Summary
Percentage Change shows how much a price has risen or fallen relative to a reference price over the displayed comparison period.
Because it expresses the move as a percentage, it allows price performance to be compared across securities with different price levels.
Why it matters
A net change of the same amount can have very different significance for two securities. For example, a movement of one price unit is much larger in relative terms for a security priced at ten than for one priced at one hundred.
Percentage Change puts the movement into context and is commonly used in market rankings, performance tables, and charts.
How it is calculated
Percentage Change = (Current Price − Reference Price) ÷ Reference Price × 100
The reference price depends on the selected period or view and may, for example, be a previous closing price or the price at the start of the displayed interval.
How to read it
A positive percentage indicates that the current price is above the reference price. A negative percentage indicates that it is below the reference price. A value of zero indicates no measured change at the displayed precision.
Review Percentage Change together with Net Change to understand both the relative and absolute size of the movement.
When it may not be available
Percentage Change may not be shown when the current price or reference price is unavailable, or when the reference price is zero and the calculation would not be meaningful.
Things to keep in mind
The result is only meaningful when the comparison period and reference price are understood. Different periods can produce very different percentage changes.
Corporate actions, price adjustments, low liquidity, and rounding can also affect the displayed result. Percentage Change describes past price movement and does not indicate future performance.