Realized vs. Unrealized Gains While realized gains are actualized, an unrealized gain is a potential profit that exists on paper, resulting from an investment. It is an increase in the value of an asset that has yet to be sold for cash, such as a stock position that has increased in valu...
See Also: Accounting Income vs Economic Income Capital Gains Proforma Earnings Operating Income Net Income Asset Market Value vs Asset Book Value Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses Explanation In accounting, there is a difference between realized a
and any profit or loss is unrealized. Depending on your investment goals and strategy, it may be best to sell an investment and recognize the gain, or it may be better to keep holding
asset has beenowned. A realized gain from an asset owned longer than one year is usually taxed at the capital gains rate, while an asset owned for a period shorter than a year is often subject to the higherincome taxrate. It is also called the recognized gain. See also:Unrealized gain....