paper profit
noun
: a profit that can be realized only by selling something (such as a security) that has appreciated in market value
Examples of paper profit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So while the millions of shares would deliver Trump some $1 billion in additional stock, turning that paper profit into real cash is going to take some time.
—
Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
But even with that step back in price, Musk is looking at an on-paper profit of roughly $1.1 billion on his $2.6 billion investment.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Apr. 2022
Stock prices and business valuations go down as well as up — $1 in on-paper profit today could be $5 in real-world losses tomorrow.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Tesla has already made around $1 billion in paper profit on its $1.5 billion bitcoin investment, estimates Wedbush Securities’ Daniel Ives.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2021
The reasons for these paper profits are disconcerting.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2020
In other words, SoftBank is heavily reliant on paper profits.
—Tim Culpan | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2019
In some cases, SoftBank's involvement in multiple funding rounds helped drive up valuations that resulted in paper profits for Son’s company.
—Peter Elstrom, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2019
In the past, this line has included paper profits from revaluing stakes in bike-rental and fintech startups.
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2019
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Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
But even with that step back in price, Musk is looking at an on-paper profit of roughly $1.1 billion on his $2.6 billion investment.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Apr. 2022
Stock prices and business valuations go down as well as up — $1 in on-paper profit today could be $5 in real-world losses tomorrow.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Tesla has already made around $1 billion in paper profit on its $1.5 billion bitcoin investment, estimates Wedbush Securities’ Daniel Ives.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2021
The reasons for these paper profits are disconcerting.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2020
In other words, SoftBank is heavily reliant on paper profits.
—Tim Culpan | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2019
In some cases, SoftBank's involvement in multiple funding rounds helped drive up valuations that resulted in paper profits for Son’s company.
—Peter Elstrom, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2019
In the past, this line has included paper profits from revaluing stakes in bike-rental and fintech startups.
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near paper profit
Cite this Entry
“Paper profit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20profit. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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