1) Basic
If dividends are like 'monthly salary' from stocks, capital gains are like hitting the 'jackpot' when you sell stock for more than you paid. This is what attracts most people to stocks -- the dream of buying low and selling high.
Capital gain is the profit you earn from the difference between your selling price and buying price. If you buy a stock at Rp1,000 and sell at Rp1,500, the Rp500 difference is your capital gain. Conversely, if you sell for less than you paid, that's called a capital loss.
Capital gain is exactly like flipping limited edition sneakers. You buy Nike Air Jordans for $200 at release, keep them pristine, then sell a year later for $500 because they're rare. That $300 difference is your capital gain. But if the sneakers aren't hyped and you're forced to sell at $150, that's a capital loss.
Spectacular capital gain example: BREN (Barito Renewables) had an IPO price around Rp780 per share in June 2023 and soared above Rp10,000 in early 2024. Investors who bought at IPO and sold at the peak gained over 10x! Of course, this is an extreme and rare case.
After understanding this concept, apply it in tools so decisions become more objective and measurable.
Open Profit / Loss CalculatorAre capital gains taxed in Indonesia?
For stocks sold on the exchange, there's a 0.1% final tax on the sale value (not on the profit). So whether you profit or lose, you still pay 0.1% when selling. This is automatically deducted by your broker.
Is it better to seek capital gains or dividends?
Ideally both! But if you must choose, it depends on your risk profile. Conservative investors usually prefer dividends (regular income). Aggressive investors chase capital gains (higher potential return but less predictable).
