This free calculator estimates whether a short-term ETF trade covers its own costs and beats the alternative of simply holding cash. Enter your trade, its costs, and a cash comparison, and it shows your net result and the break-even price. It uses only the numbers you type in.
Trade setup
Trading and ETF costs
Compare with cash
How to use it
Enter your starting amount, entry and expected exit price, and holding dates. Then add your trading costs and fund expense ratio, and finally the cash return you could earn by doing nothing. The calculator shows your net profit or loss, the break-even exit price, and whether the trade beats cash. For the strategy behind the trade, see our ETF swing trading strategies guide.
FAQ
What does the break-even price tell me?
The break-even exit price is the price you need to reach so that your proceeds cover your entry cost plus the buy fee, sell fee, spread, and the prorated fund expense. It is a pre-tax number, so taxes are handled separately in the comparison.
What is the cash alternative?
The cash alternative is the estimate of what the same money would grow to if held in cash or a cash-based ETF at the annual return you enter, over the same holding period.
Is the result a prediction?
No. It is an estimate built entirely from the prices and assumptions you enter. Actual execution prices, spreads, fees, and tax treatment can all differ.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on the assumptions entered. Actual execution prices, spreads, fees, distributions, market movements, and tax treatment may differ. It is not personal financial or tax advice. Full disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.
Leave a Reply