How to keep a stock trading journal
A stock journal should let you reconstruct the position, not just see its final gain or loss. Record shares, fills and charges, with enough context to explain partial exits or a change in share count.
Keep the ticker and share quantity clear
Use consistent ticker names and record the listing in notes when a symbol is ambiguous. Keep entry and exit times, direction, and the statement's realized result. Record share quantity in notes as well as the size field, labeled “lot”; the label does not convert shares into forex lots.
Review CSV size carefully. The current parser uses a lot-oriented conversion for quantities above 100. For larger share counts, enter manually and keep the actual share count in notes rather than relying on an unchecked import.
Choose one rule for partial exits
Keep a completed position as one journal trade with each exit described in notes, or use individual completed lots with clearly allocated risk and charges. Apply the same convention throughout. Never log both the whole position and its exits as separate profits in the same total.
Preserve original planned money risk. Position value, margin used and money at risk are different quantities. MeowPips does not infer risk from share count and stop price.
A completed position with two exits
Fictional USD example. Buy 10 shares of the fictional symbol DEMO at $100. Sell 5 at $102 and the remaining 5 at $104. Total charges are $2, and original planned risk is $20.
| Part | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First exit | 5 × ($102 − $100) | +$10 gross |
| Second exit | 5 × ($104 − $100) | +$20 gross |
| Completed position | $10 + $20 − $2 charges | +$28 final P&L |
Weighted exit price = (5 × $102 + 5 × $104) ÷ 10 = $103. A completed-position entry can use that price, size 10 and final P&L +$28. Final R multiple = $28 ÷ $20 = 1.4R.
Example note: “Sold half at $102 and half at $104. Both exits followed my plan. Size is 10 shares. Final result includes $2 total charges.”
Review details that price alone misses
- Record regular, pre-market or after-hours context and the timezone.
- Note earnings or other events that affected the original decision, without rewriting its reason afterward.
- Preserve adjustments for stock splits, mergers or symbol changes so historical prices and counts stay explainable.
- Keep dividends and cash adjustments distinguishable from realized trading P&L.
- For short positions, reflect relevant borrow charges once in the final result.
Journal totals summarize entered records. They are not a substitute for a broker statement or tax report.
Start with one complete record
Open MeowPips free, choose a consistent profile currency and record a completed stock trade manually. Keep the exact share count and partial fills in notes. Use the CSV template for spreadsheet records and review imports before saving.
For the broader routine, read the beginner guide. For limits and full-history access, compare Meowz and Meow+.