Portfolio types explained

TrackMyShares offers two portfolio types to suit different investment tracking needs. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right one.

Cost basis portfolios

A cost basis portfolio is the simpler option. You record:

• What you own (symbol and quantity)
• What you paid (average cost per share)

That's it. No transaction history, no dates — just a snapshot of your current holdings.

When to use cost basis

Cost basis portfolios work well when you:

• Want simplicity — Just track what you own without detailed records
• Have static holdings — Don't trade frequently
• Import from broker summaries — Most broker exports show current holdings, not transaction history
• Don't need tax reports — Tax calculations require transaction dates

Example

Let's say you bought Apple stock in three separate purchases:

1. 10 shares at $140
2. 15 shares at $150
3. 5 shares at $160

In a cost basis portfolio, you would record:

• Symbol: AAPL
• Quantity: 30 shares
• Average cost: $148.33 (weighted average)

Limitations

• No transaction history
• Can't generate accurate tax reports
• Manual updates when you buy or sell

Transaction-based portfolios (PRO)

Transaction-based portfolios track every transaction individually:

• Buy transactions — When you purchased, how many shares, at what price
• Sell transactions — When you sold, how many shares, at what price
• Dividend transactions — Dividend payments received
• Split transactions — Stock splits that changed your share count

When to use transaction-based

Choose transaction-based when you:

• Trade regularly — Frequent buying and selling
• Need tax reports — Capital gains require transaction dates
• Want complete history — See your entire investment journey
• Track dividends precisely — Record each dividend payment

Example

Using the same Apple scenario, in a transaction-based portfolio you would record:

Date	Type	Shares	Price
Jan 15	Buy	10	$140.00
Mar 22	Buy	15	$150.00
Jun 8	Buy	5	$160.00

When you sell, the system automatically calculates your capital gain using the FIFO (First In, First Out) method.

Benefits

• Add transactions directly from the portfolio page — new holdings are created automatically
• Complete transaction history
• Automatic cost basis calculation
• Accurate capital gains for tax reporting
• Track your investment performance over time

Converting between types

You can start with a cost basis portfolio and convert to transaction-based when you're ready for more detail.

To convert:

1. Open your portfolio
2. Click Actions → Portfolio settings
3. Select Convert to transaction-based
4. Your current holdings become "opening balance" transactions
5. Future transactions are tracked individually

Note: Once converted, you cannot convert back to cost basis. The system preserves your transaction history.

Which should you choose?

Scenario	Recommended type
Just starting out	Cost basis
Checking portfolio occasionally	Cost basis
Active trader	Transaction-based
Need tax reports	Transaction-based
Multiple buys of same stock	Transaction-based
Long-term buy-and-hold	Either works

If unsure, start with cost basis. You can always upgrade to transaction-based when you need the extra features.