What is Unrealized Gain?
Unrealized Gain refers to a term that describes a profit that has been made on an investment, but has not yet been realized or sold. Unrealized Gain indicates the current profit of the securities in the investment portfolio.
In other words, an unrealized gain is a paper profit that exists as an increase in the value of an investment, but has not yet been converted into actual cash.
The unrealized gain is considered “unrealized” because of the fact that the profit has not yet been realized (the investment is still being held). In the earlier versions of financial reporting, the unrealized gain was referred to as “paper” gain because it only reflected the theoretical gain of an investment that had not yet been realized through a sale.
For example, if you purchase a stock for $100 and its value increases to $120, you have an unrealized gain of $20.
However, until you sell the stock, this gain remains unrealized. If you then sell the stock for $120, your unrealized gain becomes a realized gain, and the $20 gain is now an actual, realized profit.
“% Unrealized Gain” is a number indicating the percentage of the securities’ unrealized gain in the investment portfolio.
What is Unrealized Loss?
Unrealized Loss is a term used to describe a loss that has been incurred on an investment, but has not yet been realized or sold. In other words, an unrealized loss is a paper loss that exists as a decrease in the value of an investment but has not yet been converted into actual cash.
For example, if you purchase a random cryptocurrency for $168 and its value decreases to $100, you have an unrealized loss of $68.
However, until you sell that cryptocurrency, this loss remains unrealized. If you then sell the cryptocurrency for $100, your unrealized loss becomes a realized loss, and the $68 loss is now an actual, realized loss.
“% Unrealized Loss” is a number indicating the percentage of the securities’ unrealized loss in the investment portfolio.
