will need to multiply it by 4 to get the annual dividend.
Determine the selling price of the preferred stock. Businesses will have to deal with flotation costs in calculating a stock price, but an individual investor can simply look at the price that the stock is being offered for. For example, assume preferred stock in company ABC is being offered at $200 a share.
Divide the expected dividend per share by the price per share of the preferred stock. With our example, this would be $12/$200 or .06. Multiply this answer by 100 to get the percentage rate of return on your investment. In our example, .06 x 100 = 6 so the rate of return for the preferred stock is 6 percent per year.

How to Find the Average Price of Common Stock

Determine the purchase prices for the common stock and the quantity of stock purchased at particular prices. For example, assume you purchased 1,000 shares of stock in Company A at $5 per share, 1,500 shares at $4 per share and 2,500 shares at $10 per share.
Multiply the purchase prices by the quantity purchased and add. Continuing the example, (1,000 x $5) + (1,500 x $4) + (2,500 x $10) = $5,000 + $6,000 + $25,000 = $36,000
Add the total number of shares purchased. Continuing the example, 1,000 + 1,500 + 2,500 = 5,000 shares.
Divide the total cost of the shares by the total number of shares: $36,000/5,000 = $7.20. This is the average price of the common stock.

How to Calculate Outstanding Shares of Stock

Determine the par value of the share. The par value of the share is listed under stockholders' equity on the balance sheet. For example, Ricky Rat Corporation has a par value of $4 per common share.
Determine the value of the listed share on the balance sheet. This is a number listed under each year. Determine the year you want to calculate and look at the corresponding line underneath the year on the balance sheet. For example, Ricky Rat Corporation's common share is listed as $20,000 on their balance sheet.
Divide the listed share's value by the par value of the share to find the number of shares outstanding. For example divide $20,000/$4 = 5,000 shares.

How to Perfect a Lien Upon Shares of Stock (3 Steps)

Draft a security agreement, which gives you a lien on the shares of stock to guarantee the debt's repayment. Review the SBA Form Security Agreement for an informative example of a security agreement. Sign and date the security agreement. Request that the other party sign the security agreement as well.
Take physical possession of the stock share certificates. If the certificates are registered in the other party's name, request the party endorse the certificates over to you by separate document. Generally, the document need only recite the security terms, and that the shares are assigned and transferred to you pursuant to the security agreement. The physical possession of the stock constitutes perfection in the majority of jurisdictions, but it's recommended you proceed to perfect the stock as you would other property.
File a Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement. The UCC financing statement puts the entire world on constructive notice that you have a security interest or lien in the shares of stock. This protects you from other parties claiming to have a higher previous lien in the shares. Filing the UCC financing statement is not absolutely or legally necessary for perfection of a lien on stock, in the majority of states, but offers further protection of your lien.

How to Buy Harley Davidson Stock (4 Steps)

Contact a stock broker. A list of stock brokers, working in the United States, is available in the resources section of this article. The stock broker will act as a middleman and purchase the Harley-Davidson stock on your behalf, which is necessary to carry out the transaction.
Study the stock information of the company before instructing your broker how much Harley-Davidson stock you would like to purchase. The page listed in the reference section will give you information regarding the current share price of Harley-Davidson and allow you to make an educated judgment on how much stock to buy through your broker.
Instruct your broker to make the purchase of Harley-Davidson stock on your behalf. They will contact Harley-Davidson, Inc. and buy the amount of stock you have specified.
Request a paper confirmation of your stock purchase by requesting a 'Direct Registration Transaction Request Form' from Computershare by calling 866-360-5339. Fill in the needed information and return it. You will receive a paper confirmation once the form is received and reviewed. This confirmation will serve as a proof of purchase and, if you wish, a memento of your first purchase of this iconic company's stock.