ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Holding gains

A holding gain is like when you buy a toy for $10 and then the next day it becomes worth $20. This means that you have a holding gain of $10 because you now own something that is worth more than what you paid for it.

In grown-up terms, holding gains are gains in the value of an asset that you own, but haven’t sold yet. This means that you could potentially sell the asset for more than what you paid for it, resulting in a profit.

For example, let’s say you own some stocks in a company that you bought for $50 each. If the value of those stocks goes up to $75 each, then you have a holding gain of $25 per share.

Holding gains can also happen with property or real estate. If you buy a property for $100,000 and then a few years later it’s worth $150,000, then you have a holding gain of $50,000.

Overall, holding gains are a good thing as they represent a potential profit for you. However, it’s important to remember that the value of assets can also go down, resulting in a holding loss instead.
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