paper profit
Wealth on statements
A paper profit is an unrealized gain on an investment—the difference between what you paid for an asset and its current market value, existing only on paper until you actually sell.
My stock portfolio shows a paper profit of $20,000, but I haven't cashed out yet.
The term emphasizes that such gains are theoretical and can evaporate if prices fall before the sale.
The opposite is a paper loss.
- speculative bubbleOvervalued assets awaiting collapse
- gainPositive return received
- illusoryFalsely appearing to exist
- unrealizedNot made actual
- mark-to-marketValuing at current price
fair market value · virtual · book value · asset bubbles · stock market · market volatility · investment portfolio · financial statement · net worth · market valuation · opportunity cost · risk tolerance · economic cycles · taxation policy · cognitive bias · cash out · holding period · herd behavior