Why is my broker giving different results on pnl?

Discussion in 'Options' started by wxytrader, Jul 30, 2024.

  1. My spreadsheet agrees with option creator @ about $100 pnl on Aug5 with (NVDA) @ $105...but my broker is outputting -$36??


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    Last edited: Jul 30, 2024
  2. S2007S

    S2007S

    I have noticed this with many brokers, it's never accurate, I have an account where if I add money to the account, in the actual chart that shows my 1 day, 3 mo 6 mo ytd 1 yr etc. It actually shows it as a gain....

    So if I have 20k in my account and add another 20k, it actually shows a 100% gain on my portfolio, these are the biggest brokers with trillions in assets that can't even get something so simple right.....

    Only way to figure it out is pen and paper and keeping notes and secondly waiting for your 1099 the following year to see what they actually come up with.
     
    wxytrader likes this.

  3. So the next question is if that is what they are calculating, then am I going to make $100 @ $105, or lose $36??? lol

    Yes like when they track pnl based on the previous day, so you could be down $800 but if you are only down $500 the next day it shows the today profit as $300 lol. Maybe on a portfolio that might be helpful, but I have actually closed in a loss thinking the position was in profits..
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2024
  4. mervyn

    mervyn

    short leg is using ask, long leg is using bid. brokers are mostly correct, that’s the price you or they can liquidate quick.
     
    rb7 and wxytrader like this.
  5. But how can you simulate future bid/ask? I thought these pnl charts just project theoretical price based on time decay. They may adj for IV but the bs calculation does not provide a spread.
     
  6. mervyn

    mervyn

    no you don’t. sim is just that, a sim. you have a general idea, then structure the trade. few bucks here and there are cost of doing business.
     
  7. 2rosy

    2rosy

    where can I borrow at 2%?
     
    rb7 likes this.
  8. spy

    spy

    Last edited: Jul 31, 2024
  9. vanzandt

    vanzandt

    I guess it depends on the broker, but in settings for daily P/L at the eod, there's usually an option for using B/A midpoint. Or last trade.

    It doesn't matter anyway. It is what it is. Why worry about it? To post a ytd performance chart in ON's journal?
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2024