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Stock Insights

Understanding Net Change in Stocks

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Nupur Wankhede

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Understand net change in stocks and how it reflects price movements and short-term trends.

Tracking stock price movements is a common practice among investors and traders alike. Net change, a key indicator, measures how much a stock's price has increased or decreased over a specific period. Whether an individual is a beginner or an experienced investor, understanding net change helps to assess a stock’s performance over short periods. By understanding this concept, readers can gain insight into market trends and the nature of short-term price movements.

What is Net Change

Net change is a simple yet important concept used to track the movement of stock prices. It refers to the difference between the price of a stock at the end of one trading day and its price at the close of the previous trading day. In essence, net change tells how much a stock's value has increased or decreased over a specific period, usually from one trading day to the next.

For example, if a stock closed at ₹100 one day and then closed at ₹105 the next day, the net change would be +₹5. This indicates that the stock has gained ₹5 in value. On the other hand, if the stock fell to ₹95, the net change would be -₹5, showing that the stock lost ₹5 in value.

Understanding net change is an easy way for investors to gauge how a stock is performing. Whether the stock has gone up or down, net change provides a snapshot of its movement, offering a quick snapshot of price movement. It is a key metric used by traders and investors alike to assess short-term trends and stock performance.

Meaning of Net Change in Stocks

Net change is a key metric that helps investors understand how a stock is performing. It measures the difference in a stock's price between two points in time, typically from one trading day to the next. This allows investors to see if the stock is trending upwards or downwards.

A positive net change indicates that the stock's value has increased, while a negative net change shows a decrease. It reflects how the market is reacting to a company’s performance, news, or broader market conditions. By tracking net change, investors can observe short-term price trends.

Net Change Formula

Calculating net change is straightforward, making it easy for investors to track stock price movements. The formula is:

Net Change = Current Price - Previous Closing Price

Where:

  • The Current Price is the most recent stock price during a trading session, either the closing price or the last recorded price before market hours end

  • Previous Closing Price is the price at which the stock closed on the previous trading day

For example, if a stock closed at ₹50 yesterday and ₹55 today, the net change would be:

Net Change = ₹55 - ₹50 

Net Change = +₹5

This indicates that the stock has increased by ₹5 compared to the previous day’s closing price. A positive value shows that the stock gained, while a negative value indicates a loss.

How to Calculate Net Change in Stocks

Here is how net change in stocks can be calculated:

Find the Previous Closing Price

Look up the closing price of the stock from the previous trading day, which can be found on financial news websites or trading platforms.

Find the Current Price

This is the most recent price of the stock at the end of the current trading session.

Subtract the Previous Price from the Current Price

The result is the net change; if the result is positive, the stock has gained value, and if negative, it has lost value.

Net Change in Stock Price: Positive vs Negative

Below is a comparison between positive and negative net change in stock price:

Net Change Type Description Implications

Positive Net Change

Occurs when the stock price rises from the previous trading session

Indicates the stock has gained value, which may reflect positive market sentiment

Negative Net Change

Happens when the stock price falls from the previous trading session

Shows the stock has lost value, often due to factors like poor earnings, market downturns, or negative news

Example of Net Change in Stocks

To understand how net change works, let us look at two examples:

Positive Net Change Example

Suppose a stock closed at ₹200 on one day, and the next day, it closed at ₹210.

  • Net Change = ₹210 - ₹200

  • Net Change = +₹10

Negative Net Change Example

Now, imagine the same stock opened at ₹200 but fell to ₹190 at the close of the next trading session.

Net Change = ₹190 - ₹200

Net Change = -₹10

These examples clearly illustrate how net change provides a quick snapshot of a stock’s price movement, whether positive or negative, and helps investors assess its performance.

Difference Between Net Change and Percentage Change

Here is a comparison of the differences between net change and percentage change in stock prices:

Aspect Net Change Percentage Change

Definition

Measures the absolute difference in the stock price

Measures the relative change in price as a percentage of the previous price

Formula

Net Change = Current Price - Previous Closing Price

Percentage Change = (Net Change / Previous Closing Price) × 100

Example Calculation

If a stock moves from ₹200 to ₹210, Net Change = ₹10

Using the same example: Percentage Change = (₹10 / ₹200) × 100 = 5%

What it Represents

Provides a raw value of how much the stock has increased or decreased

Provides a relative value that helps compare stocks of different prices

Usefulness

Simple and direct for understanding price movement

More insightful, especially when comparing stocks with varying price levels

Conclusion

Net change is a commonly used metric that reflects short-term stock price movement between trading sessions. It provides a simple numerical measure of how a stock’s price has changed over a given period. Whether observed in real time or reviewed historically, net change helps illustrate day-to-day price fluctuations in the equity market.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and the same should not be construed as investment advice. Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited shall not be liable or responsible for any investment decision that you may take based on this content.

FAQs

What is net change in stocks?

Net change refers to the difference between a stock's price in the current trading session and the previous one. It indicates whether the stock has gained or lost value, offering investors a snapshot of short-term price movement.

To calculate net change, subtract the previous closing price from the current price. The formula is: Net Change = Current Price - Previous Closing Price, giving the absolute price movement over a specific period.

Yes, net change shows the raw price difference, while percentage change represents it as a percentage of the previous closing price, providing a relative view of stock movement.

Yes, net change can be negative if the stock price has decreased compared to the previous trading session, indicating a loss in value.

A positive net change indicates the stock has gained value, suggesting favourable movement, while a negative net change signals a decline, reflecting investor concerns or market challenges.

Net change is commonly referenced by day traders to monitor short-term price movements and shifts in market activity during a trading session.

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Hi! I’m Nupur Wankhede
BSE Insitute Alumni
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With a Postgraduate degree in Global Financial Markets from the Bombay Stock Exchange Institute, Nupur has over 8 years of experience in the financial markets, specializing in investments, stock market operations, and project management. She has contributed to process improvements, cross-functional initiatives & content development across investment products. She bridges investment strategy with execution, blending content insight, operational efficiency, and collaborative execution to deliver impactful outcomes.

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