Checking your portfolio and discovering an unexpected profit or loss can be worrying, especially when the numbers do not match your calculations. A trading app may show a lower profit than expected, display a sudden loss, or report a portfolio value that seems inconsistent with the current market price. In some cases, the difference is caused by a temporary display issue. In others, the app may be using a different cost basis, excluding certain charges, or showing an unsettled transaction.
Before assuming that your broker has made a mistake, it is important to understand how profit and loss are calculated. The following steps can help Indian investors identify the cause of a discrepancy and resolve it safely.
Understand Which Profit or Loss Figure You Are Viewing
Trading apps commonly display different profit and loss figures, and these numbers do not necessarily mean the same thing.
Unrealised profit or loss represents the change in value of securities you still hold, based on the app’s reference price and recorded purchase cost.
Realised profit or loss generally relates to positions that have been closed or securities that have been sold. The final result may account for the applicable purchase and sale costs, depending on how the platform presents the figure.
Today’s profit or loss measures a change over a particular trading session, whereas overall profit or loss may reflect performance since you acquired the investment.
For example, if you purchased shares at ₹200 and their current market price is ₹220, the gross price difference is ₹20 per share. However, the profit displayed by your broker may be lower after applicable charges or may differ because the app uses a different reference price.
Start by confirming the label, time period, and calculation method associated with the figure that appears incorrect.
Refresh the App and Check for Technical Problems
A temporary synchronisation problem may cause your portfolio to display outdated prices or holdings.
Begin with simple checks:
- Refresh the portfolio or holdings screen.
- Close and reopen the official trading app.
- Check whether an app update is available.
- Verify your internet connection.
- Compare the figures with your broker’s official web platform, if available.
If the app continues to display unusual numbers, check whether the broker has announced a technical issue or market-data disruption.
Do not place another buy or sell order merely to correct a displayed profit or loss. A portfolio display issue does not necessarily mean that your underlying trade is incorrect.
Verify the Market Price Used in the Calculation
Profit and loss can change depending on the price used by the app. Some screens use the last traded price, while others may display a different valuation reference.
For example, a stock might have a last traded price of ₹500, but the price at which you could realistically sell a large quantity may differ because of the bid-ask spread or limited market liquidity.
Market prices also move continuously during trading hours. If you compare a screenshot taken earlier with a live portfolio, the values may naturally differ.
Check the security’s current market price and compare it with the price shown in your holdings. Make sure you are comparing the same stock, exchange, and time period.
For investments that are not actively traded, stale prices or infrequent transactions can make the displayed valuation less representative of the price available in the market.
Check Your Purchase Price and Average Cost
An incorrect average purchase price is another common explanation for an unexpected profit or loss.
If you bought the same stock at different prices, the app may calculate an average acquisition cost across multiple transactions. Corporate actions, such as bonus issues and stock splits, can also affect the quantity held and the cost information used in performance calculations.
Consider an investor who buys 10 shares at ₹100 each and later buys another 10 at ₹120 each. Before accounting for transaction charges or other adjustments, the average purchase price is ₹110 per share.
If the app incorrectly records the second transaction or has not updated the holdings after settlement, its displayed profit or loss may differ from your calculation.
Review your order history, trade book, and contract notes. Check whether the quantities, purchase prices, and dates match your records. If a corporate action recently occurred, verify that the adjusted quantity and cost basis are being reflected correctly.
Review Brokerage, Taxes, and Other Trading Charges
Your app’s displayed profit may be different from your expected amount because trading involves costs beyond the stock’s purchase price.
Depending on the transaction, these may include brokerage, Securities Transaction Tax (STT), exchange transaction charges, GST, stamp duty, and applicable depository participant charges. The exact charges depend on the type of trade and the broker’s pricing structure.
Suppose your gross gain from selling shares is ₹1,000. If the transaction incurs ₹150 in applicable charges, your net gain would be ₹850, assuming there are no other adjustments.
Open your contract note and funds statement to review the charges associated with the transaction. Also check whether the app displays gross profit or net profit. A difference caused by charges does not necessarily indicate a calculation error.
Check for Pending Orders and Unsettled Transactions
A trading app may temporarily show confusing figures when you have pending orders, partially executed trades, or unsettled sale proceeds.
Review your order book and trade book to confirm which orders were executed, cancelled, or rejected. If you sold only part of your holding, the remaining shares may continue to appear in your portfolio.
Also check whether the displayed figure relates to an intraday position, a delivery holding, or a position that has already been closed. These categories can use different calculations and timelines.
If the transaction appears completed but the figures remain inconsistent after the relevant processing period, contact your broker for a reconciliation.
Contact Your Broker if the Discrepancy Persists
If the difference cannot be explained by prices, charges, or pending transactions, raise a support request through your broker’s official app, website, or verified customer service channel.
Provide the stock name, transaction date, order or trade reference, quantity, and a screenshot of the incorrect figure. Attach the relevant contract note or statement if requested, but avoid sharing passwords, OTPs, or other confidential authentication details.
Ask the broker to explain the calculation and verify the underlying transaction records. Keep the complaint reference number so you can follow up if necessary.
If the issue remains unresolved, you may use the broker’s formal grievance process and, where appropriate, escalate the complaint through the relevant exchange or SEBI’s investor grievance mechanism.
Conclusion
An incorrect profit or loss figure in a trading app can result from outdated prices, average-cost calculations, corporate actions, transaction charges, or unsettled trades. Start by identifying the type of figure displayed, refreshing the app, and checking your trade book and contract notes.
If the numbers still do not match, ask your broker to verify the transaction records rather than making another trade to compensate for the discrepancy. Accurate records and a systematic check can help you identify genuine errors and manage your investments with greater confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does my trading app show a loss when the stock price has increased?
The app may be comparing the current price with your average purchase cost, including multiple transactions or applicable charges. Check the cost basis and the exact profit-and-loss figure being displayed.
Q. Why is my profit different from the amount I calculated?
Your calculation may exclude brokerage, taxes, exchange charges, or other transaction costs. The app may also display unrealised profit, realised profit, or daily profit, each of which uses a different reference.
Q. Can a trading app display incorrect profit or loss because of a technical glitch?
Yes. Delayed market data, synchronisation problems, or incorrect portfolio updates can affect the displayed figures. Refresh the app and compare the information with your broker’s official web platform and transaction records.
Q. Will refreshing the app fix an incorrect profit or loss figure?
Refreshing may correct a temporary display issue, but it will not fix an incorrect trade record or cost basis. If the discrepancy continues, review your statements and contact your broker.
Q. What should I do if my broker does not resolve the issue?
Raise a formal complaint with the broker and retain supporting records. If the matter remains unresolved, consider escalating it through the relevant stock exchange’s grievance process or SEBI’s investor complaint platform, as applicable.
