What is the profit (P) in investment terms?

• A. The amount of money made on an investment (not the original amount)
• B. The initial amount invested
• C. The annual net income
• D. The selling price

Answer: (A)

Profit in investment terms is the money you gain from the investment—the net amount you end up with beyond what you initially put in. It represents the return minus the principal, including any income received during the holding period (like dividends) and subtracting any costs or fees. For example, buying an asset for $1,000 and selling it for $1,200 yields a $200 profit (ignoring fees). The initial amount invested is the principal, not the profit. Annual net income is a flow over time and may contribute to total profit, but by itself it’s not the entire gain unless you’re looking at a single year. The selling price alone doesn’t equal profit because profit requires comparing the sale to the original investment (and any other returns). Therefore, the term that best describes profit is the money made on the investment beyond the original amount.