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paper profit

American  

noun

  1. an unrealized profit due to the appreciation of something owned but not yet sold.


Etymology

Origin of paper profit

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By 1986, they had a paper profit of $850 million on their Disney stake.

From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2015

He already has a massive paper profit on his 9.7 percent stake in Allergan, built over February and March.

From Reuters • Apr. 22, 2014

The lender rose 66 cents to $7.65 on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, giving Berkshire’s warrants a paper profit of $357 million.

From BusinessWeek • Aug. 26, 2011

If we now take into account all the investments in Northern Rock and RBS, as well as Lloyds, the paper profit is closer to £7.4bn.

From The Guardian • Aug. 5, 2010

Teasing you along, letting you pile up a little paper profit, then bang!

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner